NASIG 2025

In 2023, our Acquisitions department evaluated existing position descriptions for how well they met the current needs and challenges of the department and the broader library landscape. We found that staffing in our serials unit was still skewed toward print management even though over 80% of our subscriptions have moved to an electronic format. Several positions were redesigned to incorporate NASIG Core Competencies, especially related to the print and electronic resource life cycles. By using the core competencies to distribute print and electronic responsibilities among multiple staff members, we balanced the workload and prepared our area to better face future trends. This session will discuss the new position descriptions, the benefits of incorporating built-in cross-training, and how we worked with our campus HR office to build a job-family grid which provides opportunities for staff advancement.

Learning Outcome
Following this session, participants will be able to:

1. Think critically about whether existing organizational structures are meeting current and future needs.
2. Identify core competencies and visualize how to distribute them among additional staff members through training and reskilling.
3. Be prepared to advocate for these changes with their library leadership.

Acquiring electronic resources for academic libraries has evolved into a complex and multifaceted process. Juggling numerous requests from faculty, negotiating with vendors, managing budgets, and ensuring timely access. This presentation will explore how leveraging Jira, a robust project management software, can help you re-imagine the e-resource acquisition workflow, transforming it from a chaotic process into a streamlined and efficient operation.

Jira, with its customizable workflows, robust tracking capabilities, and seamless communication features, provides a powerful platform for managing the entire lifecycle of e-resource acquisitions including trial workflows.
We will delve into how Jira can be configured to:
Streamline Request Processing
Establish clear and concise workflows for each stage of the acquisition process, from initial request submission to final approval. Automate tasks, such as sending notifications and assigning requests. Utilize custom fields to capture essential information about each request, such as consortia options, trial availability, authentication method, usage statistics availability, VPAT availability and rating, and history of ILL requests.
Enhance Communication and Collaboration
Facilitate seamless communication and collaboration between library staff processing requests. Utilize built-in messaging and notification features to keep everyone informed about the status of requests and resolve issues promptly.
Increase Transparency and Accountability
Provide a clear and transparent view of the acquisition process for all stakeholders. Enhance accountability by tracking progress, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring timely decision-making.

By implementing Jira, libraries can significantly reduce staff burden, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall user experience. This presentation will provide practical tips and best practices for implementing Jira in an academic library setting, including customization options, and workflow design including trial workflows.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe how Jira can be used to streamline the e-resource acquisition workflow in an academic library.
2. Identify key features of Jira that are beneficial for managing e-resource requests, such as workflow automation, and communication tools.
3. Explain how Jira can improve communication and collaboration among library staff involved in the e-resource acquisition process.
4. Explain how Jira can enhance transparency and accountability within the e-resource acquisition process.
5. Discuss the potential benefits of implementing Jira, such as increased efficiency and improved decision-making.
   Identify potential obstacles to Jira implementation at their own library.

During the Fall and Winter quarters of 2024, librarians at UC Santa Cruz were faced with the challenge of tracking perpetual access for titles canceled for an ongoing serial cancellation project due to a budget shortfall. This required consolidating information from various spreadsheets and other sources, some of which were still being updated. This session will review the tracking process that we used, including how we consolidated the perpetual access information, how we verified our access with vendors, how we addressed subscriptions with print + online coverage and share tips for if another library is faced with this type of project.

Learning Outcomes

1. Attendees will learn about tasks to consider for working collaboratively during serial cancellations.
2. Attendees will learn about a process to track perpetual/post cancellation information.

Great Idea Showcase poster presenters will be be available online for a live question and answer session.

Automating Success: Streamlining Workflows with Zapier - Amy Dye-Reeves

Cataloger's Code: Non-Teaching Librarians in SoTL - Alyshia Bagley, Rebecca Hunnicutt, Wilhelmina Randke, Kevin Reagan

Stuck in the Middle with You: Usage Statistics Between System Migrations - Jackie Blanton-Watkins

“For Students, by Students”: A Student-Managed Peer-to-Peer Social Network in an Online MLIS Program - Alyshia Bagley, James Mayes

[Poster Name] - Braith Birchhall, Sidonie Devarenne, Mary Wegmann

Data in Action: Using Wikidata with Catalog Data for Collection Diversity Analysis - Sarah Holsapple

[Poster Name] - Fiora Mecale