Focus on ERMS  pilot, april 2011

Consortia requiring a shared ERMS are looking for a tool that enables them to effectively manage contents and resources metadata before transferring them to their members, also giving them the opportunity to amend or supplement these data. The literature on the subject is unanimous, ICOLC workshops and other conferences show agreement on this point each year. However, the version of 360 RM, the shared ERMS offered by Serials Solutions, does not meet the needs of our consortium:

• It does not take into account the fact that since 2004, the contents of periodicals or ebooks packages negotiated by consortia are often customizable by each member.
• It does not take into account the fact that even in the case of centralized administration, the consortium systematically invoices the participation of subscribing members, who therefore need to manage these costs at their level.
• It does not take into account the fact that even in the case of centralized purchase, every participating member needs to manage the resource at his own level, and that it is therefore necessary that the member can control management data of the resource.

The specifications provided by Couperin were very explicit and detailed on all these aspects.
The architecture of the system that Serials Solutions is offering today is a stumbling point for the continuation of the pilot. The workarounds proposed by Serials Solutions are imperfect solutions, even for a pilot, and can be implemented only temporarily. They can in no way suit the future deployment of your system to our institution's members.

We are now waiting for a specific development programme to meet our expectations and those of the majority of the members of the consortium.