Library Consultant specializing in advising libraries and library organizations on marketing and communications, negotiations and licensing for digital resources, and the management of e-library projects

I have worked closely with, and for, libraries and library organizations for over 20 years to increase the availability and usage of digital resources – firstly as Sales and Marketing Director for Online Products at Oxford University Press (OUP) and, over the last 10+ years, as a Library Consultant specializing in the area digital resources.

As a Consultant, I worked on an ongoing basis for EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) for six years. As Manager of the EIFL Licensing Programme, I negotiated pricing and licensing agreements for over 50 digital resources from more than 25 publishers and content aggregators on behalf of library consortia in 40+ countries. As Manager of Special Projects, I was responsible for launching and managing the first 18-month phase of the landmark EIFL eLibrary Myanmar project. Read more.

I have also undertaken a number of marketing, communications and research projects for JISC Collections, the European Library and the Europeana Libraries project. Read more.

I am a Certified EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Practitioner, and a member of the UKSG’s Outreach and Engagement Sub-Committee..

Projects and services include:

Project management

  • Launching and managing eLibrary projects in developing and transition countries, including the EIFL eLibrary Myanmar project

Licensing and negotiations

  • Negotiating pricing and licence agreements for e-resources (including e-journal collections, databases and discovery services) on behalf of libraries and library consortia

Training

  • Training librarians in developing and transition countries on negotiations and licensing, and on how to use and promote e-resources

Research

  • Research into new library services and new business models for e-resources

Marketing/branding

  • Planning and implementing multi-channel communication campaigns (including social media) designed to maximise uptake of e-resource subscriptions and usage
  • Copywriting, design and production of marketing materials
  • Writing articles
  • Writing, editing, and managing the design and production of annual reports
  • Reviewing websites, and making recommendations for enhancements
  • Editing and updating websites (Drupal, WordPress)
  • Advising on rebranding

EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries)

Interview about the EIFL eLibrary Myanmar project by Lorraine Estelle (PDF)

For six years, I worked on an ongoing basis for EIFL, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving access to and usage of e-resources in developing and transition countries. As Manager of the EIFL Licensing Programme (2009-2014) and Manager of Special Projects (2013-2015), I was responsible for a broad range of activities, including:

  • Negotiating access to over 50 digital resources from more than 25 publishers on behalf of over 40 library consortia – including re-negotiating licences I signed when I was at OUP!
Launching the EIFL eLibrary Myanmar project at Dagon University
  • Planning and implementing communications campaigns designed to maximise uptake of subscriptions and usage of licensed e-resources
  • Launching and managing the first 18-month phase of the landmark and highly successful EIFL eLibrary Myanmar project, and e-resource projects in Kosovo and Albania, including liaising with funders and high-level university contacts, managing local staff, running training workshops, making presentations, and preparing project reports
  • Writing and managing the design of 4 new-look annual reports, including a new logo (see an example)

JISC Collections and the European Library

I have also undertaken a wide range of projects for other library organizations such as JISC Collections (including the launch of the JISC Collections for Schools initiative, research into e-textbook business models, and writing and designing marketing materials and annual reports), and the European Library/Europeana Libraries (including a range of research projects, advising on rebranding and the re-development/relaunch of the European Library website, including detailed stakeholder and end-user communications plans).

The eLibrary Myanmar project has been a highly successful project of very beneficial impact for Myanmar university libraries thanks to Susanna’s tireless efforts.

Her skills in motivating all kinds of stakeholders – including university decision makers, faculty, librarians, and local project coordinators – were essential in finding solutions to challenges and producing amazing results in such a short time.

The eLibrary Myanmar project is the crown of her six years with us.

RIMA KUPRYTE, Director, EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries)