A novel Er(III) complex with oxydiacetate and 1,10-phenanthroline was synthesized and its structure and luminescence properties were characterized. The complex of $[Er(ODA){cdot}(phen){cdot}4H_2O]^+$ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group $P2_1$/n with a = 12.216(4) ${AA}$, b = 16.680(2) ${AA}$, c = 12.627(3) ${AA}$, ${eta}=108.30(2)^{circ}$, V = 2442.7(11) ${AA}^3$, Z = 4 and ${ ho}=1.841 g/cm^3$. When the complex is excited at the He-Cd 325-nm line, it produces two broad bands spanning the regions 350-650 nm and 1200-1650 nm. The emission band of the complex is characterized by a series of spectral dips in the visible emission profile. The complex exhibits sensitized near- IR emission via two kinds of energy transfers from phen to Er(III): nonradiative and radiative energy transfers.