ACQNET v7n015 (April 6, 1997) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/acqnet/acqnet-v7n015.txt ISSN: 1057-5308 *************** ACQNET, Vol. 7, No. 15, April 6, 1997 ======================================= (1) FROM: Mary Ellen Kenreich SUBJECT: Single or Multiple Vendors (52 lines) (2) FROM: Peter Stevens SUBJECT: RE: Belgian Book Vendors (14 lines) (3) FROM: Norman Vogt SUBJECT: Gordon Press (27 lines) (4) FROM: Pamela Matthews SUBJECT: Out-of-Stock (OS) Books (31 lines) (5) FROM: Julie Bixby SUBJECT: Looking for a Thai Book (19 lines) (6) FROM: Jey Wann SUBJECT: DRA Acquisitions Module (26 lines) (7) FROM: Noelia Rendon SUBJECT: Unicorn System Purchase Order Sample (14 lines) (8) FROM: Harolyn Cumlet SUBJECT: Acquisitions Software (15 lines) (1)---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 09:44:51 -0800 (PST) From: Mary Ellen Kenreich (Portland State U.) Subject: Single or multiple vendors I'd like to raise an issue with the list about using a single vendor for all or most of your book ordering. Who is doing this and why? Who is not using a single vendor and why? Is your decision based on size of the library, type of material ordered (domestic, foreign or subject-specific), past practice, discounts available, approval plans, etc.? There is information in the purchasing literature (although not specific to libraries) to support both sides of this issue. If you use a single vendor you should be able to use your bargaining power to negotiate better discounts. Other benefits of decreasing your vendor base include allowing more time to work at improving the purchasing process rather than in administration and problem solving. With more open communication with one vendor, each side would understand better how the other operates. If we know the vendor well, we can work with them to make our process as efficient and cost effective as possible. And because the vendor invests in the relationship, they should be more willing to help the library and make improvements in their own processes. But what if your major vendor goes out of business? (I was sweating the summer Faxon went through its changes, since a year earlier I had pushed to consolidate our orders with them! Also, our library had many orders with Richard Abel when his company went under in the 1970's.) Doesn't dealing with multiple vendors increase competition for more of your business? And since there is little variety among the major vendors (though we like and dislike certain aspects of each of them) how does a library choose which single vendor to go with? I suspect there will always be exceptions to any single vendor practice. I'm inclined to think Arabic materials are best purchased from a vendor with that specialty. If you need a book in a hurry it may be easy and fast to buy it from your campus or local bookstore. Most vendors can't supply every format a library may wish to order. So what are other libraries doing? How are you justifying, rationalizing or explaining your decision? Are you satisfied with the vendoring practice in your library? How do bid requirements complicate or simplify this issue? What advantages/disadvantages do you see with either side of this issue? Please respond to the list. I'll summarize any responses that come directly to me. Thanks, Mary Ellen Kenreich Acquisitions Librarian Portland State University (503) 725-5780 (2)---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 15:10:52 -0800 (PST) From: Peter Stevens (Univ. of Washington) Subject: RE: Belgian book vendors I know of no Belgian book vendors who are widely used among academic libraries. Instead, many of us rely on general European vendors so that we can avoid the expense of dealing with vendors in each country. Nijhoff and NedBook are fast and reliable vendors for European monographs. Peter Stevens, Head, Acquisitions Division, University of Washington Libraries (3)--------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 08:44:55 -0600 From: Norman Vogt (Northern Ill. Univ.) Subject: Gordon Press [Ed. Note: ACQNET has had inquiries about this publisher in the past. See: 3.61.8, 4.62.4, 4.64.2, 5.26.1. All experiences suggest that this publisher is one you should avoid prepaying. If you have specific complaints, contact the ALA/ALCTS PVLR Committee] Might anyone be able to provide information about Gordon Press, Publishers (NY)? Has anyone communicated successfully with them recently? We have attempted to contact them in vain. Their voice mail is full and there are no responses to fax messages. They seem to have lots of titles in BIP but, in some cases, there's no evidence that what they claim to have published has ever existed. Any insight into this publisher will be appreciated. Norman Vogt Head, Acquisitions Department University Libraries Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115 (815) 753-9872 (815) 753-9870 Fax e-mail: nvogt@niu.edu (4)---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 07:32:36 -0500 (EST) From: Pamela Matthews (U. of Md-Baltimore Co) Subject: Out-of-Stock (OS) Books Hi all, have kind of a basic question for you. Our library has no procedures or policies in place for what to do about orders returned from our vendors as "Out of Stock -- Cancelled -- Reorder if Necessary." (I'm not talking about OSIs; they're treated like they're OP. These are just garden variety OS's that have remained OS long enough to come up against our automatic order cancellation date.) The way I see it, there are two main options: 1) resubmit the order as a matter of course and let the vendor try again or 2) return the orders to the requestors and let them decide if they still want to pursue the orders and resubmit the order if they do. My question is, what do you all do? Which option is more time-saving or cost effective? Is there a third -- or fourth -- and even better option? If you could respond to me privately I can post whatever results I get to the list. Thanks much! Pam Matthews Acquisitions/Technical Services Librarian Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery University of Maryland Baltimore County 1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250 410-455-6754 (phone) 410-455-1061 (fax) pamatthe@gl.umbc.edu (5)---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 18:20:46 -0800 (PST) From: Julie Bixby (Huntington Beach PL) Subject: Looking for a Thai Book Our library is searching for an American ordering source for the following book: MAI PEN RAI MEANS NEVER MIND by Carol Hollinger. 974-830303-9, Asia Books Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand, (c) 1993. Thank you. ----------- Julie Bixby Acquisitions, Huntington Beach Public Library 7111 Talbert Ave Huntington Beach, CA 92648-1232 markb@cccd.edu (6)---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 03 Apr 1997 17:20:50 +0800 (U) From: Jey A. Wann (Oregon State Library) Subject: DRA Acquisitions Module (Cross-posted to libsup-l and ACQNET. Please excuse the duplication) My library is considering adding the DRA acquisitions and serials control modules. We currently use DRA for cataloging & circulation, MATSS for acquisitions, and EC for serials control. I would like to hear from DRA acquisitions and serials users about your impression of the product, customer service, how well the 2 modules integrate into the cataloging and circ systems, etc. TIA, Jey Wann Acquisitions Coordinator Oregon State Library State Library Bldg. Salem, OR 97310 503-378-4198, ext. 248 fax 503-588-7119 jey.a.wann@state.or.us (7)--------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 10:24:23 -0500 (EST) From: Noelia Rendon (Interamerican Univ. of Puerto Rico) Subject: Unicorn System Purchase Order Sample I'm interested in receiving a sample of a Unicorn Purchase Order. We will have this system soon and I would appreciate if someone could send me a sample. Noelia Rendon.CPT.Interamerican Univ.of Puerto Rico. PO Box 191293 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00919-1293 Fax 787-2500878 (8)--------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 10:20:29 -0600 From: Harolyn Cumlet Subject: Acquisitions Software I work at a medium-sized community college library. We order approximately 7500-9000 volumes per year. We are planning on switching from a manual acquisitions system to a software program within the next year or so. Anyone with suggestions/recommendations/advice please reply directly to me. Thank you, Harolyn Cumlet hcumle@pop3.dcc.edu ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol. 7, No. 15 ****** END OF FILE ******