e-Journals : A How-to-do-it Manual for Building, Managing and Supporting Electronic Journal Collections

The electronic journal, a new format only a few years ago, is now commonplace in many libraries and information services.

Recent years have seen a huge growth in the range and number of journals being published on the internet, and an increasingly large number of them are now 'born digital'.

Complex e-journal management systems have been developed by LIS vendors, with user interface replacing many traditional LIS functions. This practical manual, written by one of the leading US experts in the field, suggests innovative ideas for helping library and information staff to optimize online experiences for their users.

The book opens by evaluating the information-seeking behaviour of users, and goes on to explore practical ways of building and managing an e-collection that will address rapidly evolving service expectations. The option of using outsourcing for managing electronic journals is also discussed, and clear and extensive information is provided on benefits and costs, selection rationales, archiving, cataloguing, and much more.

Appendices provide sample collection policies and other management techniques. This key source offers sound advice and manageable methods for libraries just getting started, tips and shortcuts for institutions struggling to keep their e-journal workload under control, and advanced techniques for those ready to give sophisticated users the best possible integrated access to their literature.