no.2531-Library Materials Price Index Committee request

> 
>   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Library Materials Price Index Committee request
> From: Penny Schroeder <pschroed_at_bowdoin.edu>
> 
> 
>         The Library Materials Price Index Committee of ALCTS is asking
> users of its indexes published in the BOWKER ANNUAL LIBRARY AND BOOK
> TRADE ALMANAC to help us gather information about the form and
> usefulness of these statistical tools.  Based on Bowker's BOOKS IN PRINT
> database, the U.S. indexes are about to change.  These alterations will
> affect several of the indexes used by librarians to prepare their
> budgets and manage collections' cost predictions.  First, the numbers of
> titles in the book compilations will go up, because they will now be
> based on all books published in the U.S.
> 
>         In the past BOOKS IN PRINT did not have agood subject
> classification for titles of its own. Instead, it relied on the Library
> of Congress' CIP program with its authoritative subject arrangement.
> As a result of this reliance data was drawn only from those titles that
> had been treated by CIP, i.e., approximately 50% of U.S. production.
> With the advent of BISAC subject categories, Bowker can now use the
> entire U.S. book publishing output.  Affected indexes will be U.S.
> hardcover, U.S. mass market and U.S. trade books.  Next spring these
> indexes will be published in both LC and BISAC subject arrangements
> to test customer reaction to the BISAC subjects.
> 
>         The LMPIC would like to hear your reaction to this development
> as well as other comments you might have re the indexes.  Are the
> definitions of mass-market and trade paperbacks clear?  Are they
> useful?
> Do you use the information found in the imports and translations tables?
> What would you think of breaking out fiction into even finer categories,
> e.g., mystery, romance, western, etc?   Has your library compared its
> actual pricing structure with its discounts, service charges and
> shipping costs to the published index tables where these elements are
> not included in the calculations?
> 
>         We appreciate any time you are able to devote to these questions
> and welcome other comments you wish to make.  Please send them to:
> 
> Penny Schroeder, member Library Materials Price Index Committee
> pschroed_at_bowdoin.edu
> 207/725-3134
> FAX: 207/725-3083
> Bowdoin College Library
> 3000 College Station
> Brunswick, Maine 04011-8421
> 
> --
> ***********************************************
> 
> Penny Schroeder
> Collection Management/Acquisitions Librarian
> Bowdoin College Library
> 3000 College Station
> Brunswick, Maine  04011-8421
> Voice:(207) 725 3134
> FAX: (207) 725-3083
> pschroed_at_bowdoin.edu