ACQNET v1n065 (April 30, 1991) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acq-v1n065 ACQNET, Vol 1, No. 65, April 30, 1991 ===================================== (1) FROM: Christian SUBJECT: Who's new on ACQNET today (13 lines) (2) FROM: Carole Lawrence SUBJECT: Karger title (53 lines) (3) FROM: Joe Barker SUBJECT: Acquisitions/Collection development, ALCTS split (20 lines) (4) FROM: Marcie Kingsley SUBJECT: Acquisitions/Collection development (46 lines) (1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: April 31, 1991 From: Christian Subject: Who's new on ACQNET today Terry Allison Marylou Hale Collections Librarian Orders Supervisor California St. Univ. - San Marcos University of Nevada - Las Vegas E-mail: YTERRYA@CALSTATE.BITNET E-mail: MHALE@UNSVAX.BITNET Marjorie Wilhite Serials Librarian University of Iowa Libraries E-mail: CADMWLTS@UIAMVS.BITNET (2) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1991 10:56 EST From: Carole Lawrence Subject: Karger outrage Yale Medical Library 333 Cedar Street New Haven, CT 06510 25 April 1991 Dr. Thomas Karger S Karger AG Allschwilerstrasse 10 P.O. Box CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland Dear Dr. Karger: In late March we received a single book and invoice dated 22 February 1991 for US$412.90. The book was priced at US$398.50 plus $14.40 for handling. This was brought to my attention because the staff member handling the item thought there might be an error in the price. I have confirmed that Karger's US dollar price for the book is in fact $398.50. The title in question is: Health effects of [omega] 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in seafoods. World review of nutrition and dietetics, v. 66 Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on the Health Effects of [omega] 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Seafoods, Washington, D.C., March 20-23, 1990. Editors: Artemis P. Simopoulos, et al. 1991. We have a standing order for this series with Karger. The average price of the previous eight volumes in the series was approximately US$150, with the highest price at US$173.75 for volume 60. Although this is an attractively produced and printed book of 592 pages, I see no reason for this excessive price when I compare it to similar volumes purchased by this Library. I have consulted with researchers here at Yale and have found no one who believes that this material is worth purchasing at that price. Although overshadowed by the price of the book, the US$14.40 handling charge also seems excessive for one book. I do appreciate the fact that the price of this volume called it to my attention. We will cancel this series and I am herewith returning the volume and invoice. Thank you for your attention to this matter. (3) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Apr 91 12:50:10 PDT From: Joe Barker Subject: Split in ALCTS--commenting on Christian's comments Christian: As usual, you have asked good questions. I think the best way to answer them is to wait and watch carefully what new tensions emerge, how the new configuration might help resolve or institutionalize these ten- sions, and which libraries have which. In my more cynical mind, I don't think ALA did much to help or cause these. I think they are the product of institutions, leaders (weak and strong), organi- zational choices, history, and personalities. I think the most important issue for whatever organization we have in ALA is: What are we trying to accomplish? All of the rhetoric about how an organiza- tional change can hinder or help is moot if we don't know the answer to this basic question. And I'd bet no three of us could agree on an answer right now. If not, the new Acq forum might help us figure out an answer. (4) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 30 Apr 91 08:45:53 -0400 From: Marcie Kingsley Subject: Acquisitions/Collection development This is in response to Christian's interesting comments on the acquisitions/ collection development split within libraries. I'd agree that size of the library usually is a pretty good predictor of which libraries will have the functions divided. I'd also offer other factors such as graduate-intensity and, in some cases, image-making. At the University of N.C. at Greensboro, a committee handled collection development very effectively but at great cost to the already-overworked librarians (mostly department heads) who were on the committee; the heads of Acq., Serials, Circulation, and Reference were the mainstays of this busy committee. The Library seemed to reach a threshold when the need for a collection development officer became clear even amidst tight budgeting and staffing; while the library is medium-sized (staff about 75, budget about $1.5 million, 1+ million vols., student body 10,000), the growing number of Ph.D. programs and the emphasis on library-oriented liberal arts programs seemed to make the library turn a crucial corner in needing a c.d. officer. Now some anecdotal evidence on the role of image-making in the separation of acq. and c.d.: at Western Michigan University, a non-acquisitions person was named to handle collection development during a period when several measures have been taken to emulate a large research library. For example, the decision to implement NOTIS was made at least in part to fit into the ranks of ARL lib- raries. Also, the "Director" became a Dean--and instead of 1 Assistant Director there arose 3 Assistant Deans. Then the Assistant Dean who is in charge of public relations, fund-raising, outreach, library publications (and several other areas) was asked to coordinate collection development. Though it appears that the Head of Acq. and the reference librarian/book selectors will actually continue to "do" as much collection development as before, there is a separate titular head of c.d. Again, this is a library system of about 75 staff, $ 1.5 million acquisitions budget, 1+ million volumes; the student body is 25,000 but mostly undergraduate, with graduate programs primarily in their nascent stages. The "need" for a collection development officer appears to mainly for the purposes of beginning to look like a research university. Now, on the subject of TENSION developing between c.d. and acq. personnel. I think it is too early to tell in both these cases. If you are out there, Jim Romer, please let us know how things are at UNG-G! It has always been my experience that there is so much c.d. work needing attention, that there is enough to go around for everyone. But from what I read and hear, there is bound to be conflict or at least irritation. ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE ***** END OF FILE *****