Subscription Analogies Summary (Bill Benson) Ann Ercelawn 22 Jul 1994 21:23 UTC
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 1994 14:38:47 -0400 From: bensonwo%wrdc.dnet@WL.WPAFB.AF.MIL Subject: Subscription Analogies To SERIALST members: I recently requested stories/analogies/anecdotes about subscriptions, that would help us communicate our unique problems to management and customers. Here are the interesting results, and my comments. *** SUBSCRIPTIONS ANALOGIES & ANECDOTES *** -> Handling serials is like trying to nail jello to the wall. -> Serials are like monographs with attitude. Lucien R. Rossignol Smithsonian Institution Libraries 202-357-2010 libem004@sivm.si.edu -------------------- -> Controlling serials is like nailing jelly to the wall. (another version) As Susan notes, this has appeared in the literature several times. She wasn't sure who first said it. Susan Davis University at Buffalo --------------------- -> Farming: If you don't plant at the correct time and with the proper care, you get no crop that year (or a greatly reduced yield). (SEE MORE BELOW!) Sandy Gurshman, Readmore ------------------------ -> Newspapers: Almost everybody subscribes to a local and/or major city newspaper. In order to receive a paper every day, you send a check every year or every few months, etc. If you forget to pay on time, you do _not_ get a paper for several mornings. Even after you mail your check, it takes a number of days for the newspaper agent to record your payment and get your newspaper delivery started again. In the meantime, you have missed several days worth of your newspaper, and you cannot get them because they don't keep back issues at the delivery office. Then one can extrapolate to point out that the larger the distribution, the longer it takes them to process the payment (i.e., renewal order), because they have thousands of subscribers and relatively little staff in the subscription office. That is the case with most journal publishers. And if you go through an agent (point out to them), you have the added delay of a middleman (worthwhile as it is!). Maybe these people have never subscribed to popular journals, where they inform you to allow 6 to 8 weeks to start receiving issues at home. But I think the point of not getting one's newspaper, and forever missing the back issues might be more tangible to non-serial people. Sarah Tusa Lamar University tusa@lub002.lamar.edu --------------------- I think the farming analogy is great - thanks Sandy! Here's how I see it: Planning what to grow and where to grow it (reviewing/updating title lists and selecting suppliers); Budgeting for seeds and other supplies (estimating costs and creating the budget); Ordering the seeds, etc. (sending in renewals and ordering new titles); Preparing the soil (creating space on the shelves and updating holdings lists); Receiving and planting the seeds (checking in, shelving and/or routing); Receiving sufficient rain and sunshine (funds transferred at last!); Checking the growing crops for problems-bugs, weeds, etc. (handling problem journals, shifting, weeding, etc.) and finally harvesting the crop (advertising to customers and helping them use the periodicals). Then of course, its back to planning again... I like to think of our process now as "Raising Serials," or is that "Periodical Farming?" Someone will have to write the "Green Thumb Guide to Subscription Renewals," or how about "Magazines and Manure?" For the Trekkies among us that's: "Through the Worm Hole." Perhaps in honor of the new cyberspace e-zines (electronic magazines) we should begin calling ourselves ZINEOLOGISTS! The next bumper sticker could read "I'd rather be growing 'zines." Well enough of this tom/janefoolery, I really must get back to my "Serials Almanac." ...Many Thanks to all of you for the inspiration! P.S. If they start in on 'how simple it is to buy magazines at home,' remind them that we are running a huge co-op, multicultural farm, not doodling in the garden! Peace. :) Bill Benson Internet: bensonwo@wl.wpafb.af.mil Serials Librarian Phone: (513) 255-6750 DSN 785-6750 Wright Lab Tech Library Fax: (513) 476-4826 DSN 986-4826 2690 C ST STE 4 Wright Patterson AFB OH 45433-7411