Christine L. Ferguson’s research while affiliated with Murray State University and other places

In this issue of Serials Review, the Balance Point column delves into issues surrounding peer review, paying particular attention to open peer review. Beginning with some discussion of the history and development of peer review, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of traditional peer review, the column addresses open peer review (OPR) processes and the pros and cons of OPR. Topics such as the mechanisms of open peer review, faculty credit for peer review, as well as open peer review in the Library and Information Science (LIS) field are also touched on.

A recent segment of the Sharpest Tool in the Shed column in this journal provided an overview of the current options for the authentication of access to electronic resources. This edition of Balance Point follows up on that column, providing updates on both the RA21 initiative and OpenAthens, while also delving more deeply into some of the issues surrounding their adoption and implementation.

As physical collections are increasingly pressed for space, libraries continue to look at practices such as weeding and off-site storage, coupled with services like on-demand article-level document delivery, as potential space solutions. As libraries discard long runs of print journals, though, what role do journal backfiles play going forward? When many see backfiles as space hogs, is there data that provides a compelling argument for keeping backfiles of journals, and, if so, how should those backfiles be handled and by whom? Incorporating information from an interview with Glenn Jaeger, owner of Absolute Backorder Service, interlibrary loan data from the University of Prince Edward Island, and examples from the literature, this Balance Point column looks at the role that print journal backfiles play in the library landscape.

An array of browser extensions has been developed to help researchers locate full-text content, whether that full text is available in an institutional repository, on a publishers site, or in an open access journal. Examples of such browser extensions include Unpaywall, Kopernio, EZproxy tools, and Lean Library. This Balance Point column focuses on the growth of browser extensions, the need they are filling, and their adoption by libraries. Particular attention is paid to the Lean Library browser extension and the services offered by Lean Library. Drawing on the literature and interviews with librarians in the field, the advantages and disadvantages of browser extensions are addressed, as well as security concerns.

This article examines some of the issues related to electronic resources and serials staffing. Incorporating information from the literature, interviews with librarians working in the field, and data from job advertisements, this investigation addresses the challenges of identifying the primary job responsibilities of an electronic resources or serials librarian. The NASIG core competencies, library school curricula, and salary considerations are also covered.

The acquisition of bepress by Elsevier in August 2017, while unpopular among many librarians, provides both companies opportunities for expansion and growth. This The Balance Point column outlines some of the benefits to both companies and the reaction by the library community. Also addressed is the announcement by the Penn Libraries that they are searching for new open platforms to potentially replace bepress's Digital Commons. The column concludes with some discussion of Elsevier's relationship with open access content and the impact of the acquisition on the scholarly communications infrastructure.

This installment of The Balance Point column delves into the ways in which libraries create and store open educational resources (OER) in institutional repositories (IR), addressing issues such as preservation and versioning of OER content, copyright and licensing, funding, and staffing. Drawing on interviews and the literature, programs at institutions such as the University of Minnesota, the University of Kansas, and Grand Valley State University are highlighted.

In response to the rising costs of course materials, some academic libraries are evaluating and adjusting the ways in which they provide access to textbooks in all formats. Some popular initiatives include cultivating and promoting print textbook reserve collections, the acquisition of ebooks and etextbooks as alternatives to print, and Open Educational Resources (OERs). This column highlights initiatives at a variety of academic libraries designed to help mitigate the cost of course materials for students. Incorporating interviews and studies from the literature, projects at institutions such as North Carolina State University, George Mason University, and East Carolina University are highlighted, including some discussion of the challenges and benefits of each project. © 2016, Published with license by Taylor & Francis

New column editor, Christine L. Ferguson, provides her first installment of the Balance Point column focusing on the fallout of the Swets bankruptcy in September 2014. This installment outlines the consequences for libraries and reactions of publishers after the bankruptcy and discusses lessons learned by libraries and other subscription agents. Several subscription agents interviewed discussed the issue of financial stability; the responsibility of libraries to understand the holistic financial health of their vendors is also discussed.