Integrating Solutions: Examining The Collection Management Process Using OCLC’s FirstSearch Electronic Collections Online Service

Electronic journals have evolved in the past 7 years from “first-generation” systems, characterized by small numbers of journals delivered through proprietary systems, to “second-generation” services, characterized by Web-based services that deliver hundreds of journals in standard data formats. These new systems challenge existing paper-based collection management practices and also point to the need for “third-generation” electronic journal services that will support the broad-scale adoption of electronic journals in the library community. This paper describes the impact that second- and third-generation electronic journal services may have on emerging electronic serials collection management practices, using OCLC’s new electronic journals service, Electronic Collections Online as an example.