This file describes ACQNET. URL: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/acqnet/acq-about.txt Revised Feb.9, 1999 ACQNET The Acquisitions Librarians Electronic Network Welcome to ACQNET. The purpose of this message is to give you some information about ACQNET, what it is and how it works. ACQNET is a forum in which acquisitions librarians and others interested in acquisitions work may exchange information and ideas, and find solutions to common problems. It started with a group of 25 librarians in December, 1990 and, as of January 1999, has over 1700 subscribers. ACQNET is a managed or edited listserv. Although you can subscribe and un-subscribe at will, you cannot contribute to the list directly. The editor(s) receive all potential postings, organize, edit, summarize, and distribute them to the subscribers. You do not have to be subscribed to ACQNET to submit a posting, but your posting should be relevent to the aims of the list. If you wish to contribute to ACQNET without subscribing, please submit your posting directly to the Chief Editor, Eleanor Cook at: cookei@appstate.edu +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TO COMMUNICATE WITH ACQNET To send postings, address them to: ACQNET-L@LISTSERV.APPSTATE.EDU You may choose from certain options regarding how the listserv will interact with you. To change these options, you must send a command in electronic mail to: LISTPROC@LISTPROC.APPSTATE.EDU [Or, listserv@listserv.appstate.edu - the earlier version of the address will work also] (*NOT* to ACQNET-L@LISTSERV.APPSTATE.EDU) saying: SET ACQNET-L MAIL [option] where [option] can be any of the following: NOACK -- Do not send me my own postings back ACK -- Send me my own postings back DIGEST -- Send me a periodic digest of postings POSTPONE -- Do not send me *anything* until I change back to one of the other three commands listed above The default is NOACK. To unsubscribe from ACQNET, send the following command to: listproc@listproc.appstate.edu (or the earlier version: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.APPSTATE.EDU), in an electronic mail message: UNSUB ACQNET-L. You must be using the exact same e-mail address with which you originally subscribed to make any of the above commands work. Otherwise, the list will not recognize you. If you have any question about ACQNET, contact Eleanor Cook at cookei@appstate.edu If you have any questions about the list, contact the list manager at postmaster@listproc.appstate.edu. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The current editor is Eleanor Cook (Serials Specialist, Appalachian State University Library), assisted by an editorial board which includes: Rick Anderson (Acquisitions Librarian, University of North Carolina, Greensboro); Ladd Brown (Acquisitions Librarian, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University); Cynthia Coulter, (Head, Acquisitions, University of Northern Iowa); Anne McGreer (Monographic Processing Services, Indiana University); Jack Montgomery (Coordinator, Acquisitions, Western Kentucky University); Joyce Ogburn, (AUL for Information Resources & Systems, Old Dominion University); and Peter Stevens (Business Reference Librarian, University of Washington Libraries). Christian Boissonnas (Director, Central Technical Services, Cornell University Library) was founding Editor. Anna Belle Leiserson, (Collection Development Librarian and Law School Webmaster, Vanderbilt University Law Library), as _AcqWeb_ Editor, serves Ex-Officio on the Editorial Board. ACQNET also includes a Technical Board. Members serve as assistants in the day-to-day operation of the list. These individuals include Anne McGreer, Back-up editor; Peter Stevens, ACQflash Editor, and Jack Montgomery, ACQTalk editor. Back files may be obtained through anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and through _AcqWeb_. See below for instructions and file descriptions. EDITORIAL POLICY SCOPE ACQNET subscribers discuss anything they want within the main areas of interest of the list, which are library acquisitions, collection development, and related subjects. Subscribers need to keep in mind the other existing networks and newsletters, such as the _NEWSLETTER ON SERIAL PRICING ISSUES_, or the following lists: COLLDEV-L, SERIALST, and library system-related lists such as NOTIS-L or INNOPAC-L. Feature articles or reports should generally be submitted to _AGAINST THE GRAIN_ or other appropriate newsletters or journals. This is an edited list. The editor(s) reserve the right to make all decisions regarding the posting of messages. Those that are judged to fall outside the scope of interest of subscribers are returned to senders with an explanation for the rejection, or suggestions for re-submission. All messages not returned are posted. No anonymous messages are posted. Postings are expected to be in the English language. OBLIGATIONS OF CONTRIBUTORS Contributors clearly understand the importance of assuring the accuracy of the information which they include in their postings and their accountability to the group and the profession on that score. The experience of some of our colleagues on other networks suggests that this is essential. The tone of ACQNET is that of congenial, scholarly discussion and courtesy is assumed. Contributors may argue facts or opinions, however, personal attacks on other contributors or institutions will not intentionally be posted. "Flames" are not welcome. Subscribers need to remind themselves that the over 1700 addresses from many countries represent a wide span of cultures and levels of expertise. Message content and language should reflect an appreciation that what is being said is if it were being spoken from a podium in front of a very large, very diverse group of people. For instance, often humor is interpreted differently depending upon a person's cultural background or beliefs. SUBMISSION OF POSTINGS Contributors who wish to communicate with the group send a posting to the editor