ACQNET v1n113 (October 4, 1991) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/serials/stacks/acqnet/acq-v1n113 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 1, No. 113, October 4, 1991 ======================================== (1) FROM: Christian SUBJECT: Who's new on ACQNET today (8 lines) (2) FROM: Christian Boissonnas SUBJECT: Collets, Les Livres Etrangers, Slavic purchasing (166 lines) (1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: October 4, 1991 From: Christian Subject: Who's new on ACQNET today Marla Edelman Jacqueline Douglas Head Serials Librarian Serials Librarian U. of North Carolina - Greensboro City College Library E-mail: EDELMANM@UNCG.BITNET E-mail: JACCC@CUNYVM.BITNET (3) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Oct 91 19:47:48 EDT From: Christian Boissonnas Subject: Collets, Les Livres Etrangers, Slavic purchasing Below are the texts of two letters. The first, from me to Eva Skelley, Managing Director of Collets, requests information about an occurence about which I was made aware last week. The second, from Dr. Skelley, is Collets response. THE FIRST LETTER: CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS DEPARTMENT 110 Olin Library Ithaca, NY 14853-5301 (607) 255-4969 September 30, 1991 Ms Eva Skelley, Managing Director Collets Dennington Estate Wellingborough Northants NN8 2QT UNITED KINGDOM Dear Ms Skelley, In my capacity as Editor of ACQNET, the Acquisitions Librarian Electronic Network, I have come across certain information about Collets that I would very much appreciate having you verify and comment upon. If I decide to publish the item in question, your reply, if any, will be included in its entirety. The information I have relates to the demise of Les Livres Etrangers. A library in this country which had orders for Russian publications with Les Livres Etrangers has recently received some of these same publications, and at least one invoice, from Collets. The library claims that it has no orders with your firm for any of these publications. I would be grateful if you would confirm for ACQNET that you are sending books to libraries in the United States in response to orders that they had placed through Les Livres Etrangers, and the conditions and understandings that you have reached with these libraries under which you are sending these books. As you well know the whole story of Russian publishing and its distribution has created much confusion in this country. Any comments that you would care to make that would clarify that story and explain Collets' strategy and action in it would be helpful and appreciated. ACQNET is an electronic network which links people interested in library acquisitions and related issues. It was started in December 1990 and currently has over 320 subscribers in seven countries. Newsletters are sent irregularly, but average one every other day or so. Because of the importance of, and interest in, this matter, I hope that I can receive any reply that you may wish to make this week. You may telefax your reply at the following number: 607-255-9346. Sincerely, Christian M. Boissonnas Acquisitions Librarian THE SECOND LETTER: COLLETS International Booksellers Subscription Agents Library Suppliers Publishers Denington Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NNB 2QT, U.K. Tel: (0933) 224351 Telex: 31720 Collet G Fax: (0933) 276402 ES/pej 2 October 1991 Christian M. Boissonnas Acquisitions Librarian Cornell University Library Acquisitions Department 110 Olin Library Ithaca, NY 14853-5301 U S A Dear Christian Boissonnas, Thank you for your letter of September 30 to which I am happy to reply as follows. Collets have acquired the business of Les Livres Etrangers from the liquidators of the company, comprising database of customers for books and journals, database of books ordered with Mezhkniga via LLE, and books already delivered to Paris and taken over by the liquidators. Action taken by Collets so far: 1) Collets have contacted all customers who were using LLE for journal subscriptions and are handling orders for 1992 for all those who have confirmed with Collets. 2) Collets have contacted all customers who used LLE for their BLANKET and on APPROVAL profiles, offering to provide the same service in future and are already operating the service for all those who confirmed with Collets. 3) Collets have provided computer print-outs of all monograph orders placed through LLE to Mezhkniga, requesting confirmation from the libraries which titles are required to be supplied through Collets. These confirmations are passed to Mezhkinga who, in turn, then supply the books when published. 4) Collets have confirmed all orders to Mezhkinga for customers who transferred all their ordering to Collets. Page 2 5) Collets have now completed the processing of continuation orders (standing orders for irregular serials and multi-volume works) and will be supplying print-outs to libraries for confirmation, except those in category 4, who will get them automatically. 6) Collets have supplied books held in Paris by the liquidators, i.e. legally LLE property, the proceeds of which were paid to the liquidators by Collets, to all customers. Collets are continuing their comprehensive service of acquiring books and journals from the former-USSR area and Eastern Europe. They are expanding their service into the marketing of Western materials in the Slavonic specialisation. Collets produce regular catalogues: _New Imported Titles_, listing their imports from the former USSR and E. Europe. _Spotlight on the USSR and Eastern Europe_ listing titles published in the West. Regular annual catalogues in Teaching Aids and Dictionaries, Art, Literature, Travel, and maps. Mailing forms are provided on request. On the suggestion of Sconul, Collets will be producing regular up-dates on the situation with MK, and supplies from the relevant territories, in view of the changing situation. Collets have a resident representative in Moscow whose task is to establish links with publishers and suppliers who are not using Mezhkinga. Our representative will attend the AAASS conference in Miami this November and will be pleased to answer any questions in greater detail. I trust this information answers your questions. Do feel free to publish it as it stands. Yours sincerely, COLLETS Eva Skelley, Ph.D., Managing Director FURTHER COMMENTS: While this exchange was taking place, another was also taking place between Collets and the library which had received books for which it had no orders. The person in charge at that library and I discussed the two sets of communica- tions. We believe that, although sent in error, the books were sent by Collets in good faith. Collets has agreed to take them back at their cost. As everyone knows the whole situation involving Slavic purchasing has been pretty nightmarish all year. While I do not know of any other library which had an experience similar to the one described here, it could have happened, and could still happen. This story suggests that vigilance when dealing with the receipt of Slavic materials is still in order, at least for the next few months. ******* END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 1, No. 113 ****** END OF FILE *******