ACQNET: Procedure for book requests (7 responses)

From: Eleanor Cook <cookei_at_appstate.edu>
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 21:17:35 -0500
To: acqnet-l_at_listproc.appstate.edu
(1)--------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 17:09:48 -0400
From: Mary Wickins  (Regis Univ.) <MWickins_at_regis.edu>
Subject: RE- Procedure for book requests

    We also accept orders in this "casual" manner (initials and fund on
a circled item in a catalog.)  We also have 3 x 5 order cards (Gaylord)
that can be handwritten, and we accept emails from the librarians coming
from the BIP database to the acquisitions department. (We transfer this
information to the order card.)
     We have to check the orders for duplicates and also to verify the
information. We are a relatively small academic library with 10
librarians/bibliographers and one branch library.
     With the object being to get the budget spent each year, I am happy
to receive orders from the bibliographers in any shape or form.  The
expectation is that the librarians' verify the information, and check
the catalog for duplication, but this doesn't always happen.  Hence, the
need to check one more time before we order.  Also, the circled items
are
easier to "read" than some handwritten orders, and the catalog serves as
a
"verification."
        Each order is linked to the bibliographer's initials and must
also designate a fund.

--Mary Clare Wickins

(2)-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:  Mon, 28 Oct 2002 09:40:17 -0500
From: Allison Mays (Millsaps College) <maysap_at_millsaps.edu>
Subject: RE: Procedures for book requests

We use a similar method. I have a student worker who fills out order
cards for all the titles marked, putting the initials of the person 
requesting the title. I don't consider this a lot of extra work, but 
then we're a small academic library and this is our normal workflow. 
We're very paper-driven. I'd love to get away from filling out cards 
and printing out purchase orders, but the honest truth is, it works. 
Our online system is not very flexible and the only way I can see 
which purchase orders have not been filled is to open the file
drawer.

We have an online order form which students tend to use; faculty 
usually email me directly or send me catalogs with items marked. 
Personally, I'd rather have the catalog because all the information 
I need is there. But I don't require anything - just get me the 
information, whatever you have.

Tear it out of a catalog, email me, call me, whatever. Our library used
to require faculty liaisons to fill out order cards; I don't require
this.
It's a lot more cost-effective to have a student worker making minimum 
wage filling out order cards than expect a PhD or staff member to fill
out an online order form, order card, etc.

Our reference librarian sometimes fills out his own order cards. I still
think it's a waste of his time when I have a student worker I need to
keep busy.

Just my 2 cents' worth...

Allison

Allison P. Mays
Acquisitions Librarian
Millsaps College
1701 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39210
601-974-1083
maysap_at_millsaps.edu

(3)-------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 10:05:09 -0500
From:  Nancy Stanley (PA State U.) <nms_at_psulias.psu.edu>
Subject: RE - Procedures for book requests

In Acquisitions Services at Penn State, we consider accepting an order
request in any format as one of our services to selector librarians.  In
fact, we like to say that we will accept an order request "even on a
napkin."   In addition, each team who places orders, provides order
forms on its web page.  In addition to the forms and a napkin, we will 
accept requests by emails, blurbs, marked-up magazines, etc.  On the 
latter we have asked selectors, if possible, to photocopy the pages 
instead of marking the magazine.

Each order request must be accompanied by the fullest citation possible,
location decision, binding information if it is paperback, and a fund
designation.  Yes, a selector's  (bibliographer's) signature is required
and the selector can authorize purchases only for items within his/her
assigned discipline.   A new serial title requires a second signature
from our Assistant Dean for Collections, because it entails a long-term
commitment on the part of the library.  Optional information includes
special offers or instructions, need-by date if it is a rush item, etc.

Hope this helps.  n/

(4)--------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 11:17:30 -0500
From: Anne L. Kirby (Univ. of Baltimore) <akirby_at_UBmail.ubalt.edu>
Subject: RE - Procedures for book requests

We currently use a paper form, just half a sheet, with basic book
information, areas for notes on special pub. info, funds info, and
whether the book is a rush or reserve or personal request, etc. I input 
the info in our ordering system and discard the form. Online forms would 
be easy but I'm waiting till we switch to a new system next year.

Anne Kirby
University of Baltimore, Langsdale Library

(5)--------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 15:45:12 -0500
From: Pat Palmieri (Lafayette College) <palmierp_at_mail.lafayette.edu>
Subject: RE -  Procedures for book requests

Hello,
I would also welcome discussion on this topic. We changed from the cards
to the more informal catalog, e-mail, etc ordering. I find it terribly
unorganized and time consuming.

Pat Palmieri

Ms. Pat Palmieri                      phone: 610-330-5601
Acquisitions Assistant                fax: 610-252-0370
Skillman Library                      email: palmierp_at_lafayette.edu
Lafayette College
710 Sullivan Rd.
Easton, PA 18042-1797

(6)---------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 18:54:51 -0500
From: Judy Alliprandine (Jefferson Co PL) <judya_at_jefferson.lib.co.us>
Subject: RE - Procedures for book requests

We are a multi-branch public library, with distributed selection
responsibilities (ie, selection is not centralized).  Our acquisitions
staff creates online selection lists from a basic set of reviewing
journals (PW, LJ, Booklist, etc.).  These lists are then available for 
all authorized selectors to "tag onto," indicating fund, no. of copies 
and branch location.

We use the selection list function in our Innovative ILS.

Judy Alliprandine
Head, Acquisitions Unit
Jefferson County Public Library
10500 W.38th Ave., Wheat Ridge CO 80033
303-275-2251 (office)
303-275-2255 (FAX)
judya_at_jefferson.lib.co.us

Find us on the Web: http://jefferson.lib.co.us

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Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 09:10:03 -0500
From: Diana Jackson  (Middletown PL) <DJACKSON_at_mail.mpl.lib.oh.us>
Subject: RE -  Procedures for book requests

Our library uses almost exactly the same, clunky method.  I  would love
to hear what other libraries are doing to improve this process.

Diana L. Jackson
Cataloging Manager
Middletown Public Library
125 S. Broad Street
Middletown, OH  45044

(513)424-7194 ext. 219
djackson_at_mail.mpl.lib.oh.us

>>> lgerman_at_ux1.cso.uiuc.edu 10/26/02 10:10AM >>>
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:50:32 -0400
From: Lisa Schulz (Thomas Branigan Mem. Lib.) <LSchulz_at_las-cruces.org>
Subject: Procedures for book requests

We are revising our procedures for book requests. Formerly, any staff
member simply picked up a selection tool (such as Publisher's Weekly,
Library Journal, etc.) and placed their initials next to a book blurb,
with some indication of which collection they expected acquisitions to 
add the title to and nothing else. A routing slip on the cover had names 
of all the requestors  who the magazine had passed through, and it was 
marked up with page numbers referring to book requests. This casual 
method makes for a lot of extra work in acquistions. We would like to 
hear from those who use request forms, online or otherwise. What 
information do you require requestors to fill out, and what procedures 
do you require them to follow?

Must purchases first be authorized by someone accountable for that
particular part of the collection?
Thanks for any input.

Lisa M. Schulz
Cataloger
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library
200 E. Picacho Ave.
Las Cruces, NM 88001
lschulz_at_las-cruces.org
(505) 528-4012
FAX (505) 528-4030
Received on Mon Nov 11 2002 - 21:01:43 EST