710 College & Research Libraries July 2015

their approach to the staffing and resources available, as well as to the priority or em-
phasis level placed by the institution on each major category of scholarly communica-
tion. An appendix to the chapter includes a liaison librarian scholarly communication 
evaluation rubric that can serve as the basis for institutional assessment development.

In chapter 7, Marcy Bidney of the American Geographical Society Library discusses 
assessments for outreach and engagement activities by liaisons. Bidney analyzes three 
resources for their criteria related to outreach and scholarly engagement: the Auburn 
University Faculty Handbook, the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC) 
Committee on Engagement’s categories of engagement, and the National Review Board 
for the Scholarship of Engagement’s criteria for the assessment of the scholarship of 
engagement. Her analysis led to the development of a matrix of individual and pro-
grammatic assessment questions and indicators under two main element headings, 
librarianship and scholarship. The questions and indicators can be directly applied 
into a variety of institutional settings.

Gary W. White builds upon the concepts discussed in the first seven chapters in 
writing a chapter on professional development for liaison librarians. He presents 
professional development rubrics for collections content and access; research services; 
teaching, learning, and literacies; outreach and engagement; and scholarly communica-
tions that provide plenty of material and direction for both supervisors and librarians 
to work on learning and aligning their knowledge and skill sets to enhance their job 
performance as liaisons. Daniel C. Mack’s brief final chapter provides an executive-style 
summary of the key steps for managers to consider in designing and implementing 
an assessment program.

Each chapter has a complete list of references, and the book has a useful index to 
key concepts and names of researchers cited in the text. Because of the breadth of 
topics covered, there is broad value in the information and tools provided for both 
managers and librarians. The applicability of the material to this important, strategic 
area of library service is significant. This book should be read by all academic liaisons 
and managers who seek to better document their value, identify opportunities, and 
improve liaison services.—Scott Curtis, University of Missouri–Kansas City

Victoria Martin. Demystifying eResearch: A Primer for Librarians. Santa Barbara, Calif.:  
Libraries Unlimited, 2014. 189p. Paper, $75.00 (978-1-61069-520-6).

At first blush, the notion of writing a primer on electronic research seems an impossible 
task. However, Victoria Martin, the life sciences librarian at the University Libraries of 
George Mason University, has taken up the task, creating a resource whose strengths 
are found in those chapters where the scope of the discussion are more focused on the 
practical considerations of electronic research and whose weaknesses are the result of 
expanding into more theoretical or historical aspects of the topic at hand. Ultimately, 
this is a useful resource that provides in-depth introductions into important aspects 
of electronic research despite its flaws.

The overall structure of the book is sound: ten chapters divided into two parts (five 
chapters each). Each of the ten chapters includes its own works-cited list (often lengthy) 
as well as a list of suggested readings (often succinct) so that those who want to delve 
even more deeply into a particular topic may do so. Also included is a list of acronyms 
that is more than five pages in length, a glossary of terms that is nearly eight pages in 
length, and a full index. 

The first part of the book (“eResearch Defined and Explained”) provides detailed 
yet digestible perspectives on some of the fundamental characteristics of electronic 
research: a working definition of “eResearch,” the issues surrounding the creation 
and management of research data, the technological requirements of researchers and 

doi:10.5860/crl.76.5.710



Book Reviews 711

how those requirements are evolving, the impact of electronic research on scholarly 
communication, and the phenomena of electronic research from the perspectives of 
differing academic disciplines. The value of these first five chapters varies significantly.

For example, the first chapter, which focuses on defining “eResearch,” is easily the 
most theoretical of these first five chapters. Ultimately the author settles on a definition 
that hardly seems revolutionary, one that argues that electronic research occurs “in a 
networked environment utilizing Internet-based tools” (5). And while chapter 2, with 
its discussion of data creation and management, begins in a similarly theoretical manner 
(for example, the reader is told that, according to one study, there are “at least 130 defini-
tions of data”), it does narrow its scope sufficiently to provide concrete information on 
the collection, preservation, and sharing of data for and among researchers. The habit 
of beginning very broadly, then refocusing, seems to repeat itself throughout section I. 
Chapter 3 begins with a look back at the very beginnings of the Internet; yet, while that 
story provides some context to the emergence of new technologies, the broad strokes of 
the story are so well known that it is not clear how retelling the story is necessary here. 
After that, the chapter focuses, at some depth, on a variety of technologies that support 
research efforts (such as grid computing and cloud computing), while the final pages of 
the chapter report on researcher attitudes about the technology they employ. Chapter 5, 
the final chapter of part I, provides broad overviews of what electronic research looks 
like in different disciplines, including the humanities and the arts. 

