The purpose of this paper is to describe criteria for selecting and processes for implementing a self‐service online resource reservation using the University of Virginia (U.Va.) Library as a case study.
The paper chronicles the identified needs, selection criteria, and deployment strategy undertaken by a U.Va. Library task force in early to mid‐2010 along with the unexpected pitfalls and policy implications uncovered by the process.
The U.Va. Library selected and rolled out a product meeting a variety of public service needs, EMS Enterprise, in the summer/fall of 2010, with lessons learned about the intricacies of IT infrastructure, public service policies and procedures, and the varied resource reservation needs of the library's libraries and labs.
The paper demonstrates how the addition of a self‐scheduling reservation system has helped fill a long‐awaited need and adds value to the U.Va. Library's Services.
