Re: electronic only journal packages Hamaker, Charles 06 Nov 2007 13:39 UTC
For us, vendors tracking contents of "packages" on our behalf is critical to maintaining control for both pricing and bibliographic continuity. So many publishers are trying to do one line invoices right now that we need vendors to help us maintain accounting controls on such lists. As many of the packages are dependent for pricing on "subscription" based data, tracking the journals moving in and out of a publisher's list can be critical. In our experience vendor services are basic to maintaining such information. It also means for example, that if a title moves out of all "package" deals we can maintain the subscription no matter where the title ends up. We use several consortia, including the Carolina Consortium (North and South Carolina) ASERL etc. and have had no problem in maintaining vendor services through most of the deals we have though there are a few that are publisher direct. It's interesting to see how different libraries tackle these issues. Thanks Chuck Hamaker Associate University Librarian Collections and Technical Services Atkins Library University of North Carolina Charlotte Charlotte, NC 28223 phone 704 687-2825 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Howlett, Lee Ann Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 4:29 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] electronic only journal packages Since most of our large database packages are part of consortia plans involving the other state university libraries, we've found that it's been easiest to have a 'point' librarian who handles licensing agreements, fees, etc. We now have a librarian who works for the Florida SUS system who arranges trials, obtains pricing information, etc. This would be tricky through a vendor since we don't all use the same one. For smaller packages such as the British Medical Association database or the American Society for Microbiology database, we do sometimes order these through our vendor. ____________________________________ Lee Ann Howlett, MA, AHIP Head, Serials Dept. Shimberg Health Sciences Library University of South Florida 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 31 Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 974-9080 Fax (813) 974-7032 LHOWLETT@HEALTHLIB.USF.EDU -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum on behalf of Hamaker, Charles Sent: Mon 11/5/2007 4:02 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] electronic only journal packages Our experience is that we can almost always get agents involved in journal package deals. We condition most of our journal package purchases by making sure that our vendor is part of the equation. There is very little reason to give up the quality control an agent provides, from our experience, and several reasons to include them. And a couple of our "deals" are deals that our agent found and negotiated. Chuck Hamaker Associate University Librarian Collections and Technical Services Atkins Library University of North Carolina Charlotte Charlotte, NC 28223 phone 704 687-2825 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Howlett, Lee Ann Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 3:51 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] [Fwd: Re: [SERIALST] Aggressive vendor, not understanding a librarian's function] I think the economy is part of the problem. However, we have found that for our electronic only journal packages, it's easier for us to order directly from the publisher. I've talked with a number of other librarians who are doing the same. This has to be hurting journal vendors. We only use a vendor now for the small number of print journals we subscribe to along with electronic journals that are not part of any consortial packages. Having said this, it still makes no business sense to insult and/or threaten librarians and their libraries. ____________________________________ Lee Ann Howlett, MA, AHIP Head, Serials Dept. Shimberg Health Sciences Library University of South Florida 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 31 Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 974-9080 Fax (813) 974-7032 LHOWLETT@HEALTHLIB.USF.EDU