The most compelling chapter of part I is the discussion of scholarly communication 
found in chapter 4. In keeping with the format of earlier chapters, the chapter provides 
a brief historical view on the role of scholarly communication in the research process; 
then it moves on to a discussion of changes in that communication brought about by 
technological changes (such as electronic publishing and open access). The extended 
section on open access is well done and of very real value to librarians of all levels of 
experience; it may be useful to some newer teaching faculty as well. In a related vein, 
there is also a discussion of peer review, as well as new models that are being embraced 
(such as a more rapid review process, open peer review, among others). While any one 
of the chapters in part I may be of interest to academic librarians, and they may be help-
ful to those seeking an introduction into certain technical areas of electronic research, it 
is this discussion where the value of this book begins to emerge. For many librarians, 
neophyte and seasoned alike, these considerations will be something of a revelation.

Part II, “eResearch Librarianship” attempts to demonstrate both the effects of 
electronic research on libraries at the most fundamental levels and the opportunities 
that present themselves to the profession. The broad topics discussed throughout this 
section—mission statements, collection development, library services, library as place, 
continuing education for librarian—are well known to anyone working in the profes-
sion. Similarly, much of the information contained in the second part of the book will 
be well known to most experienced librarians, especially those at academic institutions. 
Moreover, some of the chapters ignore some of the challenges in fully embracing new 
models. For example, the discussion of scholarly publishing, first taken up as part of 
the chapter on scholarly communication in part I, is reintroduced in chapter 7; this time, 
it fails to acknowledge some of the controversies surrounding electronic publications. 
Specifically, after acknowledging that some library users simply prefer print books, the 
section ends with an extended passage from a study that asserts that the “value-added 
features of eBooks are obvious” (109). This may be so, although at no point is there 
a discussion of the limitations, usually set by publishers, on the number of times an 
electronic book may be borrowed (in other words, the library licenses the content for a 
defined number of uses as opposed to owning the content outright), or limits on print-
ing, or the truncated borrowing periods that may be shorter than a library’s policy for 



712 College & Research Libraries July 2015

print books. The lack of balance in this particular instance is jarring. Similarly, chapter 7, 
“Expanding Traditional Library Services into the eResearch Environment: Classic Roles 
in a New Context,” covers issues surrounding collection development at some length 
before touching upon newer models of reference service. However, at no time is the is-
sue of library instruction in this new environment ever taken up. So, while open access 
and databases are topics for discussion here, their relevance to librarians, researchers, 
students, and other users seem to be missing from the discussion. Whatever weaknesses 
those chapters may have, the strength of part II is found in the final three chapters.

The discussion of data management and curation found in chapter 8 is exceedingly 
useful to those librarians unfamiliar with the topic. In particular, the discussion of 
institutional repositories and libraries as publishers is detailed and forward-looking. 
Chapter 9 offers advice to more experienced librarians who may be looking to enhance 
their knowledge set regarding the specific (often technical) aspects of electronic re-
search. Indeed, the lists of core competencies taken from a 2012 study are exceedingly 
useful in allowing the reader to quickly assess where opportunities lay for improve-
ment. The final chapter effectively ties up the concepts touched upon throughout the 
book; as a result, the author provides a satisfying conclusion.

Victoria Martin has tackled a difficult task—distilling the major concepts undergird-
ing electronic research into a format that will benefit librarians of all experience levels 
and institutions—and in the final analysis has done so very well. Though some of the 
discussions might have been improved by a more limited focus, or more balanced 
perspective, the information provided is helpful and the extensive bibliographies 
along with the concise reading lists will support those who want to know more about 
the fundamental changes to research that are occurring.—Joseph Aubele, California State 
University, Long Beach

Richard Moniz, Jo Henry, and Joe Eshleman. Fundamentals for the Academic Liaison. 
Chicago, Ill.: Neal-Schuman, an imprint of the American Library Association, 2014. 
200p. Paper, $60.00 (ISBN 978-1-55570-967-9). LC 2013-050031.

As the title suggests, Fundamentals for the Academic Liaison is an overview of the es-
sential functions of a liaison librarian and the role she or he plays in the academic 
community. The book effectively blends far-reaching principles with specific sugges-
tions for daily work practices. Because of the breadth with which it covers the role of 
the liaison librarian, this book would be well suited for a graduate school course on 
academic librarianship or as a guide for someone just beginning a career as a liaison, 
subject specialist, or public services librarian.

The book is organized into chapters on different aspects of a liaison’s responsibilities, 
including “Teaching Information Literacy,” “Collection Development,” and “Faculty 
Assistance.” Throughout the book, Moniz, Henry, and Eshleman return to an assertion 
made in the opening pages: “The establishment of relationships with the faculty they 
serve is the cornerstone of good liaison work.” The arrangement of the book reflects 
the authors’ claim, with early chapters that focus on communicating and collaborat-
ing with faculty followed by chapters on more student-centered aspects of a liaison’s 
work like developing research guides and embedding oneself in course management 
systems. For liaison librarians looking to expand their current duties, there are chapters 
on important although less frequent aspects of academic work such as assisting with 
university accreditation. 

Fundamentals for the Academic Liaison contains “checklists” throughout each chapter, 
offering the reader a summary of what she or he has just read. A librarian may wish 
to use the checklist as a way to track personal progress in implementing the book’s 
ideas. Each chapter is well supported with references to library and information science 

doi:10.5860/crl.76.5.712