The document discusses electronic resources at the University of Ottawa Library. It notes that electronic resources are critical to support teaching, learning, and research. About 60% of the library's $13.6 million collections budget for 2011-2012 was spent on electronic resources. The library subscribes to 550 databases, over 70,000 ejournals, and 405,000 ebooks. The library collaborates with faculty and participates in several consortia to develop its collections and negotiate deals, which provides significant cost savings. Key tools like SFX and Verde are used to manage the electronic resources.

1. Tony Horava
Associate University Librarian –
Collections
21 September 2011
Electronic resources
at the University of
Ottawa

2. Introduction
• Electronic resources are critical for supporting the
teaching, scholarship, and learning activities of the
University – in all research areas
• Faculty and students expect seamless access from off-
campus
• About 60% of our Collections budget (which is 13.6M in
2011-12) is spent on electronic resources of many types

3. University of Ottawa Library
$14,000,000
$12,000,000
$10,000,000
$8,000,000
$6,000,000 Collection
Expenditures
$4,000,000
$2,000,000
$0
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Our collections budget has increased more than 60% in
six years: this demonstrates the university’s strong
commitment to investing in the Library

4. An Overview of our Digital
Collection
• 550 research databases
• 24,524 e-journal subscriptions and 3,839 in print – we
have cancelled print in favour of online whenever
possible
• 70,000 accessible ejournals
• 405,000 ebooks in 100 collections (all subject areas)
• Many other scholarly e-resources – e.g. reference
works; streaming video and audio; digital maps;
government publications; legal and medical research
tools

5. Collection overview
• Funds are allocated for major interdisciplinary electronic
resources (ejournal collections, research databases, etc)
• Funds are also allocated to each library, according to an
internal formula
• Each library determines its own portfolio of
journals, books, and other resources
• For each discipline, there is a subject librarian managing
the specific collection
• There is close collaboration between librarians and
faculty to develop the collection
• And close collaboration between librarians and across
our libraries (interdisciplinarity of research)

6. Consortial dimension
• We are members of several consortia:
• National, provincial, program-based, and language-
based
• We license about 150 e-resources products via consortia
(ejournal collections; ebook collections; research
databases; primary source materials; business
information; government information)
• Approximately 35% of our total acquisition expenditures
are for consortial agreements

7. Consortia (continued)
• Includes key resources such as: Elsevier Science Direct;
Springer Link; IEEE Library; Wiley Interscience; Royal
Society of Chemistry; Scopus; Web of Science.
• Each member receives the negotiated offer and decides
whether to participate in the deal, or not.
• Consortia offer many advantages:
– Significant cost-savings: bargaining power
– Multi-year agreements: cost predictability
– Negotiation, license management, and invoicing:
handled centrally
– Staff expertise benefits all members of a consortium

8. A few key strategies…
• Expanding our ebook collection as much as possible;
• Employing technological workflows with vendors to
streamline ordering, receiving, and processing tasks
• Replacing print journal subscriptions with electronic;
• Effective negotiations with publishers and vendors re
pricing & terms for digital content
• Using consortial buying power whenever appropriate
• Adopting strategic initiatives such as digitizing our
dissertations and our French-language materials

9. Key tools used to manage
electronic resources
SFX –
Verde - Link
ERMS resolver
Millenium
Acquisitions Shared
drive
These tools are integrated into the acquisitions process and
workflows.

10. Thank You !
Tony Horava
thorava@uottawa.ca
(613) 562-5800 ext3645