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Observation of Reserves Operations Group 11/08/2012 Jung-Ho Ryu I am currently doing my MILS Directed Field Work at the Built Environment Library of the University of Washington. One of my privileges is to attend the Reserves Operations Group (ROG) meetings. At the meetings, the primary topic is what we are going to do with E-Reserves in the near future. By observing the meetings and reading the internal document Request for Direction: the Future of E-Reserves (ROG, 2012), a few questions came to my mind. First of all, ERes has been the UW Libraries electronic reserves system since 2001. It is likely, however, that the University of Washington (UW) Libraries is considering another electronic reserves package because UW Libraries IT Staff has faced a number of problems with ERes. What is more, Docuteks technical support hasnt been reliable to solve the problems since the purchase of the latest ERes (v. 5.6.1.) in 2005. If we should discard ERes, what are the options to replace it? It seems like Canvas, one of the course management systems highly touted on campus, is an option for electronic reserves although such courseware management systems are not managed by the Libraries. With Canvas, I have a number of questions. Can we move into Canvas? What is the position of UW Libraries? Who in the Libraries is making the decision to go with Canvas? Are we surely going for redirecting our support for electronic course materials to Courseware Management Systems? Or, do we want more control over electronic reserves? Second, the internal document clearly noted, eliminating library support of documentbased electronic course materials will not eliminate support of streaming media or print reserve. (ROG, 2012) If UW Libraries must keep the support of document-based electronic course materials, Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is also a good alternative candidate for the service. According to the document, faculty has access to the Interlibrary Loan Desktop Article Delivery service, which provides scans of articles and book chapters to the UW community. (ROG, 2012) ILL handles such a high volume of Desktop Article Delivery service with state-of-the-art equipment. They do a very thorough job of saving the trouble of scanning. In other words, they look in more places that documents were already saved.

ILL already has a scanning service for the faculty. That means the direct support of electronic reserves could be done by ILL and there are ways in which ROG can support the work, if ILL takes over the document-based electronic course reserves services. For example, ROG Staff hours freed up can go to support ILL. The more we work together in cross-departmental collaboration, the more work can be done in an efficient manner. As I mentioned above, ILL could be an ideal unit to be in charge of electronic course reserves. When it comes to ILL, I have a couple of questions. Is ILL aware of the possibility to take over the electronic course reserves? If ILL is aware of this possibility, what is the position of ILL? Third, the School of Social Work is an interesting case. When the Social Work Library closed, the School of Social Work chose to switch to Catalyst, a platform for course support, (ROG, 2012) particularly for their electronic course reserves. The documentation, School of Social Work Facilitates Common View Adoption (ROG, 2012) clearly shows the process of how electronic reserves services can be done without direct library support. Although the University of Washington Libraries will continue to provide full support for the streaming media and physical course reserves, this outstanding case of School of Social Work tells us a possibility of more faculty and department-controlled electronic course reserves system using Catalyst. It also means that University of Washington Libraries does not need to purchase another electronic Reserves package. If School of Social Work has been very successful, why dont we take advantage of Catalyst and the successful model of sustainable course reserves system by School of Social Work? These questions are based on my short thoughts. Considering I only attended a few meetings, I am sure that some of the questions are obvious for the group but I would like to ask the questions in order to learn more about the future of electronic reserves operation. Finally, it has been my honor to get involved with the ROG and I deeply appreciate all the members of the group. Without your kindness and help, my learning wouldnt be possible. Especially, I would like to thank Noreen Jacky for the initial invitation.

References Goodson, K. A., & Frederiksen, L. (January 01, 2011). E-Reserves in Transition: Exploring New Possibilities in E-Reserves Service Delivery. Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Information Supply, 21, 33-56. Reserves Operations Group. (2012). Request for Direction: The Future of E-Reserves