Book Vendors Research Articles

Opportunities for Libraries with Print-on-Demand Publishing

ABSTRACT Academic libraries, university presses, and commercial ventures are embracing print-on-demand publishing to improve services as well as reduce costs. The concept dates to the early 1990s, but problems with the technology coupled with a lack of interest by libraries and book vendors hindered its popularity. Today, print-on-demand remains ideal for institutional repositories and digital collections, as well as for collection development. It is especially popular for users with print preferences. Many publishers and librarians believe print-on-demand holds more promise for libraries than electronic books.

Managing Customer Relationships

ABSTRACT The most important thing for a book vendor in managing customer relationships is successfully managing the company's own resources. Book vendors must be able to hire and train staff who understand the changing needs of libraries and who are able to influence the company's strategic direction and daily operation so that these needs are met. In recent years, book vendors have had to go beyond bookselling, and provide technical services to help libraries to become more efficient. This has required new levels of expertise from book vendors, who today work more closely with their customers then ever before.

Recommended Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults, 2000 through 2004 (review)

Reviewed by: Recommended Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults, 2000 through 2004 Hope Morrison Schon, Isabel Recommended Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults, 2000 through 2004. Scarecrow, 2004415p ISBN 0-8108-5196-2$45.00 More than 1,300 Spanish language titles published between 2000 and 2004 are included in Schon's third compilation of recommended books for preschool through grade twelve. As in her previous collections, titles are categorized into reference, nonfiction (which is roughly sorted by Dewey order), series books, and fiction (both easy and general). Each entry includes both Spanish and English titles, publication information, an age recommendation, and a brief citation, which often includes information of specific interest to Spanish-speaking readers (whether a title employs Latin American or Peninsular Spanish, whether a pronunciation guide is included, whether the book was written in Spanish or translated, etc.). The citations provide detailed consideration of each title and, when warranted, honest criticism of the title's drawbacks. This extremely user-friendly guide remains a key resource for building or further developing a collection of Spanish-language materials. Of particular use for collection development purposes is the appendix of Spanish language book vendors; author, title, and subject indexes are also included. Copyright © 2005 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Biz of Acq -- Book Vendor Evaluation from a Small Academic's Library Perspective

Biz of Acq -- Book Vendor Evaluation from a Small Academic's Library Perspective

Dilemmas in Balancing a University Literature Collection

Abstract This essay explores some of the conflicts faced by the author, a liaison with book-selection responsibilities to a university English Department. These conflicts include: trying to fill gaps missed by profiles set up with our book vendor; trying to achieve a reasonable balance between canonical and non-canonical texts; between primary texts and the secondary works interpreting these texts; between works that might become classic versus those that are truly ephemeral; between controversial pornography and less controversial or non-controversial erotica; and between hypertext fiction and traditional print resources.

Impact of Technical Services' Policies on Access and Collection Development

SUMMARY This paper will put forth some ideas about how library technical services are dealing with “the information revolution” and what impact this has on library collections and access to them. An attempt is made here to survey some of the key factors which are contributing to the gradual redefinition of access, collections and technical services. These include the changing role of technical services and cataloging departments, the impact of electronic and digital materials on library acquisitions and processing, implications of applying national cataloging standards, local cataloging practices, book vendors and the use of their records in library catalogs, remote storage decisions, and the role that library schools play in educating new generations of cataloging professionals.

Comparison shopping: purchasing continuations as standing orders or on approval

When purchasing continuations from book vendors, libraries have essentially two options: a) establish standing orders, or b) receive on approval plans. Both options offer advantages and disadvantages. Librarians need to explore both options fully to decide which is best for their needs before purchasing continuations. This article explores the two options for acquiring continuations and explains both the advantages and disadvantages for each option so that librarians can make informed decisions. While all book vendors can offer these two purchasing options to libraries, this article specifically addresses purchasing continuations from Yankee Book Peedler, Inc.

Nuts and bolts: acquisitions and cataloging at Kenyon

This article briefly describes the acquisitions workflow at a small, liberal arts college library as one possible method to utilize a book vendor’s online system. The discussion focuses on the logistics of the workflow and the interaction between the system and the library’s ILS. Outsourcing of cataloging and physical processing are also discussed.

Library-vendor collaboration for re-engineering workflow: the Kent State experience

Kent State University Libraries and Media Services took advantage of a change in book vendors to re-engineer the acquisitions and cataloging workflow. The process that was ultimately designed is highly integrated and takes advantage of automated efficiencies from both Yankee Book Peddler and OCLC PromptCat. The library has also created a working environment for staff that simultaneously maximizes decision-making while minimizing routine and repetitive tasks. In addition, the library is realizing significant cost savings from the new workflow. A description of the new workflow is provided.

