ACQNET v3n002 (January 12, 1993) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/serials/stacks/acqnet/acq-v3n002 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 2, January 12, 1993 ======================================= (1) FROM: Christian SUBJECT: Who's new on ACQNET today (14 lines) (2) FROM: Charles Forrest SUBJECT: Bookstores and publishers on the Internet (43 lines) (3) FROM: Christian Boissonnas SUBJECT: Ethics in acquisitions librarianship (66 lines) (4) FROM: Karen Muller SUBJECT: Meeting (Not ALA Midwinter!) announcement (41 lines) (1)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: January 12, 1993 From: Christian Subject: Who's new on ACQNET today Steven B. Sammons Department Head, Publications & Briefing Services The Aerospace Corporation E-mail: SAMMONS@COURIER2.AERO.ORG Gretchen Wolf Acquisitions Librarian Duke University School of Law Library E-mail: GPW@FACULTY.LAW.DUKE.EDU (2)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 06 Jan 93 14:38 EST From: Richard Jasper (Emory University) Subject: Bookstores and publishers on the net (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 19:05:24 -0500 >From: Ken Laws Subject: bookstores on the net I don't know if this is what you need to get the used book store online, but it couldn't hurt. Resources -- net-accessible bookstores: A list of book vendors with email addresses can be FTP'd from /pub/vpiej-l on borg.lib.vt.edu. [Tosolini Paolo (tosolini@uts340.univ.trieste.it). James VPIEJ-L, 12/22.] Computer Literacy Bookshop (San Jose) is on the net at info@clbooks.com and orders@clbooks.com, (408) 435-1118, (408) 435-0689 Fax. Stanford University Bookstore is bookstore@sierra.stanford.edu, (415) 329-1217, and has its catalog on the Stanford Library online catalog system. WordsWorth Books (Cambridge, MA) is 73457.315@compuserve.com, (617) 354-1529, (617) 354-4674 Fax. The TECHbooks Journal/catalog (tbj@techbks1.techbook.com) describes many new and older technical books. [misc.books.technical. NNews, 12/14.] Techbooks (Beaverton, OR) and Quantum Books accept overseas orders by email.[Jan Boorstein (boorstein%umbsky.dnet@ns.umb.edu), VPIEJ-L, 12/8.] The Online BookStore (obs@world.std.com) is making the foreword and first two chapters of Tracy LaQuey's new "Internet Companion" available in /OBS/The.Internet.Companion/ on world.std.com. The book is available for $10.95. [Barry Shein (bzs@world.std.com), com-priv, 12/17.] (The book is more of an overview than a detailed manual.) Publishers on the net include O'Reilly & Associates, book- info@ora.com and gopher.ora.com, (800) 998-9938, and Quantum Books (Cambridge, MA), quanbook@world.std.com. [misc.books.technical. NNews, 12/14.] (3)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 21:53:14 EST From: Christian Boissonnas (Cornell University) Subject: Ethics The coming midwinter meetings will feature much discussion about ethics and acquisitions librarianship. The Acquisitions Section's Ethics Task Force, PVLR, and ALCTS's Professional Ethics Task Force are three groups involved with the issue of ethics. A program is being planned for the annual conference in 1994. It seems, at first sight, that there may be too many fingers in this particular pie, but that's not why I write. My purpose here is to initiate a discussion on the nature of a code of ethics for acquisitions librarians. In the process of reading recent literature I have come to the conclusion that an attempt to write such a code is doomed to failure until some agreement has been obtained on a number of points. The recent discussion in _Against the Grain_ proves that. Each of the contributors, Carol, Joe, and Gary Shirk, reacted to Barbara Dean's proposal from different perspectives. What was interesting about their reactions was that they illustrated the reactors' ideas of what a code of ethics was, or wasn't and these ideas were, of course, different, and herein lies the problem: Unless we manage to reach some common understanding, no one will be able to write a document which will be appreciably better than what we have now. Unlike purchasing agents or accountants, we are a diverse group with dif- ferent philosophies about the purpose of our profession. This diversity makes agreements hard, though not impossible, to reach. Therefore I propose that we spend some time trying to reach an agreement as to what a code of ethics for acquisitions librarians is, then we can go on to actually writing one. Let's see if we can agree on the following points: 1. The charge of the Acquisitions Section Ethics Task Force is to draft a code of ethics for acquisitions librarians. It is not to draft a code for ALCTS or ALA. I believe that this is appropriate. Several authors I have read allude to the futility of trying to come up with a code for a group with diverse missions and have it mean anything. 2. The fact that it is to be a code for acquisitions librarians suggests a practical code dealing mostly with business practices, not unlike the codes of the National Association of Educational Buyers and the National Association of Purchasing Management. It will not deal with socially relevant issues such as censorship, equal access to information or other such goals, worthy though they may be. We can take it for granted that ALA will continue to set the standards on this aspect of things. 3. Even though we operate in different types of institutions, each with its own requirements, and we have varying authority, there is a core of beliefs that we all possess. These beliefs move us to want to behave ethically. Practically this means doing what's right and proper, and not what's legal (the legal system takes care of that) or common sense (or good management, which is merely being smart.) 4. A code of ethics is not a legal document, nor is it a statement of good or sound policies, or a list of prohibited practices. A code of ethics is a resource. In this case it is a resource to help acquisitions librarians figure out how to behave in commercial situations. It is an enabling document, not a proscriptive one. It gives acquisitions librarians a sense of what they can do, not what they may not do. 5. A code of ethics is a resource for individuals, to help them make personal decisions. It is not a resource for the organizations to which these individuals belong. A library doesn't behave ethically or not ethically, but its staff members do. This ought to do for a start. Please fire away. (4)---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 12 January 1993 11:13:22 CST From: Karen Muller (ALCTS) Subject: Advanced CMDI program ADVANCED COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE PLANNED ALCTS will present an institute entitled "Advanced Collection Management and Development" on March 26-28, 1993, at the Stouffer Riviere Hotel in Chicago. Registration will be accepted until March 8, 1993, and is limited to 70 persons. The program is directed toward experienced collection development specialists in all types of libraries. The combination of an outstanding group of speakers and interaction among experienced collection development officers will enable participants to greatly expand their skills. Having access to outstanding practitioners for the duration of the program will enable attendees to have their specific concerns addressed while forming new friendships among respected colleagues. Concentrated information on collections management will be provided with greatest depth in the area of electronic information. Speakers will include Ross Atkinson, Cornell University; Nancy Cline, Pennsylvania State University; Gay Dannelly, Ohio State University; Nancy Eaton, Iowa State University; David Farrell, University of California, Berkeley; Tony Ferguson, Columbia University; Laura Gasaway, University of North Carolina; Peggy Johnson, University of Minnesota; Bonnie MacEwan, Pennsylvania State University; Paul Mosher, University of Pennsylvania; Jim Neal, Indiana University; Eugene Wiemers, Northwestern University; and Kathleen Zar, University of Chicago. Registration fees for the 2-1/2 day program are $360 for ALCTS members, $395 for ALA members, and $430 for non-members and include instructional materials, two lunches, coffee breaks and one breakfast. The institute is being held at one of Chicago's newest and most elegant hotels, conveniently located near both the Loop and North Michigan Avenue. Reasonable room rates of $99 for single or double rooms include complimentary health club and indoor pool, morning coffee, and newspaper. For more information, contact Yvonne McLean at the ALCTS Office, 800-545-2433, ext. 5032. ******* END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 2 ****** END OF FILE *******