The impact of electronic journals on library staff at ARL-member institutions

This study examines how Association of Research Library (ARL)-member institutions are meeting the challenges of electronic journals in terms of staffing. The differences between the linear print journal workflow and the more time-consuming, nonlinear electronic journal workflow are discussed. ARL members are dealing with the increased demand on staff and workload caused by e-journals in different ways. Most of the respondents did not have a job upgrade, but did receive informal training. New positions have been created to deal with e-journals in acquisitions, serials, and cataloging departments. Other specialty positions have been created that require eclectic duties normally relegated to individual departments. There is at least some standardization now in the libraries' procedures for negotiating license agreements. However, libraries continue struggling to integrate e-journals seamlessly into their workflow without upsetting the pre-existing departmental structure. The overriding effect of e-journals on staff appears to be increased synergy and broader specialization