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations -- So You're Buying a New Integrated Library System: Have You Told Your Book Vendor Yet?

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations -- So You're Buying a New Integrated Library System: Have You Told Your Book Vendor Yet?

Automating the nexus of book selection, acquisitions and rapid copy cataloging

The authors describe their experience at the University of Washington Libraries automating monographic selection, acquisitions and rapid copy cataloging workflows through the use of a book vendor’s online selection and ordering database and OCLC’s PromptCat service. Benefits to selectors, acquisitions staff and copy cataloging staff are listed, and a checklist of issues to examine before beginning such a change is provided.

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations -- The RFP Process ... A Book Vendor's Musings

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations -- The RFP Process ... A Book Vendor's Musings

Cooperative Cataloging, Vendor Records, and European Language Monographs

The appearance in OCLC and RLIN of minimal level catalog records from European book vendors for European language monographs and their effect on cataloging department workflows and cooperative cataloging efforts have been matters of concern expressed recently at ALA meetings and in the library literature. A study of 8,778 catalog records was undertaken to discover how many current European language monographs were being cataloged by the Library of Congress, by member libraries, and by vendors. It was found that vendor records accounted for 16.7% of Spanish books, 18% of French books, 33.6% of German books, and 52.5% of those in Italian. The number of libraries enhancing vendor records in OCLC was found to be only approximately one-third the number of libraries contributing original records for European language books. Ongoing increases in European book publishing and the increasing globalization of cataloging databases mean that the results of this study have implications not only for local cataloging practice but for cooperative cataloging as a whole.

Building a Regional Collection: The Case of the Library of the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

SUMMARY The Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) Library has been collecting materials on the Russian Far North since 1934. Publications were obtained mainly through exchanges and from one main purchase supplier. After 1991, these channels became increasingly ineffective with the demise of the British book supplier, lack of resources of Russian exchange partners, and enormous problems with book publishing and distribution in Russia. However, this period also coincided with an increase in foreign research activities in this region and the development of a significant group of researchers working on the Russian Far North at SPRI. This provided opportunities for acquiring materials directly from research institutes and local book shops. There are also several new vendors in America and Europe who focus on different regional centers and are quite competitive. Based on the experience of working closely with researchers and using book vendors, the author discusses the problems of acquiring material published in the region, the impact on the library collection's profile, and the benefits of using these various channels. The author also relates the recent experience of researchers trying to acquire material on SPRI's behalf while on field trips in Russia's regions, including Sakhalin, Magadan, Noril'sk, and Iakutsk. The paper also discusses the need to be selective in the acquisitions process, to consider the users of the collection, and to take into account regional collections of other similar libraries.

The Acquisition of Russian Publications Through Independent Book Agents

Librarians frequently have the opportunity to purchase Russian publications from nontraditional retail outlets, such as authors, book agents, or other independent sources, rather than book vendors. These transactions take place for a number of reasons, but generally they are done to acquire specialized materials that are not readily available through established outlets. In addition, the domestic price of Russian books is substantially lower than the prices charged by foreign vendors and as a result independent Russian purchasing agents can offer books at very competitive prices. Unfortunately, because these transactions do not follow established library procedures, they are often very labor-intensive and difficult to complete.

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations-False Starts, Setbacks, and Great Leaps Forward: Making Progress with ILS Vendor and Book Vendor System Integration

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations-False Starts, Setbacks, and Great Leaps Forward: Making Progress with ILS Vendor and Book Vendor System Integration

Comparing Vendor Discounts for Firm Orders

To compare the two major discounting methods, fixed and sliding, offered by book vendors for firm orders, this article reports a study of 4,856 orders fulfilled between April 1997 and August 1999 at a public comprehensive teaching university. The results indicate that, at Kean University, fixed discount (12%) gains slightly more savings in the amount of $942.50 (0.5% of $202,226.14, list price) than sliding scales (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 16% and 33.3%) distributed between university presses (36.9%) and non-university presses (63.1%). Therefore, any fixed rate higher than 13% is an advantageous deal for Kean with this mix of orders. However, Kean would consider using sliding scales to gain more savings when the orders are mixed with more university presses (16% discount) and trade publishers (33.3% discount). The findings of this study suggest options and flexibility for acquisitions personnel to obtain a mutually beneficial agreement with the vendor.

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations-Will Amazon Wal-Mart the Book Vendors?

Issues in Vendor/Library Relations-Will Amazon Wal-Mart the Book Vendors?

The coming restructuring of the library book vendor

The coming restructuring of the library book vendor

Libraries on the Book Buying Merry-Go-Round: Internet Book Seller vs. Library Book Vendor

Libraries on the Book Buying Merry-Go-Round: Internet Book Seller vs. Library Book Vendor