The Electronic Resources Life Cycle created by Oliver Pesch is presented as a standard reference for e-resource librarians within the NASIG Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians. The Core Competencies serve as guidelines for e-resources librarians to contextualize the functions of their job in relation to the resources they manage. The e-resources librarian must propagate the life cycle of an institution’s resources, which requires an extensive amount of effective communication. Effective communication is such a vital component of an e-resources librarian’s job that it is Core Competency four. Pesch’s life cycle chart may more accurately be understood as a node; a component of a larger graphic in which the node connects to a detailed cycle of communication. This contextualization may better serve early career librarians to realize the extensive scope communications with stakeholders plays in their role.
E-resources librarians are intermediaries; people who communicate often with vendors, other librarians, department heads, directors, IT, and patrons. The scope and workflow placement of varying types of communication differs based on institution type. An e-resources librarian stepping into a new position must acclimate to the life cycle of resources at the institution while also navigating new and pre-existing relationships at the institutional level.
This presentation will detail onboarding strategies institutions can utilize to help acclimate new e-resources librarians with an emphasis on strategies for effectively establishing and perpetuating communications with stakeholders. This will be conveyed by addressing the following questions: how might institutional knowledge, including administrative functions and vendor relationships, best be documented for a new e-resources librarian? If someone isn’t available to train the new librarian or assist them with acclimating to their role, what steps are in place for the librarian to adapt to the proper channels of communication both internally and externally in their institution? How might someone new to the profession contextualize their onboarding and professional relationships within the NASIG Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians framework?
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