Maria Collins

Acquiring Articles through Unmediated, User-Initiated Pay-Per-View Transactions: An Assessment of Current Practices

Abstract Depressed economic times often lead libraries to consider new practices, including alternatives to the traditional subscription model. This column discusses a pay-per-view (PPV) model for acquiring journal articles whereby a library creates an account with a content provider and then authenticated users can purchase articles at the librarys expense. To gain insight into the current use of this model, the paper draws on both a literature review and the results of a survey assessing the practices of academic libraries with experience acquiring articles through unmediated, user-initiated pay-per-view transactions. The future of the PPV model as well as issues and challenges that it raises are also considered.

Evolving Workflows: Knowing when to Hold'em, Knowing when to Fold'em

Electronic resource management (ERM) workflows in academic libraries are characterized by their complex and constantly shifting nature. This article describes four phases of effective workflow management including careful planning, development of workflow strategies, staffing and identification of resources, and integration of ERM and communication tools. The importance of supporting effective communication strategies is emphasized throughout the article. Information obtained from informal interviews with eight academic librarians provides discussion points on workflows given up and workflows maintained as libraries transition to larger electronic resource collections.

What's in a Name? - The North Carolina Serials Conference, Serials Review, and the Next 25 Years

For the past twenty-five years, the North Carolina Serials Conference has been a critical venue providing continuing education on serials-related issues for regional and even international communities. Even as the conference themes have evolved, this event continues to provide a highly valuable experience for increasingly diverse populations. This year’s conference themewasNC Serials Conference at 25: The Age of Discovery, and numerous subthemes evolved out of the program line-up. These topics primarily focused on re-conceptualizing traditional ideas of discovery, making data-informed decisions, and highlighting skills and tools for effective data manipulation and management. Beyond serials, these discussions can easily be consideredwithin the context of other functional areas such as electronic resource management (ERM), systems, cataloging, and data management. In fact, the NC Serials Conference offerings already attract attendees from numerous functional areas within the library and publisher community. You’ll find reports and invited articles from this year’s 2016 conference in this special issue.