ACQNET v5n027 (August 28, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/serials/stacks/acqnet/acqnet-v5n027 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 5, No. 27, August 28, 1995 ======================================== (1) FROM: Doug DeLong SUBJECT: BT Link Survey (131 lines) (1)--------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 07 Aug 1995 11:21:19 -0400 From: Doug DeLong (Illinois State U.) Subject: BT Link survey response The following has appeared on the Library Administrators List; I was forwarded a copy of the original questionnaire and completed it, also offering to forward to you for possible posting to ACQNET. The name and address of the originator is at the bottom. Thanks. Doug DeLong ============== Original Msg Being Forwarded Follows ============ Doug, Thanks again for the information you provided on B&T Link. Here (at last!) is a summary of the responses I have received thus far. Would you please post it to the Acquisitions Conference? The query went out on Lib Admin. Many on the Acquisitions Conference may have had experience with B&T Link. I invite them to clarify or supplement the information gathered here. Thanks! Janice Many thanks to all who responded to our query regarding Baker and Taylor's B&T Link. I received 8 responses from 7 libraries; 6 of the libraries use B&T Link. Following is a summary of the responses. I am not an expert in this area, and would be grateful if others with more knowledge would supplement or clarify this, as needed. Short Summary All who used B&T link (6) expressed satisfaction with it: Many found the electronic ordering to be quick and easy. From the responses, it seems as though B&T link may provide more complete and more accurate coverage than BIP Plus, but may not be as inclusive as BIP in the print format. Head of Technical Services for a library that has "had a long experience with B&T Link" said staff finds "B&T Link gives more up-to-date and accurate information than BIP." An informal study done by a regional library in Alberta found that out of 400 title searches on BIP Plus and B&T Link, 20% more were found on B&T Link. On the other hand, a collection development librarian warned that B&T Link does not have all the titles listed in BIP [in print format?] Staff at the library where he works like and use B&T Link but rely on BIP as well. He suggested that since many titles in BIP are not in B&T Link the best solution, except for small libraries, would be to have access to both--otherwise he would be wary of choosing just B&T Link. A technical services librarian pointed out that when B&T Link is loaded on individual stations it works well. It used to work on a network, (library bought it as a networkable product), but as a result of recent software changes network access is no longer available and installation takes more work. A librarian with a state university library shared information on access his library had with B&T via a direct connection to the B&T warehouse. "Since we had real-time access to inventory information, we could order knowing they had in house; we would almost always have within 5 working days, often 4 days." Two representatives of B&T called regarding my inquiry. One said that because B&T Link is used for ordering, the process of ordering helps keep the information up-to-date. As prices or availability change, database is automatically updated. The other B&T representative explained about the direct connection. He says many bookstores and some libraries choose it. The link he described is updated weekly, as opposed to the quarterly updates for B&T Link. Summary of Individual Responses A collection development librarian for a large university library warned that B&T does not have all the titles listed in BIP [in the print format?]. The acquisitions staff likes B&T Link because books can be ordered online easily and quickly. He suggested, however, that since many titles in BIP are not in B&T Link, the best solution, except for small libraries, would be to have access to both--otherwise he would be wary of choosing just B&T Link. Head of Technical Services for a state university indicated staff there has had a long experience with B&T Link and like it very much. "We find that B&T Link gives us more up-to-date and accurate information than BIP. There is no trouble matching up BIP information with B&T link when items are identical." Head of Reference and Interlibrary Loan for a regional library in Alberta wrote that staff there use B&T Link mainly for verification and are very happy with it. An informal study done by another regional library in Alberta compared hit rates between B&T Link and BIP Plus and found that out of 400 title searches on BIP-Plus and BT-Link, 20% more were found on BT Link. A respondent from a small college on a limited budget said staff there uses B&T Link as an alternative to Books in Print, and finds that B&T Link delivers what they need. They like the electronic ordering because they find out immediately what they will receive, what is on back order, and what needs to be ordered directly. A technical services librarian from a community college wrote that staff there have been using B&T link for about a year and a half. Staff like B&T and they order from B&T so "it makes life easier for us. " He indicated that when B&T link is loaded on individual stations it works well. It used to work on a network (library bought it as a networkable product) but it no longer does. The new 4.2 software created more work for installation. A respondent from a public library which has been using B&T version 2.2 module one, the ordering module, for several years, says staff is, for the most part, satisfied. Large orders seem to have a 50-80% confirmation rate (books are confirmed in stock and will be shipped immediately) "We are notified when the order is confirmed electronically of those books that are backordered or cancelled for whatever reason." Respondent was careful to note that his experience had been with the Ordering Module, not Module 2, the Title Source. A librarian with a state university library shared information on access his library had with B&T via a direct connection to the B&T warehouse, 100 miles away. Because it was not consolidated with the online system, staff used it for only high priority orders. "Since we had real-time access to inventory information, we could order knowing they had in house; we would almost always have within 5 working days, often 4 days." Janice Carter Internet: jcarter@crl.com Golden Gate University General Library Phone:(415) 442-7248 536 Mission Street Fax: (415) 495-2671 San Francisco, CA 94105 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Doug DeLong, Acquisitions Librarian 309/438-3450 (voice) Illinois State University 309/438-5132 (fax) 8900 Milner Library doug@mhsgate.mlb.ilstu.edu (Internet) Normal, IL 61790-8900 ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 5, No. 27 ****** END OF FILE ******