at ACQNET-L@LISTSERV.APPSTATE.EDU. The editor requests that a single message deal with a single question or issue, as it makes the job of editing and combining with other postings considerably easier. Contributors are asked to make sure that their names appear in the "FROM" line of their postings, not just their e-mail address, or in the signature information if they sign their messages. They are also asked to indicate specifically on the "SUBJECT" line the content of their messages. Words such as "For ACQNET" or "RE: ACQNET 3:22" are not sufficient. Postings should be under 200 lines. Longer files should be split and sent separately to be posted in successive issues of ACQNET. Margins should be set so that a line is between 70 and 75 characters long. Attached files cannot be accepted; all submissions should be e-mail messages in basic ASCII format. Contributions are accepted only when they are sent to ACQNET through the Internet. ACQFLASHES ACQflashes are single-topic postings of a time-sensitive nature. They are not indexed and are archived for one year only. These are sent out more quickly than regular ACQNET issues. Items such as meeting announcements and job postings are sent out as ACQflashes. ACQflashes are sent out as soon as possible after receipt. Be aware, however, that regular issues of ACQNET DO NOT go out regularly and that postings may be held for a week or more until there are enough postings to compose an issue. Request that your posting be sent as an ACQflash if it is time-sensitive. EDITING ACQNET derives much of its appeal from the fact that it is current, allowing contributors to express concerns and opinions and get rapid feedback. Contributors are therefore advised that editing of the messages that they send is kept to a minimum. It is limited to looking for offensive or erroneous information, organizing the postings so that they are as easy to read as possible, and fixing grossly incorrect usage of the language. Paragraphs with complete sentences are appreciated and the use of abbreviations and uncommon initials is discouraged. The editors assume that information sent to ACQNET-L@LISTSERV.APPSTATE.EDU is meant to be redistributed to subscribers. Private communications to the Editor(s) or others should not be sent to that address. Contributors are sometimes uncertain about whether they can name other parties, especially when they possess critical information about those parties. ACQNET policy is to print names and critical information which is factual and verifiable, but not to print derogatory or critical opinions which add nothing to the facts. COPYRIGHT The copyright of individual postings to, and archived files of ACQNET is owned by individual authors. Use of the information posted in ACQNET for commercial purposes is prohibited except by written permission of individual contributors. Posting to ACQNET automatically grants the editor the right to use contributions in whole or in part in subsequent publications but only for non-commercial purposes. CROSS-POSTING Cross-posting from other lists is accepted when the content relates directly to the areas of interest to subscribers of ACQNET. It is the responsibility of contributors of a cross-post to obtain permission from the original author to post the message to ACQNET, and state that permission has been granted in the cross-post submission. DISCLAIMER Contents of all postings are the responsibility of the contributing authors and do not imply the endorsement of the editor, the editorial board, or Appalachian University. RELATION TO ACQWEB and ACQTALK ACQNET maintains an affiliation with _AcqWeb_, a world-wide-web site developed by Anna Belle Leiserson. _AcqWeb_ provides a hot-link source of publisher and vendor home pages, as well as links to other resources of interest to acquisitions librarians. _AcqWeb_'s URL: http://www/library.vanderbilt.edu/law/acqs/acqs.html ACQTALK is a new feature in 1998. This is a web-based threaded discussion site that gives anyone the ability to discuss the same kinds of issues as are posted to ACQNET. It is monitored by Jack Montgomery, an ACQNET Editorial Board member. You do not need to be subscribed to ACQNET to use ACQTALK. Please see the "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) for how to use ACQTALK. ACQTALK's direct URL is: http://conf1.vanderbilt.edu/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=111 OR, you may link to it by first going to ACQWEB. RETRIEVING ARCHIVED FILES ACQNET's backfiles and index are easily accessible through _AcqWeb_. Retrieval of archived files is also possible through anonymous FTP from the following Internet site: LISTSERV.APPSTATE.EDU in the /pub/acqnet directory and related subdirectories. Individuals needing instructions for anonymous FTP should seek assistance from network administrators at their institutions. The available files and their locations follow: FOR THE FOLLOWING FILES: DIRECTORY NAME: ACQNET, Vol. 1 (Dec. 10, 1990-Dec. 31, 1991) /pub/acqnet/acqnet1 ACQNET, Vol. 2 (Jan. 1, 1992-Dec. 31, 1992) /pub/acqnet/acqnet2 ACQNET, Vol. 3 (Jan. 1, 1993-Dec. 31, 1993) /pub/acqnet/acqnet3 ACQNET, Vol. 4 (Jan. 1, 1994-Dec. 31, 1994) /pub/acqnet/acqnet4 ACQNET, Vol. 5 (Jan. 1, 1995-Dec. 31, 1995) /pub/acqnet/acqnet5 ACQNET, Vol. 6 (Jan. 1, 1996-Dec. 31, 1996) /pub/acqnet/acqnet6 ACQNET, Vol. 7 (Jan. 1, 1997-Dec. 31, 1997) /pub/acqnet/acqnet7 ACQNET, Vol. 8 (Jan. 1, 1998-Dec. 31, 1998) /pub/acqnet/acqnet8 ACQNET, Vol. 9 (Jan. 1, 1999- ) /pub/acqnet/acqnet9 Index /pub/acqnet/Index Back issues of ACQNET have the prefix ACQNET followed by the volume number and, after the period, the issue number (e.g. ACQNET1.142 [vol. 1, no. 142] or ACQNET2.50 [vol. 2, no. 50]). Back issues are added as soon as they have been sent to subscribers. An alphabetical list of subscribers (name and e-mail address only) is available by request from the editor but is not to be used for commercial purposes. An index file is also available (ACQNET.INDEX) and is updated regularly.