In this issue of the ERA eNewsletter we introduce Deputy Chair of the ERA Executive Committee, Geoff Strempel, provide updates on the ERA product poll and ERA Members Forum, as well as information on the ProQuest products available through ERA.

Readers may also be interested in an article on ERA in this month's edition of the Public Libraries Australia News.

Introducing Geoff Strempel - Public Libraries Australia representative

I am pleased to represent the needs of public libraries on the ERA Executive Committee. I have been a member of the PLA Board since its inception. My current role as Associate Director Public Library Services (State Library of SA) means that I provide leadership and support for the network of SA public libraries.

Prior to my current role I was Manager, Libraries & Arts for the City of Onkaparinga & a longstanding deputy chair of our local professional association Public Libraries SA. All of these roles have in common a commitment to professional collaboration on a number of levels. I am committed to these values and activities because I have a belief that our profession and our customers benefit greatly from our commitment to formal collaboration, partnerships and resource sharing. 

As libraries continue to move beyond their walls, providing 24/7 access to information our collaborative activities will increasingly be around sharing access to online information. And where libraries can collaborate to both drive down our costs and make access for the customers simple and seamless then we will be fulfilling the time honoured librarianship principle of equity of access for all users.

 If you would like to contact Geoff Strempel, please click here for details.

Product Poll closes 29 April

Results of the product poll are being updated weekly on the ERA website. 

If you intend to subscribe, or renew, through ERA from 1 July, please ensure you complete the online product poll by 29 April.

It is essential that renewing libraries also complete the product poll to ensure that pricing is set based on the total level of anticipated subscription interest.  

 The process from here will be:

• 29 April - Product poll closes
• 2 May - Pricing confirmed and libraries that participated in the product will be contacted to confirm their subscription interest based on the pricing available.
• 9 May - Libraries confirm subscriptions for subscriptions commencing 1 July.

Last days to register for the ERA Members Forum

You can still register for the ERA Members Forum which is being held on Monday, 12 May at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.

An updated agenda is now available on our website.  

The Forum will be chaired by Roxanne Missingham (ERA Executive Committee Chair) and speakers include:

• Heather Jenks (EPIC Governance Chair, NZ),
• Kate Davis (Gold Coast City Council),
• Tony Leschen (State Library of South Australia),
• Julie Rae (Vision Australia),
• Amanda Healey and Nicola Giles (ProQuest),
• Mike Brown and Cathy Hain (Foward Learning),
• Tim Colvey and Ian McLeod (EBSCO Publishing), and
• Marika Whitfield (Gale: A Cengage of Learning).

If you would like to attend, please register online by 23 April 2008.

ProQuest - Leading content, easily accessed - available today

ProQuest’s Electronic Resources Australia collections are available to participating libraries today – with prorated subscription terms available to suit your budget cycle. 

ProQuest products available through ERA are:

• ABI INFORM Complete
• ProQuest Asian Business and Reference
• ProQuest Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Newsstand

Whichever databases you select, access to the ProQuest platform includes:

• Award-winning Smart Search for supercharged search results across all content types - for novice and experienced users alike
• Unique OneClick technology for the fastest, easiest full-text linking to other library resources
• Interface in 14 languages to support your international students
• Local administrator module with intuitive navigation, customisation and branding options and of course COUNTER compliant usage reports
• Complete training and support included in your subscription

ERA Article: Public Libraries Australia News

This month's issue of Public Libraries Australia News  contains an article on ERA.

Key Dates

• 23 April - Registration For ERA Members Forum Closes
• 29 April - ERA Product Poll Closes
• 2 May - Pricing Confirmed
• 9 May - Subscriptions Confirmed
• 12 May - ERA Members Forum
• 1 July - New Subscription Cycle Commences