Todd Enoch

Finding the Target: An Experiment in Benchmarking

In an effort to maximize a dwindling materials budget, the University of North Texas Libraries have been investigating new methods of evaluating purchasing decisions. One such investigation was into the possibility of using cost data to establish internal benchmarks for acceptable price points. The hope was to create benchmarks for specific subjects and formats to aid staff in evaluating new resources, assessing existing resources, and negotiating pricing with vendors. This article will walk through the steps taken to create these benchmarks, the efforts taken to implement them, and conclusions regarding their feasibility as an ongoing tool for collection development.

Keeping it Real: A Comprehensive and Transparent Evaluation of Electronic Resources

Presentation slides from a pre-conference workshop at the 2014 Charleston Annual Library Conference. The workshop discusses a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of electronic resources.

“Big Deals” and Squeaky Wheels: Taking Stock of Your Stats

This article describes a half-day pre-conference focused on the ins and outs of assessing “Big Deals.” The presenters gave an overview of issues related to “Big Deals,” and engaged the attendees in discussions about their own experiences with the topic. They then detailed the process of assessing “Big Deals” at their institution, including their methods for evaluating usage statistics. Attendees were provided with sample Excel spreadsheets for hands-on exercises to practice applying the methods described.

Tracking Down the Problem: The Development of a Web-Scale Discovery Troubleshooting Workflow

ABSTRACT Web-scale discovery services are powerful tools for facilitating access to an institution’s online holdings at the article level. However, the functionality of any given results link in a web-scale discovery search is dependent on multiple factors that are not always apparent to end users. The complexity involved in the troubleshooting process led the University of North Texas Libraries to embed a broken link report button in its search results and build a new troubleshooting workflow around this feature. This article summarizes the steps taken, the troubleshooting methodology developed, and the trends discovered in types of errors reported.

Juggling a New Format with Existing Tools: Incorporating Streaming Video into Technical Services Workflows

ABSTRACT The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Libraries have experienced a surge in streaming video requests in the past few years. Like others, UNC’s Technical Services department has found new ways to manage procedures and workflows associated with this format. This session covered the experiences and strategies of the presenters for handling streaming video databases, licensed content ripped from DVD, firm orders, and multiyear streaming licenses.

Preparation is Key: Lessons Learned from an ERM System Implementation

In 2001, the University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries developed their own electronic resource management (ERM) system to track their online resources and contracts. Over the past decade, the programming and upkeep for the homegrown system had become too much of a burden, and the decision was made to move to a vendor-supported ERM system. In the summer of 2012, UNT began the implementation of Innovative’s ERM module. This presentation covered the steps involved in that implementation and the lessons learned on how best to prepare for a radical shift in workflows and procedures.