Birdie's letter is very eloquent and says it all as far as the Pricing
Newsletter goes.  But my relationship with Marcia pre-dates NSPI...going
way back to 1984 when we were part of the infamous class of '84 attending
the UKSG.  That trip was a milestone in my professional career, cementing
lifelong friendships and creating valuable mentors.  Marcia appointed me
to my first ALCTS (then RTSD) committee and wrote a letter on my behalf
for tenure. She has been one of my champions ever since for which I am
extremely grateful.

One of my other mentors and dear friend (from the class of '84) retired
officially in December.  I won't reveal her name but her first initial is
also "M".  So to my two "M & M's" I salute you and look forward to seeing
both of you at NASIG.

An excellent tribute to Marcia on her retirement can be found in Serials
Review, v.23:no.2 (1997:Summer) p.1-30.  Take a look!  I still believe in
"The Serials Manager's Obligation!"

Susan

############################################################################
Susan Davis                       Chair, Serials Section (ALCTS)
Head, Periodicals                    2001/02
Acquisitions Dept.
University at Buffalo (SUNY)
Lockwood Library Bldg.
Buffalo, NY  14260-2200
(716) 645-2784
(716) 645-5955 fax
unlsdb@acsu.buffalo.edu

On Fri, 25 Jan 2002, Birdie MacLennan wrote:

> Greetings All,
>
> Marcia Tuttle's announcement about the Newsletter on Serials Pricing
> ceasing publication sent me down Memory Lane.  Here's some excerpts from a
> letter that I had sent to Marcia, following her announcement to the
> Newsletter's Editorial Board.  This also includes some reminiscing
> about the special relationship of SERIALST to the Newsletter on Serials
> Pricing.  Please excuse the length ...
>
> Dear Marcia,
>
> When I read your announcement informing us that the Newsletter was going
> to officially cease publication, I have to admit that my first reaction
> was emotional. I shed a couple of tears.  I was saddened.  I remember the
> first time a colleague told me about the Newsletter and I signed on and
> was awed by the power of the technology, as much as I admired the spirit
> of invention behind the Editor/Publisher who made it work.  And then when
> I contacted you to ask what you thought about the idea of a serials
> discussion list (that later became SERIALST), you encouraged and counseled
> me to see its development through ... and we worked together to develop
> complementary resources.  When I look back, I can see it all almost as
> clearly as if it was just yesterday.  But it was 12 years ago!  Where does
> the time go?
>
> Your announcement marks the end of an era.  But I think we all understand.
> No one can make the Newsletter work like you did.  Besides, your efforts
> are going into other things -- like enjoying your retirement!  Good for
> you !
>
> Other things considered ... I am really glad you didn't think *too*
> seriously about selling the Newsletter to a commercial publisher.  It just
> would not have been the same.  I'm also glad you never changed its title
> or launched a series of supplements, each with its own complex array of
> alternate numbering schemes ;-) (ok, I borrowed that from SERIALST
> co-moderator Stephen Clark! - thanks, Stephen!)  You always knew better
> than to strive for the Snake in the Grass Award !
>
> Like Cecelia Leathem, I'd like to say "Thank you, Marcia!"  for
> all you do ... and for all the years of professional collaboration
> and friendship.  I've always appreciated (and continue to appreciate) your
> wisdom and guidance in matters concerning pricing issues, acquisitions and
> serials.  You never steered away from a good controversy -- in fact,
> sometimes I think you knew intuitively how to invite controversy -- just
> to keep things interesting!  I know you always worked hard to give your
> readers a fair, balanced representation of the issues -- often going out
> of your way to contact individuals and groups to get the "scoop".  You did
> that for the Newsletter, and you did it for SERIALST on more than one
> occasion.
>
> I'm going miss working with you on the Newsletter.  But I take comfort in
> noticing you haven't tendered a resignation from your role as a SERIALST
> co-moderator.  I am glad that you have agreed to continue working with us
>  -- we hope for a good long while -- so we'll still solicit your advice
> and know that you are present on the e-waves.
>
> What more to say?  We've just updated the SERIALST Scope &
> Purpose Statement, section 1.2, which talks about the relationship between
> SERIALST and the Newsletter on Serials Pricing Issues
> (cf.  http://www.uvm.edu/~bmaclenn/serialst.html#nspi )
> Here's what it says:
>
> 1.2. RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEWSLETTER ON SERIALS PRICING ISSUES
>
> For a ten year period, from 1991 to 2001, SERIALST benefited from a
> collaborative and complementary relationship with the electronic
> publication, Newsletter on Serials Pricing Issues. During that time,
> selected postings from SERIALST, related to serials pricing, also appeared
> in the Newsletter. The Newsletter ceased publication with issue no. 257
> (Aug. 12, 2001). Those interested in an in-depth look at serials pricing
> issues will continue to have access to its archives. A searchable web site
> for the Newsletter archive remains available, courtesy of French scholars,
> Laurent Guillope at Nantes and Monique Marchand at Grenoble, via the
> mathdoc server in Grenoble
> (http://www-mathdoc.ujf-grenoble.fr/NSPI/NSPI.html). The library server at
> the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
> (http://www.lib.unc.edu/prices/) will also continue to provide an archive
> of the Newsletter. For additional information, contact Marcia Tuttle:
> Tuttle@email.unc.edu, editor and publisher of the Newsletter during its
> entire run from February 27, 1989 to August 12, 2001.
>
>
> THANKS again, Marcia, for all you've done with the Newsletter for these
> many years.
>
> Best wishes and kindest regards,        - Birdie
>
>         Birdie MacLennan
>         SERIALST Listowner/Moderator
>         Coordinator, Serials & Cataloging
>         University of Vermont
>         bmaclenn@zoo.uvm.edu
>
>