Re: Direct subscriptions Max Shenk 25 May 2004 13:47 UTC
Another consideration is claiming missing or damaged issues, which is much easier to do through a service. 165 different publishers will probably have 165 different policies and procedures re claims; they also probably won't have services like (for instance) Ebsco's missing copy bank. We receive a few titles directly from the publisher (local newspapers) but nearly everything that's sent through the mail is handled via Ebsco. It makes life a lot easier in so many ways: the aforementioned claims, plus renewals, invoicing. Take care! Max Shenk Periodicals Assistant Montgomery County Community College Library Blue Bell, PA >>> tbuck@HCLIB.ORG 05/24/04 05:13PM >>> We receive in the neighborhood of 600 periodical titles, going to more than 26 agencies (branches). I can't imagine the headache of doing this with direct subscriptions, for our Acquisitions department alone, much less what our financial office would think of issuing all of those individual checks. Weigh your time as well as theirs. Weigh the other benefits a subscription agent can offer, such as management reports (price history, online availability, subject breakdown, for instance), as well as regular & convenient notification of cessations, suspensions, and changes to title and frequency. They can provide you with a list of titles you receive, the number of copies, the subscription dates, ISSNs, publication schedule, and other handy info, as well as a source of information for titles you're considering. (An especially handy feature with our agent is seeing the difference in cost for various shipping options.) An agents' online claiming service is likely to be much quicker than placing claims with individual publishers. Many agents provide a free/low-cost "missing copy bank". We also look to our agent for assistance managing e-journals. Your 165 subscriptions is a significant number, especially given that your staff (I assume) is commensurately smaller than a library receiving many more subscriptions. My suggestion is to handle directly only the titles that an agent can't; that will be time-consuming enough. At least have a few agents visit and give you their spiel -- even obtain price quotes for your title list -- so that you know all the possibilities. Best of luck, Tina Tina Herman Buck Collection and Bibliographic Services Hennepin County Library 952-847-8548 fax: 952-847-8642 tbuck@hclib.org -----Original Message----- From: Laura Milliman [mailto:lmilliman@VW.VCCS.EDU] Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 1:41 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] Direct subscriptions Hello, I am new to this list. Would like to know about feasibility of direct subscriptions. I have searched the archives, but without standard subject headings it is difficult to gather all the information in one place. Are there any published articles or chapters that deal with this issue? I understand that direct subscriptions would not be practical for larger libraries. However, we only have 165 current subscriptions. Would dealing with this small amount of titles make a difference? Are there types of titles, such as monographs or newspapers for which ordering direct might make a difference? Thank you. Laura Milliman Brown Library Virginia Western Community College PO Box 40012 Roanoke, VA 24022-0012