ACQNET v1n096 (August 5, 1991) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/serials/stacks/acqnet/acq-v1n096 ACQNET, Vol. 1, No. 96, August 5, 1991 ====================================== ISSN: 1057-5308 (1) FROM: Caleb Hanson SUBJECT: Vendor selection (17 lines) (2) FROM: David James SUBJECT: Vendor selection (41 lines) (3) FROM: Carol Chamberlain SUBJECT: ALMS organizational structure (129 lines) (1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1991 12:15 EDT From: "Caleb C. Hanson" Subject: Guidelines for assigning vendors Yes, Wellesley has written guidelines for staff. Monographs only, but they do address vendor vs. direct, and how/why to choose one vendor over another. It begins "1) Always *prefer* sending orders to a vendor", followed by excep- tions to rule 1; rush orders and other special cases; domestic vendors, with guidelines on what orders go to whom, and a list of preferred vendors for other parts of the world, and/or by subject specialty; how to guess at a US distribu- tor for a foreign title; prepayments, pre-pub offers, dissertations, and government documents. Four and a half pages total. It's not organized very well for a reference tool - it was written more as a training aid - but I know that staff do go back to it from time to time. (2) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 Aug 91 13:46:21 EDT From: David James Subject: Guidelines for assigning vendors The assignment of vendors/subscription agents depends very much on the basic philosophy of the library (or, in some cases, the Head of Acquisitions). My philosophy is based on three tenets: 1. Avoid ordering direct from the publisher, 2. Deal with as few vendors/agents as possible, and 3. Identify at least one reliable vendor per country or area of the world (in those areas where publishing output is small or unreliable). In dealing within the U.S. market there are two approaches: 1) use one vendor for the vast majority of orders (for which you negotiate a sizeable discount, which discount can be tied to approval plans if you use them) or 2) use several vendors, each for different types of books, such as sci/tech, university press, etc. The second approach is more common among those of us who, having lived through the Richard Abel disaster, are gun-shy about putting all our eggs in one basket. Although I remember Abel's downfall, and have seen other vendors come and go, I don't really advocate the second approach. For a large academic library, the financial advantages to be gained by consolidating seem to me to far outweigh the potential danger of your vendor's going out of business. That is, of course, presuming that you have chosen a vendor who is in good shape fiscally. I have been speaking in terms of monographic orders, but I am even more convinced of the virtues of consolidating serials. The fewer renewal invoices, claims addresses, customer service agents, the better. However, having said all this, I must add that service has to be a high priority. A 20% discount really doesn't do you any good if your vendor can't supply the titles or if your serials don't arrive. The idea is to find someone who can supply what you need efficiently at the best price. Added services are very important -invaluable, almost - given the limitations on staff time. The Eisenhower Library is just completing a survey of firm order vendors, which we will use in future when we determine guidelines for vendor selection. The survey will include data on titles shipped/not shipped, length of time between ordering and receipt of material, effective discount, etc. We believe that this will enable us to obtain our goal of best service at the best price. (3) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: August 5, 1991 From: Carol Chamberlain SUBJECT: ALMS organizational structure On behalf of the Executive Committee, I am pleased to announce the new organi- zation and committee structure of the Acquisition of Library Materials Section. American Library Association Association for Library Collections and Technical Services Acquisition of Library Materials Section Organization and Structure July 1991 Bylaws Please note that revisions to the Bylaws object statement are under consider- ation for the ALA midwinter conference. Object statement (Bylaws, Article II, approved by Resources Section membership vote, June 1991) The object of this section is to contribute to library service and librarianship through encouragement, promotion of, and responsibility for those activities of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services of the American Library Association relating to the acquisition of library materials in all types of institutions. Executive Committee (Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1) The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the section, the immediate past chair of the section, and five (5) members at large. The Executive Director, ALCTS, and the representative of the section of the editorial board of the Association's journal shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee, without the right to vote. ALMS supports three administrative support committees and three issues commit- tees. Appointments to committees are in progress. Administrative Support Committees NOMINATING COMMITTEE Charge: To nominate candidates for elective offices of the section. The Nominating Committee consists of three members-at-large of the section, no one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Committee. POLICY AND PLANNING Charge: To coordinate the policy and planning activities of the Acquisition of Library Materials Section. To make recommendations regarding ALMS policy questions at the request of the ALMS Executive Committee. To consider acquisitions issues as a whole and to recommend long-range section goals and objectives and to identify new areas of interest to the section. To review each standing section-level committee concerning its relevance to and success in furthering the goals and objectives of the section. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Charge: To coordinate the development and review of ALMS publications and to submit them with recommendations to the ALMS Executive Committee; to refer proposals and manuscripts approved by the ALMS Executive Committee to the ALCTS Publications Committee and to expedite their progress through the publications process; to identify appropriate topics for new publications; to establish sub-committees to develop guides and other publications; to serve as consultant to other ALMS units who wish to prepare documents for publication. Issues Committees ACQUISITIONS ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Charge: To promote the development and practice of effective techniques and sound ethical, fiscal, and legal policies and procedures in acquisitions management and in relationships with suppliers and producers. To further assess and encourage research into the role and organization of the acquisitions function within the library and the relationships among related areas such as accounting and purchasing offices and collection management. TECHNOLOGY FOR ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE Charge: To identify, study and evaluate procedures, issues and trends related to the selection, development, and implementation of acquisitions systems and related technologies; to identify the need for and to play an active role in the development of standards, and to encourage research and the general study of issues in this area; to make a continuing assessment of information access issues related to acquisitions; to suggest directions for change in the automation of acquisitions. EDUCATION COMMITTEE Charge: To further educational efforts in the area of acquisitions librarianship ranging from library school instructuion and practice to all types of continuing education; to encourage and coordinate programs, preconferences, and institutes; to identify the needs and to make recommendations for the content of such educational opportunities; to address issues related to the recruitment of acquisitions librarians; to establish liaison, as appropriate, between the committee and other bodies having similar interests. DISCUSSION GROUPS Acquisition Librarians/Vendors of Library Materials Gifts and Exchange Acquisitions Administrators Acquisitions Topics for Public Libraries Additionally, there are appointed ALMS representatives to various ALCTS committees. The ALMS Executive Committee wishes to thank the officers of the former Resources Section, the reorganization task forces and the section members for their contributions for this effort. We are pleased with the enthusiastic response to the new organization and with the large number of volunteers for committee membership. If you are interested in becoming involved in the section's activities, pleases submit an ALCTS Committee Volunteer Form with a current resume to: Carol Chamberlain, E506 Pattee Library, Pennsylvania State University, Univer- sity Park, PA 16802 Telephone: (814) 865-1858 Fax: (814) 863-7293 Bitnet: CEC@PSULIAS ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE *****