ACQNET v8n009 (March 3, 1998) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/acqnet/acqnet-v8n009.txt ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 8, No. 9, March 3, 1998 ======================================== (1) FROM: R. Anderson, H. Mack, K. Muller (3 postings) SUBJECT: RE: Acquisitions ethics (82 lines) (2) FROM: D. VanArsdale SUBJECT: RE: Paperback purchasing plans (21 lines) (3) FROM: D. VanArsdale SUBJECT: RE: BIP and Windows NT (25 lines) (4) FROM: K. Johnson SUBJECT: RE: Electronics acquisitions librarians responses (25 lines) (1)---------------------------------------------------------------- [ED note: Below, Karen Muller gives us the URL for the acquisitions ethics statement crafted by the ALCTS Acquisitions Section - which I was going to mention, but I am glad she did instead. Also, there are a number of discussions in the ACQNET archives on ethics issues that can be obtained by using the ACQNET Index in AcqWeb. I would also like to comment that the posting on "vendor intrusion" in ACQNET 8:8 could also be considered an ethics issue.] [1 of 3] Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 08:16:32 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time) From: Rick Anderson (Univ. of NC-Greensboro) Subject: Re: Ethics in acquisitions (ACQNET 8:7) (Mireille de Vidas wrote:) "I am currently an MLS student and I am trying to obtain some opinions on the ethics involved in the acquisition librarian/vendor relationship, specifically with regards to the acceptance of gifts from vendors whom the library may or may not be patronizing. Is it ethical of the vendors to be influencing purchasing decisions by "wining and dining"? Is it ethical for libraries to accept these gestures? Or, is this no big deal since 'everybody does it?' Should there be written policy to guide staff? Or, is it better to leave the situation alone?" Your question, as it's phrased, presumes that taking customers out to dinner actually does affect purchasing decisions -- but the ethics question really hinges on whether that's the case or not. As someone who has worked on both sides of the "wining and dining" equation, I'm not at all convinced that it is. For one thing, taking customers out to dinner is so common that any competitive effect is going to be negligible -- it may help build good will, but it won't set you apart from the pack as a vendor. But some institutions have strict regulations about such activities, and you'll probably get some replies that cite restrictions. Rick Anderson Head Acquisitions Librarian Jackson Library UNC Greensboro 1000 Spring Garden St. Greensboro, NC 27402-6175 (336) 334-5281 rick_anderson@uncg.edu +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [2 of 3] Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 08:17:43 -0500 (EST) From: Helen Mack (Lehigh Univ.) Subject: RE : Acquisitions librarian/vendor ethics As far as I am concerned, most of the wining and dining that takes place is with vendors we already patronize. I take it as an expression of appreciation for the business we send their way, rather than as a bribe. When dining with a vendor we do not patronize, we don't talk business during the meal (usually this will have been done beforehand). Such socializing does not influence me one way or another. I base our vendor activity on service, discount, and available dollars, not on whether someone buys me a nice lunch. Perhaps some vendors feel that wining and dining will serve as an expression of their good will and thereby provide an inducement to do business with them. Nice try, but it doesn't work. If I felt that a vendor were really trying to buy my business, I would decline the invitation. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %% Helen P. Mack, Acquisitions Librarian %% %% Lehigh University Information Resources %% %% Phone (610) 758-3035 * Fax (610) 758-5605 %% %% Internet: hpm0@lehigh.edu %% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [3 of 3] Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 09:33:02 -0600 From: Karen Muller (ALA-ALCTS) Subject: RE: Acquisitions ethics Mireille de Vidas, writing in ACQNET, Vol. 8, No. 7, asked about ethics. Check out the ALCTS site, with the Acquisitions Section ethics document: http://www.ala.org/alcts/publications/ethics/aesthics.html -- Karen Muller Executive Director, LAMA/ALCTS American Library Association 50 E. Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611 USA 800-545-2433 x5031 312-280-5031 fax: 312-280-3257 e-mail: kmuller@ala.org (2)--------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 08:27:02 -0600 From: Dennis VanArsdale (Westark Comm. College) Subject: Re: Paperback purchasing plans In reply to Sylvia Renaud and her question in ACQNET 8:7 about paperback purchasing plans: As an academic but former public librarian, I can suggest that you might check with Perma-Bound and Story House. Dennis G. Van Arsdale, Technical Services Librarian Boreham Library, Westark Community College********* "The opinions expressed and the information provided here or through any connection are not the responsibility of the College or any related service provider." P.O. Box 3649 Fort Smith, Arkansas 72913-3649 (501) 788-7206 -- dvanarsd@systema.westark.edu (3)--------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 08:49:13 -0600 From: Dennis VanArsdale (Westark Comm. College) Subject: RE: BIP in Windows In response to Lin Burleigh's question in ACQNET 8:7 about using Windows NT: I am currently using BIP on Windows 95, which might be similar. The DOS version can also run on Win95. Be very careful when using the BIP for Windows to take every single step in saving records when you export to Midwest or any other program. The process works, but it is _very_ easy to lose your records when getting them out; unlike the DOS version, you have to take more steps. Since I have to export to 3 places (Ingram hardcovers, Ingram paperbacks - the prebinders want those separated - and Midwest), I have to make one pass and send records either to Midwest or Ingram paper, and then reset to send to another file the Ingram hardcovers. We are switching to the new BIP with reviews and videos, which will save us money over BIP (without reviews) and Variety Video as two separate products. This is a pure Windows product. I don't know how it will behave on NT as yet. Dennis G. Van Arsdale, Technical Services Librarian Boreham Library, Westark Community College (4)---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 16:06:58 -0800 From: Kathy Johnson (CA Institute of Tech) Subject: RE: Electronics acquisitions librarians responses I've received a couple of responses, so far all pointing to one individual at one school: Ellen Duranceau of MIT. Apparently, MIT reorganized at least part of their acquisitions dept. in 1997. She prepared an interesting article that will appear in _Serials Librarian_ soon that talks about the changes in acquisitions needed because of electronic materials. Her info: Ellen Finnie Duranceau, Assistant Librarian for Digital Resources: efinnie@mit.edu, 253-7562. The article: http://web.mit.edu/waynej/www/duranceau.htm [Ed. note: This is an excellent article!] Katherine Johnson Head of Technical Processing Services Millikan Library 1-32 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 91125 (626) 395-6065 fax: (626) 792-7540 kjohnson@library.caltech.edu ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol.8, no.9 ****** END OF FILE ******