ACQNET v2n095 (October 5, 1992) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acq-v2n095 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 2, No. 95, October 5, 1992 ======================================= (1) FROM: Christian Boissonnas SUBJECT: ACQNET to take a break (13 lines) (2) FROM: Barbara Winters SUBJECT: ALCTS reorganization (22 lines) (3) FROM: Joe Barker SUBJECT: ALCTS reorganization (52 lines) (4) FROM: Joyce Ogburn SUBJECT: Operational standards (17 lines) (5) FROM: Peggy Matthews SUBJECT: Job announcement (50 lines) (1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: October 5, 1992 From: Christian Subject: ACQNET to break for a week Unless the awesome combination of Barbara Winters and Joe Barker causes you, dear subscribers, to burst out of your shells and suddenly, all in one day, send me about 200 lines of opinions, this will be the last ACQNET until the middle of next week. My wife and I are leaving Ithaca on Wednesday, bound for Chicago, she, to spend time with our Chicago-area boy, and I, to attend the annual NOTIS Users Groups Meeting extravaganza. So, I repeat, if you want an ACQNET tomorrow night, then send me 200 lines or so before 7 p.m. Eastern time. (2) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 02 Oct 1992 06:48:21 -0400 (EDT) From: Barbara Winters (Wright State University) Subject: ALCTS organization and reorganization I have written several long responses (perhaps even diatribes) on the ALCTS organization discussion without submitting any of them to ACQNET. This morning, I realized why: I can simplify my opinion about the issues and questions under discussion into one statement, comprising three sentences. (This may be an OVERsimplification -- I have been known to be guilty of that. If it is, I am sure that Ann, Arnold, Christian, Joe, Richard, October, Carol, and Joyce will forgive me.) So, at the risk of oversimplifying, here is what I think about the ALCTS organization and any proposed reorganization: ALCTS is me, and I am it. ALCTS may have some flaws; all organizations do. If I am not happy with ALCTS (current or proposed), perhaps I should examine my own contributions to determine if there is something *I* can do to improve my professional organization. (3) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 15:30:09 PDT From: Joe Barker (University of California) Subject: ALCTS - My proposal revisited I received recently the forms to sign up for meeting space for the summer of 1993. Most of us committee chairs have not yet set our agendas for Midwinter, and we just finished requesting rooms for Midwinter. In an earlier piece proposing reform in ALCTS organization, I wrote of the need for a more responsive organization, one that is more nimble on its feet. When we have to plan discussion groups and programs so far in advance -- before we pick the speakers and/or topics -- how in the hell can we become more nimble? The meeting room sign-up is a symptom of the sluggishness that drags ALA down. I want to reformulate my earlier proposal in this light. What if we empowered the sections to decide unilaterally on programs and discussions. Then, to avoid the need for signing up before you know what you're going to do, what if we allocated to each section a maximum number of program slots per conference? What if the sections each had to live within that "program budget"? If programs are not forthcoming from a section, give one section's budget to another. We should also force any discussion group that fails to attract an audience to be forever discontinued (maybe give it one sunset meeting to redeem itself). The principle here is to make the rules easy to follow, easy for the membership to understand and retain, out in the open (away from board meetings), self-policing, and delegated for enforcement at the lowest (not the highest -- ALCTS Exec) level. If this would move too fast for ALA headquarters and the conference planners, then let's tackle how they're run. Let's analyze the problem before coming up with supposed solutions. I'll fill in these damn forms for PVLR committee for New Orleans. But doing it so far in advance, it's like writing science fiction. Speaking of fiction... Imagine this: PVLR is right now charged with enthusiasm and momentum for discussion/training program on ethics in publisher/vendor/library relations! By the time the current set of rules will authorize us to plan such a thing, most of PVLR membership will have changed, and who knows what will have happened to the current zest of our enthusiasm? ALCTS and ALA rules sometimes kill spontaneity, and I believe the energy of spontaneity is a precious resource, not to be wasted. I rest my case. (4) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 5 Oct 1992 09:58:43 U From: Joyce Ogburn (Yale University) Subject: Standards for operations For my research I am gathering information on standards for acquisitions operations, such as turnaround time on placing orders, receiving serials, processing approval books, claiming, paying invoices, and so on. Has the acquisitions department in your library established any such standards? In lieu of or in addition to standards, have you established a list of priorities for workflow? Is this information used only in the acquisitions department or is it shared with colleagues in the library and with patrons? I would appreciate receiving copies of standards if you are free to share them. My address is: Joyce L. Ogburn, Chief Acquisitions Librarian, Sterling Memorial Library, P.O. Box 1603A Yale Station, New Haven CT 06520 Thank you for your input. (5) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 5 Oct 92 08:53:48 CST From: Peggy Matthews (Mississippi State Univ.) Subject: Job announcement September 14, 1992 Position Vacancy Announcement Acquisitions Librarian The Mississippi State University Libraries seeks applications for an Instructor/Assistant Professor level position of Acquisitions Librarian, Mitchell Memorial Library. Position is one of two FTE Faculty reporting to Coordinator, Acquisitions Services. Duties include participation in planning and implementation of policies and procedures for acquisitions and serial services. Assists with monographs/serials acquisitions including pre-order searching, ordering, receiving, and approving invoices for payment. Has direct responsibility for gifts and exchange unit. Trains and supervises small classified staff and student assistants. QUALIFICATIONS: ALA accredited MLS degree and experience with automated systems required. Working knowledge of AACR2 and LC classification, demonstrated supervisory skills, effective oral and written communications skills, and ability to interact effectively with faculty and colleagues necessary. Experience with automated acquisitions system desired. Knowledge of gifts and exchange procedures and experience with the OCLC System preferred. BENEFITS: Faculty rank; privileges and responsibilities; tenure track, 12 month appointment; retirement plan options including state and/or other plans; comprehensive medical insurance coverage; 18 days annual leave; 12 days health care leave per year, plus most university holidays. SALARY: Salary dependent on qualifications and/or experience. Instructor rank: $21,000 - $23,500. Assistant Professor rank: $23,500 - $25,750. APPLICATIONS: Send by October 30, 1992, letter of application, resume and names, addresses and telephone number of three work references to: Frances Coleman, Associate Director Mississippi State University Libraries P.O. Box 5408 Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 Applications received thereafter will be considered if the position is still open. Mississippi State University is an AA/EEO Employer ******* END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 2, No. 95 ****** END OF FILE *******