lassoing the licensing beast
DESCRIPTION
I argue that the role Electronic Resources Librarians (ERLs) have in licensing electronic content is the most relevant within the ERLs core responsibilities. While ERLs are rarely also lawyers, the role they play in educating stakeholders, negotiating with publishers and vendors, and crafting understanding of licensing terms is integral for the success of a rapidly growing and changing electronic collections environment. Due to this rapidly changing environment, it may be difficult for library science programs to stay current with course offerings in the current licensing best practices, and ERLs often-times have to learn these skills on the job. In this session I will highlight specific examples of library licensing language, including topics such as archival rights, perpetual access, interlibrary loan, and reserves, providing a foundation for the ERL's significant role in electronic content licensing. I will share insight into these examples of how I applied the curriculum I received during library school, on the job training, and unique personal experiences to inform the audience on how to navigate through electronic content licensing. I will demonstrate ways ERLs can continue their education and thus work more closely with stakeholders to foster support for the library's role in licensing. In addition, I will provide some insight as to how ERLs can manage these responsibilities along with the range of day-to-day responsibilities. Objectives: 1) Provide a framework for understanding the history and justification for the inclusion of licensing in the Core Competencies for ERLs 2) Outline resources for new librarians and students to engage in further education about electronic content licensing 3) Detail a toolkit for educating and advocating for a librarian's role in electronic content licensing Outcomes: Attendees will walk away with knowledge on how to build their licensing competency and advocate for the ERLs role in electronic content licensing. Presenter: Shannon Regan Licensed Content Librarian, Mercer UniversityTRANSCRIPT
Lassoing the Licensing Beast: How Electronic Resources Librarians can build competency and advocate for wrangling electronic content licensing
Shannon ReganLicensed Content Librarian
29th Annual NASIG ConferenceMay 3, 2014
NASIG CORE COMPETENCIES FOR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES LIBRARIANS• 1.2 Thorough knowledge of ER licensing and the
legal framework in which it takes place. Since licenses govern the use of most library electronic resources and have conditions that cannot knowingly be violated, an ERL with responsibilities related to licensing must demonstrate familiarity with how and for whom an organization licenses content, as well as the concepts, implications, and contract language pertaining to such issues as archival rights, perpetual access and interlibrary loan. A practical working understanding of issues such as copyright and fair use will allow ERLs to obtain the least restrictive, most library-friendly licensing terms during publisher/vendor license negotiations.
History1985-2001
Licensing is a not a job requirement for ERLs
2001-2007
License negotiation is mentioned in over half of ERLs position descriptions surveyed
2007-Present
License negotiation is one of the Core Competencies for ERLs
Learning about Licensing
Michael L. Bradford and others, “Education and Electronic Resources (ER) Librarianship,” Collection Management, 32, no. 1/2 (2007): 65.
First DaySome important questions to ask:
1.What is the current license review process?
2.Who is the authorized signatory?
3.Does your library have a relationship with the University/General Counsel’s office? If so, who is your contact?
4.What considerations must you keep in mind with regard to your state or country’s contract law?
After you get settled…
Familiarize yourself with and expand your understanding of common library license language
Explore websites and options for continuing education
Seek out a mentor
Library License Toolkit
Common Library License Language
The Good Old
Fashioned Print
Monograph!
Library License Toolkit
Common Library License Language
https://sites.google.com/site/licensecompare/Created by: Liane Taylor, Continuing Resources Librarian, Texas State University
Library License Toolkit
SERU(Shared Electronic Resource Understanding)
Library License Toolkit
Websites, Listservs, and Continuing Education
Library License Toolkit
Electronic Resources in Libraries Listserv
ALCTS e-Forum
Websites, Listservs, and Continuing Education
Library License Toolkit
Websites, Listservs, and Continuing Education
Library License Toolkit
Websites, Listservs, and Continuing Education
Library License Toolkit
Educate to Advocate: Administrators
Perpetual Access
and Archival Access
Library License Toolkit
4.2 Synthesizing easy to understand summaries of complex and ambiguous phenomena. ERLs often serve as the library’s liaison with external stakeholders such as vendors or institutional information technology staff.
Educate to Advocate: Administrators
Library License Toolkit
Build an institutional licensing handbook
Things to include:
Model license language template with institution specific language
- State/Country specific considerations
Negotiation Best Practices-Draft negotiation email
Dealbreakers
Authorized Signatory Process
Educate to Advocate: Colleagues
Use liberally from your handbook!
Cut and paste
Educate colleagues about license process
TimeNumber of people
involved
Invite members of your institution to be a part of the conversation
4.3 Explaining and instructing clearly and concisely, when and as needed; rises above personal feelings and frustrations in order to provide the best possible services and resources to end users.
Educate to Advocate: Library users
What do users want to do with electronic content?
Ebooks:Evaluating ebook
purchase options to best serve the needs
of the library user population
4.4 Demonstrating the ability to work collaboratively with other units and staff, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Now what?The day-to-day realities of an ERL
7:30am Check and Respond to Email8:00am Begin reviewing license8:15am Phone call that students cannot access Ebsco Databases9:30am Weekly phone call with ILL Department10:00am Meeting with a publisher10:30am Pick up license again11:00am Colleague knocks on door to inquire about cancelling and then adding new ejournal subscriptions12:00pm Lunch12:30pm Return from Lunch, Check Email 1:00pm-3:00pm work with Collection Development to provide collections data for a grant application that we found out about today and is due in three business days3:15pm Check and respond to email3:45pm Pick up license again, finish, start drafting negotiation email4:30pm Follow-up to access issue with Ebsco databases4:45pm Finish draft negotiation email, leave open to review one final time in the morning before sending
Questions?
Bibliography & Links
If you click on any of the images in my presentation, you will be directed to the image creator. Some images are screen captures from websites.
Bradford, Michael L., Mark Dehmlow, Anastasia Guimaraes, M. Ladd, Pat Loghry, and March Simons. “Education and Electronic Resources (ER) Librarianship.” Collection Management, 32, no. 1/2 (2007): 49-69.
Downes, Kathy A., and Pal V. Rao. “Preferred Political, Social, and Technological Characteristics of Electronic Resources (ER) Librarians.” Collection
Management, 32, no. ½ (2007): 3-14.
Fisher, William. “The Electronic Resources Librarian Position: A Public Services Phenomenon?” Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services,
27, no. 1 (2003): 3-17.
https://sites.google.com/site/librarylicensetoolkit
/
https://sites.google.com/site/licensecompare/