This poster explores the development and functionality of an Electronic Resources Management System (ERMS) developed in-house at the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries. Existing commercial ERMS software and services proved to be difficult to populate with cost data, and generally did not allow enough customization to adequately meet the specific needs of our collection managers and acquisitions staff.
The Sunshine ER Tracker ERMS uses Microsoft Access, with a backend-client structure that allows multiple staff to work in the tracker simultaneously. The Tracker backend was populated with cost data and resource metadata from a variety of sources, including spreadsheets, ILS reports, vendor reports, and manually entered notes. Several front-end clients were developed and customized for various staff functions.
The Tracker allows library staff to identify unpaid orders, accurately assign budget allocations, and produce detailed and accurate reports for collection analysis and budget management. It may be customized very easily, and cost after initial development is negligible.
