ACQNET v4n020 (April 11, 1994) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acqnet-v4n020 ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 4, No. 20, April 11, 1994 ====================================== (1) FROM: Marylou Hale SUBJECT: Who's new on ACQNET today (98 lines) (2) FROM: Janice Lindquist SUBJECT: Specialty OP dealers (9 lines) (3) FROM: Diane Grover SUBJECT: Meeting announcement: NASIG Annual Conference (76 lines) (1)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Eleanor Cook (Appalachian State Univ.) Subject: Whither Goest the Acquisitions Librarian Date: Wed, 6 Apr 1994 21:37:34 -0400 Whither Goest the Acquisitions Librarian? ANSWER: Goest where Thy is Needed! Everything is changing, not just libraries, not just acquisitions departments and librarians. We must remember this in a larger context. Acquisitions functions still go on. We're doing (or getting ready to do) more electronic data transfer and that will impact acquisitions work flow. Cataloging and acquisitions lines are blurring with the advent of contract services and integrated systems. Serials Departments are simply disappearing. I am trying to keep up with all this, as many of us are. One of the alarming trends is the change of labels. For various reasons, we are driven to change the names of work units. Where I work, a proposed reorganization plan has combined serials and acquisitions units renaming it "Materials Acquisition and Preparation" or M.A.P. for short. (Preparation includes preservation functions.) Other traditional departments now fall under 2 additional combined units similar to M.A.P. referred to as "Interpretation" (i.e. Collection Development, Reference, BI, and Bibliographic Control [a.k.a. Cataloging]); and "Access" (i.e. Circ, ILL/Doc delivery, Stacks maint. etc.). Notice which unit has an acronym. I was a member of the Organizational Review Steering Committee that came up with this plan so I better not say too much against it - obviously - but I had to work to make the group understand why Acquisitions was something valuable and maybe even a little more complicated than they assumed. Acquisitions units need librarians. Not a lot of librarians, but at least one or two, maybe more depending on the size of the Library. There's vendor relations and evaluation, budget analysis, fiscal responsibilities (egad, the auditors!), bibliographic verification, both pre-order and post-receipt, preservation (in all libraries, though at different levels), all which are enhanced by the presence of people who are devoted to the cause and don't live by a job description. We all work with dedicated people in paraprofessional positions but they aren't going to be able to shoulder the entire load, and they should be able to rely on some leadership. We're going with the team approach, which will require lots of retraining and attitude change. The main question ringing through the hallways has been, "but who's in charge?" The answer is we all are. It's a concept that perhaps only a few understand right now - while I'm game to try it, I'm not promising I understand it completely, but I have a management background that set me up for this so I think I can not just survive, but perhaps thrive. And I want to invite others into that same mind set if possible. I hope this new organization will help bring pride and value to acquisitions work; it's important to me as a librarian that acquisitions and all Tech. services receive more recognition. The _New Yorker_ recently published an article about libraries that deserves our attention. (I have completed about half the article and am not ready to comment on it, but several people on our campus have seen it and have mentioned it already. Apparently it is abuzz on the other lists and I assume ACQNET should also address it. One major benefit thus far of the article is the acknowledgement of the value of technical services work - particularly cataloging but not that exclusively.) In a conversation with our library director recently I mentioned the age-old problem of the de-valuation of technical services and her challenge to me was to increase promotion. That sounds like a cop-out but I understand her admonishment. If we do not simply and truthfully glorify ourselves, we will drown in our victimization and whining. Not just true within acquisitions but within any sub-category and also within librarianship itself. Librarianship is the last bastion where there is true understanding of the intricacies of information management so that people can get to what they need and want. Here are my questions specifically for ACQNET subscribers: What "new" names are you using for acquisitions units? What do you think of the _New Yorker_ article? How, if at all, does it relate to acquisitions work? That's what we're busy with right now. That and doing familiar work such as evaluating vendors, cancelling journals, ordering new materials with inadequate budgets, assisting with the implementation of a new integrated library systems, introducing document delivery services, assisting with collection development duties, serving in institutional, regional and/or national service roles, etc. If ACQNET seems "quiet" sometimes these days it's because, frankly, we're working our tails off. I never watch TV during the week, barely read a newspaper or news magazine. Don't have time. I scan a variety of trade journals and research publications, the _Chronicle of Higher Education_ and a few other publications. I would like to hear more testimony from more ACQNET subscribers! (2)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Janice Lindquist (Rice University) Subject: Specialty OP dealers Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 10:05:41 -0400 Does anyone have any suggestions for OP dealers who may specialize in film/cinema studies? Our usual OP dealers are BNA and Elliot's. Our letters to several specialty dealers have not generated any response. Any advice would be welcome. Thank you. (3)------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Diane Grover (University of Washington) Subject: NASIG Conference posting Date: March 24, 1994 The 9th Annual NASIG (North American Serials Interest Group) Conference is just around the corner. If you are a NASIG member, you should have received your conference packet and registration by now. If you are not a member or missed the mailing, read on! NORTH AMERICAN SERIALS INTEREST GROUP Ninth Annual Conference University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. June 2-5, 1994 A KALEIDOSCOPE OF CHOICES: RESHAPING ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERIALISTS Registration and meals (full conference): $200 (U.S.) $265 (CDN) Pre-conference $35 (U.S.) $45 (CDN) Daily rates available Accommodations: available at Walter Gage Complex on the UBC campus, room reservations handled separately. DEADLINES: Registration deadline May 2, 1994. Registration open to non-NASIG members after April 1. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brochures and registration forms: Diane Grover (University of Washington, Seattle, WA) Internet: grover@u.washington.edu, Tel: 206-543-4786; Fax: 206-685-8743 NASIG membership information: Susan Davis (SUNY, Buffalo, NY), NASIG Secretary, Internet: unlsdb@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu, Tel: 716-645-2784, Fax: 716-645-5955 Conference registration: Katy Nelson (University of Victoria, BC, Canada), NASIG Registrar, Internet: knelson@sol.uvic.ca, Tel: 604-721-8272, Fax: 604-721-8215 UBC Accommodation (Walter Gage Complex): Reservations Office, UBC Conference Centre, Tel: 604-822-1010, Fax: 604-822-1001 Other UBC Conference information: Kat McGrath (UBC), Chair, Local Arrangements Committee, Internet: kmcgrath@unixg.ubc.ca, Tel: 604-822- 5476, Fax: 604-822-3201 Tourism B.C.: 800-663-6000 Tourism Vancouver: 604-683-2772 (in Canada) 800-888-8835 (U.S. only) Fax: 604-683-2601 A TASTE OF THE PROGRAM: This year's program promises to be one of our best yet. It begins with a preconference on using the Internet. The first plenary session opens with four speakers who will examine the scope of change in the serials, publishing and information community. The second plenary shifts the focus from the societal to the personal and sets the stage for five concurrent sessions, which address the human impact of change in multiple contexts. These sessions will be repeated, allowing delegates to attend two. The third plenary session will twist the kaleidoscope another notch to a third perspective, that of users, and will present two exciting projects. The final speaker will display another dazzling pattern by revisiting change and the choices that confront us as individuals and as a community. In addition, NASIG workshops are a perennial favorite conference feature, offering opportunities to learn about and discuss everyday challenges. Two sets of nine workshops will be repeated twice, offering delegates a choice of four workshops. We have selected a wide range of topics, attempting to find something for everyone in the serials information chain. ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 4, No.20 ****** END OF FILE ******