NASIG 2024

Program Description:
At Indiana University Libraries - Bloomington, Scholarly Communication librarians continue to explore methods to decrease costs for students. A pilot project was developed to obtain course materials data in order to purchase multi user ebooks for classes.This is a practice that peer libraries like Illinois State University and Virginia Commonwealth University have utilized to further course material affordability. Purchasing eBooks is seen as complementary to OER efforts because these are course materials that often do not have an OER equivalent; in other words, library acquisition is one of the only replacement options. There were a number of hurdles to the project, including working with both external and internal partners, determining ebook licensing from existing data, and working with a tight timeline. The project has now progressed into an ongoing effort, as we refine the workflow and look for more ways to automate the process.

This session will provide a high-level overview of how the project was implemented, with specific details about the workflow that other libraries can adapt to their context, including identifying partners, getting funding, securing and cleaning course material data, comparing this data to existing holdings and licenses, purchasing content, and outreach to professors. Presenters will also provide a conceptual framework for other libraries considering similar initiatives. This will include discussing balancing saving students money and extending the collection to be more responsive to the curriculum with creating a service that doesn’t transform the publishing industry or instructor behavior. The session will conclude with ideas for scaling IUB’s program down so that libraries of all sizes can create a program that is appropriate for their context. These options might include raising awareness about electronic resources that libraries already own, collaborating with subject librarians to search for course materials less systematically, or creating mechanisms for professors to engage with the library as part of their course material selection process.
Learning Outcomes:
​​​​A conceptual framework for a course material purchasing project
Overview of project implement at Indiana University Bloomington and analysis of the impact
Advice for how a similar project can be adapted to different contexts
Discussion of how purchasing complements or might detract from the goals of OER programs

Serving ice cream treats, sparkling and mineral waters, and sodas.

• Harrassowitz
• ACS
• AIP Publishing
• Bloomsbury
• Cambridge University Press
• CloudSource
• Springer Nature
• Association for Computing Machinery
• Ingram
• Duke University Press

Program Description:
The abilities outlined in NASIG’s Core Competencies for Electronic Resources, Print Serials Management, and Scholarly Communication underscore the breadth and complexity of library workers’ expertise and the variegated challenges they contend with. As a result of their aptitude for cultivating and maintaining a wide range of skills, library workers have an established reputation as adaptable, versatile, and solution-oriented practitioners.

While this is not a new development in the context of libraries, these attributes are becoming more desired and valued across the information industry. Consequently, appreciation of library skills outside of libraries is growing and library workers are applying their technical, managerial, and negotiation skills in a wide variety of scenarios. This shift can create opportunities to extend awareness of library needs and foster new collaborative dynamics that enrich both libraries and publishers/vendors.

Join our panel of former librarians turned vendors as they explore how their library expertise seamlessly translated into vendor roles. Discover valuable skills and competencies that bridge these worlds, learn how this dynamic can enhance the products and services vendors provide, and gain insights into the evolving role of information professionals. During our discussion, we'll be utilizing a Jamboard, which can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/5annt4wh

Learning Outcomes:
​​​​Following this session, participants will be able to:
Identify which skills sets are transferable from libraries to vendors/publishers
Identify positions and experience that prime librarians for vendor positions
Understand what types of positions librarians hold at vendor organizations