ACQFLASH: Where have all the Acquisitions Librarians Gone?

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Date: Wed, 04 Sep 2002 09:13:56 -0400
From: Heather Miller  (SUNY-Albany) <HMiller_at_uamail.albany.edu>
Subject:  Where Have All the Acquisitions Librarians Gone?

Both for the use of this library in improving its ability to attract
viable
candidates for Head of the  Acquisitons Services Dept.and  in the hopes
of putting together a panel discussion for this November's Charleston
Conference, I am seeking input relative to finding librarians who are
willing and able to fill heads of acquisitons positions.

There are some terrifically talented and dedicated librarians serving in

this capacity, but they seem content where they are for the most part.
How do we fill open positions?

Would you be willing to share insights re the ease or difficulty of
finding
good candidates for Head of Acquisitions positions? Insights re your
search process? What works, what doesn't? What makes an ad effective?
Do you advertise in any non-standard sources that seem productive?

Do you have any thoughts on acquisitions librarianship in general? I do
have the impression that it is hard to find good acquisitions
librarians.
If you share this view, what do you think the cause is? And, more
important, what can be done about it? What do you think are the
crucial factors in attracting solid candidates to your institution?

I would be very happy to hear your opinions, insights, etc. on this
issue
and would also like to hear from persons interested in participating in
a panel discussion on the topic at the Charleston Conference.

It would be good to have input from the library school side as well - do

library schools care? Most of us learned the on the job - is that really

desirable?

Although my focus is North America, I would be delighted to hear from
elsewhere as well. What is the situation re hiring qualified and
enthusiastic people to serve as heads of acquisitions in other
countries?
Is there a model or experience we could learn from? It would certainly
be good to have a non-North American perspective on the panel.

Feel free to share this request with others, perhaps the administrators
who hire Acquisitons librarians, and library school faculty.

Please send your thoughts to me directly and don't be limited by my
questions! I will summarize for the list.

Thank you very much.

Heather S. Miller
Assistant Director for Technical Services and Systems
University Libraries ULB34
University at Albany
1400 Washington Ave.
Albany NY 12222
518-442-3631
F518-442-3630
e-mail: hmiller_at_uamail.albany.edu

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