ACQNET v1n035 (February 26, 1991) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acq-v1n035 ACQNET, Vol 1, No. 35, February 26, 1991 ======================================== (1) FROM: Joe Barker SUBJECT: Slavic orders and subscriptions (23 lines) (2) FROM: Marsha Clark SUBJECT: Slavic orders and subscriptions (10 lines) (3) FROM: Bill Kara SUBJECT: Slavic orders and subscriptions (16 lines) (4) FROM: Kat McGrath SUBJECT: Slavic orders and subscriptions (20 lines) (5) FROM: Christian Boissonnas SUBJECT: Slavic orders and subscriptions (64 lines) (1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 25 Feb 91 17:15:06 PST From: Joe Barker Subject: Berkeley's action for Soviet serials with Delorme closing We are taking advantage of Delorme's offer to provide our list of subscriptions to Collets. We are going with what appears to be consensus of ARL Slavic bibliographers on the best option. We are having to act fast. Faxing and phone calls to set up accounts, to authorize renewals, and to do any cancellations we want to do. I am a little concerned about Collets now that I hear that Collets is announc- ing that LE is going out by bankruptcy. That was not my understanding of the situation--for more info reread Christian's piece [ACQNET, Vol. 1, No. 30(3)]. We are getting other source that confirm Christian's version. We knew about this problem early in comparison to many. We found out on Thursday, 2/22. I believe poor Delorme's hands were tied, and he's trying to watch out for our best interests. Our remaining concern is our Soviet Approval plan. Slavic bibliographers nationwide are busy on their networks and phones trying to find alternatives. If I learn of anything viable, I'll report it here. (2) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Feb 91 13:36 EST From: Marsha Clark Subject: Russian journals Today we received a renewal list from Kamkin for our Russian titles, indicating that the Russian supplier had transferred our list to Kamkin and that we had to renew by 3/1 (Friday). We did not have good service from Kamkin when we used them before transferring our list to Les Livres Etrangers. I'm also wondering, if Les Livres Etrangers is negotiating with Collets, if we will end up with two subscriptions, one through Collets and one from Kamkin!! (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Feb 91 15:07:28 EST From: Bill Kara Subject: Les Livres Etrangers Mann Library at Cornell University has had a relatively small account with Les Livres Etrangers. Today we were notified by Victor Kamkin, Inc. regarding the renewal of six Soviet subscriptions which were placed with Les Livres Et- rangers. Victor Kamkin, Inc. included a letter from Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga which stated "we have to ask you to place your subscription with payment in full through the firm V. Kamkin." Until today I have only read of Collets possibly taking over Les Livres Etrangers subscriptions. What's up? In addition, the six titles on the Victor Kamkin renewal invoice represent most, but not all of our Soviet subscriptions with Les Livres Etrangers. This would give us an opportunity to ensure the transfer of most of our Les Livres Etrangers subscriptions with little additional work or complication - I would like to know what other libraries are doing? (4) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Feb 91 14:06:18 PST From: Kat McGrath Subject: LES LIVRES ETRANGERS I am writing today with some urgency as we have received our second letter from an agent informing us that we must notify them by March 1, 1991 of our inten- tions to renew our subscriptions with them (as opposed to Les Livres Etrangers) for our Soviet titles. Sorry, I am creating this message on the spot and it is difficult for me to be clear. At any rate, I will try again by saying that we now have a letter from TROYKA LTD. headquartered in Toronto, Ontario stating that they too (like Collets) are ready and able to carry on where Livres Etrangers has failed. It appears the contact 'Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga' in the USSR is demanding immediate confirmation of subscription renewals (ie by March 1) or else we run the risk of not being able to get these titles at all as they will go out of print. Troyka is not prepared to deal with payments made to Les Livres Etrangers and my guess is they are focussing their attention on Canadian clients. We do not have any record of serial subs with them, nor do we have any active mono orders so I can't trace our history with them. Any info you can provide on this situation will be greatly appreciated. (5) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: February 26, 1991 From: Christian Boissonnas Subject: Les Livres Etrangers, Collets, Kamkin, Troyka, et. al. You know the old saying: "Where there's smoke there's fire." That, actually, is an old French saying which got really messed up in the translation. What is should have become is "Where there's blood there's sharks." Boy, are the sharks out! Slow down some, people! You're forgetting one essential fact: If the distribu- tion system in Russia has broken down, neither Collets nor Kamkin, nor Gorbachev himself, will be able to send you any titles. What these people are doing is trying to steal market share by getting you to place money with them now and getting you tied down to them. I bet they know perfectly well that they can't come through now, but they don't care because, having you cash, they'll have you hooked. First of all we need facts: 1. What's the situation in Russia? I've asked some people to work on that, but it may take a couple of days before we know if they can help us. 2. Who's telling what truth? Georges Delorme who told me he was closing shop because he couldn't go on in this environment, or Collets et al. who say he went bankrupt? I don't know, but my money is on Delorme, and not because he's French. If he was bankrupt, why bother to answer the phone and call me back? Why bother to send a FAX at UNC? Why bother to try to make a deal (the exact nature of which we don't know yet) with Collets? That doesn't sound like the kind of stuff a bankrupt man would do. 3. What's the nature of the deal with Collets? 4. Why did Collets jump the gun and start calling us before Delorme who said that he would? How about because they wanted to take a lead over Kamkin et al.? 5. What's the relationship between Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga and Kamkin. Looks pretty cozy to me suddenly. 6. How do Collets et al. propose to supply what we need now, not next year or the year after? 7. What's actually being published in the Soviet Union right now? 8. What's so sacred about March 1st? If you think about it for half a minute I'm sure each of you will be able to figure out some more questions to ask. Don't give in to a bunch of vendors' blackmail attempts. Above all these people want your money. They see this as their big chance. March 1 may be a totally artificial deadline mentioned to force your hands. They can wait a few more days. What we need is answers. Ask your Slavic experts. They know someone you or they can call in Russia. Who has actually talked to anyone at Collets or Kamkin and asked the questions that need asking? If you haven't, then do it and send me the answers so I can let everyone know. That's what we are all about in ACQNET, you know. ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE *****