ACQNET v3n092 (December 19, 1993) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acqnet-v3n092 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 92, December 19, 1993 ========================================= (1) FROM: Marylou Hale SUBJECT: Who's new on ACQNET today (38 lines) (2) FROM: Irving Hexham SUBJECT: Edwin Mellen Press (57 lines) (3) FROM: Mike Randall SUBJECT: Indian books (22 lines) (4) FROM: Barbara Dean SUBJECT: Automated systems for _Against the Grain_ (12 lines) (5) FROM: Beth Jacoby SUBJECT: Library Resources, Chicago (11 lines) (6) FROM: Barbara Nelson SUBJECT: Approval plans (16 lines) (7) FROM: Pam Zager Rebarcak SUBJECT: Approval plans (11 lines) (8) FROM: Doug Kariel SUBJECT: Automated acquisitions systems (31 lines) (1)------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM: Marylou Hale DATE: December 14, 1993 SUBJECT: Who's new on ACQNET today Michael Allen Weber Lynne Claire Branche-Brown Assistant Director of Tech. Services Acquisitions Librarian Alvernia College Library Penn. State University Libraries WEBER@SHRSYS.HSLC.ORG LCB@LIAS.PSU.EDU Jacqueline Glick Shixing Wen Acquisition Librarian Acquisitions Assistant Hebrew Univ. Harman Science Library IUPUI University Library JSL@VMS.HUJI.AC.IL SHWEN@UCS.INDIANA.EDU Bob Schatz Ellen Lethcoe Frost Director of Sales Acquisitions Manager Academic Book Center Southern Methodist University ACBC@ATTMAIL.COM EFROST@SUN.CIS.CMU.EDU Norman Paul Desmarais Joanne Barbara Jahr Acquisitions Librarian Research Librarian Providence College Readmore NORMD@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU JJAHR@READMORE.COM Curt Holleman Shelley Neville Director of Collect. Management & Dev. Library Systems Analyst Southern Methodist University Dynix, Inc. CHOLLEMA@SUN.CIS.SMU.EDU SIN@US.DYNIX.COM Noreen Blake Lewis Doug Edwin Kariel Senior Librarian Head, Knowledge Systems Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Athabasca University NLEWIS@CAO.GWU.EDU DOUGK@ADMIN.ATHABASCAU.CA Linda Ann Russo Library Liaison The Lat Am Bk Store, Ltd. & Libros Sur, Bks from Argentina WK01942@WORLDLINK.COM (2)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Irving Hexham (University of Calgary) Subject: Edwin Mellen Press Date: Sun, 5 Dec 93 12:06:00 MST [Reprinted with permission from _Humanist_ Vol. 7, No. 0333. Wednesday, 15 Dec 1993. -- C.] Since it was founded in the late 1970's the Edwin Mellen Press has been surrounded by controversy. First, it was accused of being a "Moonie." More recently it received bad publicity in the Canadian newspaper the _Globe and Mail_, 1 October, 1993, p. A8; and _Lingua Franca_, September/October, 1993, pp. 1, 22-25 & 62; and has been called a "vanity press." My own interest in the press arises from the fact that I teach African religions in a Religious Studies Department. Anyone who looks at the _Directory of Faculty of Departments and Programs of Religious Studies in North America_, edited by Watson E. Mills, Macron, Council for the Study of Religion, 1988, p. 581, will see that although there are thousands of religious studies professors in North America only 34 list an interest in African religions. Worse still at most half of these teach courses in the area and only about 12 actually do ongoing research. As a result there is virtually no market for books about African religions. The result is that compared to other areas of religious studies, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, etc. very few resources are available for the study of African religions. Therefore, a vicious circle exists which perpetuates the marginalization of African religions. To help overcome this problem I have edited several collections of papers by African scholars dealing with African religions which were published by the Edwin Mellen Press. Because I am the editor and not author of these works I feel free to say that while the quality of papers varies these books meet a real need. Although I must admit they have not received the publicity I would like the reviews they have received have been excellent. In fact the _Journal of Religion in Africa_, XXIII, 1, 1993, recently described one of them, edited by G.C. Oosthuizen and myself, as "a major contribution," p. 89. Against this background I am curious to know other scholar's reaction to the Edwin Mellen Press. My experience with this publisher has been a good one. All the manuscripts they have published for me have received editorial/peer review, no subventions were asked or given, and, as stated, journal reviews have been good. What concerns me is whether or not the press is simply the victim of rumours by rival publishers or if it has recently changed its policies and is becoming a vanity press. A further question I would like answering is how is a vanity press identified? I understand and have published with commercial presses. But, most university presses, in Canada at least, are highly subsidized, and many "good" presses regularly require