ACQNET v3n035 (March 30, 1993) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acq-v3n035 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 35, March 30, 1993 ====================================== (1) FROM: Wayne Perryman SUBJECT: Allergens in books, books from India (58 lines) (2) FROM: Agnes Quigg SUBJECT: Allergens in books, books from India (20 lines) (3) FROM: Richard Jasper SUBJECT: Invoicing requirements (21 lines) (4) FROM: Marylou Hale SUBJECT: Transit Gloria Mundi (7 lines) (5) FROM: Cliff Glaviano SUBJECT: Conference announcement (53 lines) (1)------------------------------------------------------------------------ DATE: Tuesday, 30 March 93 16:23:16 CST FROM: Wayne Perryman (Univ. of Texas - Austin) Subject: More on books from India Here at the University of Texas at Austin we have had similar experiences over the years with staff having allergic-like reactions when handling certain materials received on the South Asian cooperative purchasing, nee PL480, program. In 1990 we pursued the question of whether or not pesticides or fumigants were being used on these materials with the Library of Congress Field Office in New Delhi. For the information of _ACQNET_ subscribers, I would like to share the response which we received from New Delhi, dated December 4, 1990: "This is in response to your fax of 30 November 1990 on pesticides. A copy of this fax is being mailed to you today with copies of our recent correspondence with Gayle A. Takacs, Industrial Hygienist at NAL who raised the same question recently. Over the years we have fielded similar queries and each time have checked all possibilities at this end with always the same result, NO pesticides are used prior to arrival in the U.S. (We have no way of knowing what happens there. [i.e., the U.S.]) "We have also run chemical tests in the past on binding glues, etc., but have never found anything suspicious. Given that the number of complaints since 1962 is less than 15 (probably less than 10), I suspect that the cases are random allergies. This is from a person with many allergies who handled the stuff for 14 years stateside without a problem which still amazes me. On the other hand the fact that we have had queries over the years indicates we are dealing with reality not imagination. We even have a case in the office right now. The man collating and filming the old Hyderabad _Gazette_ is breaking out. He has to wear gloves and a mask! This gazette had been sent to LC back in the 50's and was returned to Delhi a couple years ago. We can only surmise the guy has an allergy to the ink. It doesn't seem to be bothering anyone else, but the job is so difficult that this poor chap who is very good is stuck with it. "So...the only positive thing I can say is that we DO NOT USE PESTICIDES at any step in our procedures in India, nor to our knowledge (and that after inquiries) are pesticides used by the shipper, the container firm, Customs, or the shipping line. While at LC when answering similar questions, I have also confirmed that Baltimore docks do not use pesticides nor does the Library Of Congress. I do not believe that USPS does but don't know about individual institutions. I have a vague recollection which may be apocraphal [sic], that UCLA found out that the institution itself was fumigating every package before turning them over to the Library. Good LUCK! Signed, Alice [no last name indicated]" It seems apparent that some sort of treatment is going on, but where, why, by whom, and with what, remain the unanswered questions. Over many years of supervising staff who handle these materials I personally can attest to having had at least 10 to 15 complaints myself, despite that fact that we have only made one query to the New Delhi field office. I guess that the investigations will just have to continue and, in the meantime, those particularly sensitive folks will need to don gloves and/or masks, or, if all else fails, seek another job!? (2)------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 93 11:15:42 HST From: Agnes Quigg (University of Hawaii) Subject: Allergens in books University of Hawaii Library has been receiving PL480 books since the beginning of the program. Staff who are responsible for unpacking and handling the books have often complained of itchy eyes, scratchy throats that feel like they are closing, and sometimes a runny nose. The complaints are the same as those we have had from staff who are handling moldy books. The PL480 books' smell is similar to the smells we get when we are steaming the spines of old books in preparation for rebinding. I have sent mold masks and surgical gloves to staff who are handling the PL480 books, with instructions that are similar to those I give to staff who handle moldy books: "keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth." As an added precaution for staff who are handling moldy materials, we insist that they wear, and we provide them, big baggy shirts to protect their clothes from the mold spores. This too might be a good precaution for those who handle PL480 books. By the way, I did do a literature search through the library literature indexes for the 60s and 70s, but I found nothing. (3)------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 93 15:17:42 EST From: Richard Jasper (Emory University) Subject: Invoicing requirements I would be interested in hearing from folks, especially those at comparable-sized or larger institutions, about the types of invoicing requirements they may face from the University Accounting Office. At Emory the General Libraries have always sent over materials invoices with two pair of initials, those of the individual who prepared the invoice and those of the head of Acquisitions. I've always felt that having to initial 6,000 plus invoices a year was rather onerous, but now I find that University Accounts Payable wants a SIGNATURE, not just initials, for everything. I'm not particularly pleased, as you can imagine, since it takes more than twice as long to write out RICHARD P. JASPER as it does to scribble RPJ. I'm open to hearing anything, whether it be ammunition for my cause or even "you think YOU have it bad!" (4)------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Mar 93 15:34:42 -0800 From: Marylou Hale (Univ. of Nevada - Las Vegas) Subject: Transit Gloria Mundi Does anyone have the address for Transit Gloria Mundi, a video distributor? (5)------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1993 15:52 EST From: Cliff Glaviano (Bowling Green State Univ.) Subject: Program announcement SERIALS: THE NEXT GENERATION A program on serials sponsored by the OHIONET Acquisitions and Cataloging Councils to be held May 4, 1993 in Columbus, Ohio Topics: Hard Choices: Serials in 1993 and Beyond (Keynote address), Dorothy Glasby, Assistant Chief, Serial Record Division, Library of Congress. CD-ROM Site Licensing Agreements: Trisha L. Davis, Continuations Acquisitions Division, Ohio State University Libraries. Cataloging Electronic Serials: Robert Wenz, Member Services Coordinator, OHIONET. MARC Holdings Format: Carol Pitts Hawks, Head of Acquisitions, Ohio State University Libraries. Serials Cataloging Question and Answer Session (Panel): Robert Bremer, Online Data Quality Control Specialist, OCLC; Cary Daniel, Serials Cataloger, Ohio State University Libraries; Terrence O'Malley, Serials Cataloger, Cleveland State University Library. DEMOS/POSTERS Cancellation Project: Jand Thompson, Serials Collection Development, University of Cincinnati. Aqueduct Project (serials pricing issues): Mary McLaren, Acquisitions Librarian, University of Kentucky. UMI Text Imaging Project Test at BGSU: Zsuzsa Koltay, Coordinator, Electronic Reference Services, Bowling Green State University. Online Journal of Clinical Trials: Ron Gardner, Resource Sharing Marketing Representative, OCLC. OCLC FirstSearch and EPIC demos: Mary Conroy, Member Services Coordinator, OHIONET. PLEASE NOTE: OHIONET member libraries will receive hard copy announcements and registration forms. Those interested from OUTSIDE the State of OHIO can receive registration information from Sue Henderson at OHIONET at (614) 486-2966 FEES: OHIONET members $50.00 per person non-OHIONET $60.00 per person on space available basis (fees include lunch) ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 35 ****** END OF FILE ******