Marian through the looking glass: The unique evolution of the electronic resources (er) librarian position

SUMMARY: The current responsibilities of an electronic resources (ER) librarian are very different than those of her colleagues. She works between the world of business and librariesnegotiating, haggling, troubleshooting. When academic libraries first offered databases, however, the associated responsibilities were usually attached to another position, such as a reference or systems librarian. As technology developed, allowing more diverse electronic resources (ER) to be made available, the responsibilities of the people managing those products became more complex. This article traces the evolution of the ER librarian, from a part-time position to one completely different than any other found in librarianship.