subventions. (3)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Mike Randall (UCLA) Subject: Testing of PL480 materials from India Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 17:30:27 -0500 Following up on the ACQNET discussion earlier this year about the possibility of volumes from the Library of Congress New Delhi office being treated with pesticides, the UCLA library serials department referred an unopened box from the New Delhi office to the UCLA environment, health and safety office for testing. We finally received the report of the testing. The report states in part, "The scan results indicate that there were no organochloride or organophosphate pesticides detected above the method limit of detection (LOD) for the analysis. It can, therefore, be concluded that it is unlikely that these books have been treated with any of these commonly occurring pesticide types. Based on these results, it appears that the books are safe for handling. It is quite possible that the books have acquired {their} "musty" smell due to moisture during shipping." If you wish to have a paper copy of the full report (3 pages) sent to you by mail or fax, send a request to Mike Randall at UCLA (ecz5ser@mvs.oac.ucla.edu). (4)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Barbara Dean (Fairfax County, VA, Library) Subject: Library Profile Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 19:01:54 -0500 I edit the "Library Profile" column in _Against the Grain_, the acquisitions newsletter created from the Charleston conference on "Issues in Book and Serial acquisitions." I like to showcase acquisitions departments using different automated systems. Up to now DRA, DYNIX, and VTLS have not been represented. Would someone using one of these systems like to write a profile? Please call me at (703) 222-3139 or e-mail me for more information. Thanks. (5)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Beth Jacoby (New York University) Subject: Library Resources Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 17:12:37 -0500 I want to order a title on microfiche, and the RLIN record says that Library Resources in Chicago, IL holds the master microform. I cannot locate an address or phone number for Library Resources in the Chicago phone fiche or in _Guide to Microforms in Print_. Does anyone know if this company has gone out of business? If so, who got all their master microforms? (6)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Barbara Nelson (Auburn University) Subject: Approval Plan Review Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 12:11:38 -0500 I am chairing a Faculty Library Committee subcommittee charged with reviewing the library's fairly extensive approval plans. These plans were set up several years ago in conjunction with library subject specialists. Faculty input was indirect. The Library Committee now wants the subcommittee to suggest criteria for review of the plans so that a regular evaluation will occur, ensuring that books purchased by the library (on the plan) are consistent with the needs of library users. The other two subcommittee members will be teaching faculty. Do any of your libraries have this type of criteria for approval plans? If so, I would appreciate a copy of your procedures. (7)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Pam Zager Rebarcak (Iowa State Univ.) Subject: Approval plans Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 12:57:30 -0500 Has anyone conducted an approval vendor review in the last few years who would be willing to share some of your planning documentation? I am familiar with the literature and am now seeking samples of RFPs, vendor evaluation forms, vendor surveys, etc. My mailing address is 204 Parks Library, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 or fax 515/294-1885. Many thanks. (8)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Doug Kariel (Athabasca University) Subject: Acquisitions and serials control systems Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 11:20:47 -0500 At Athabasca University, we are looking at replacing our INNOVACQ acquisitions and serial control system. I am wondering what others in the ACQNET group are using to manage their acquisitions and serials. If you use something other than an integrated system (same as OPAC and cataloguing). 1. What do you use? 2. What do you like or dislike about it? 3. Are you seriously looking at changing to an integrated system? 4. How is the vendor for providing service and support? If you currently use an integrated system: 1. What do you like or dislike about the acquisitions module? 2. What do you like or dislike about the serials control module? 3. How is the vendor for providing service and support to these modules? Please reply to me personally unless you think the rest of the group would be interested in knowing answers. If people wish, I will try to summarize the responses I get. Thank you for your help. ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 3, No. 92 ****** END OF FILE ******