Systems for managing electronic resources. First part. Electronic resource management systems (ERMS)

The paper describes the road that - at the beginning of the 2000s -led to the implementation of ERMS, management systems specifically designed for electronic resources. An ERMS is a software that enables libraries to control and manage every step of the complex e-resources life cycle, in order to rationalize the entire management process. The paper analyzes ERMS features, technical characteristics, advantages and weaknesses, as well as the main products - both proprietary and open source - available on the market. This study will be completed by a second paper focusing on library services platforms (LSP). (NB: this is the first part of a more extensive study. The second part will be published in AIB studi 2/2016)