LS 530 Acquisitions Outline

 

  1. Major sources of material for library collections

    2. jobbers/vendors

    publishers

    retailers

    remainder houses

    mail order firms/clubs

     

  2. Jobbers generally handle the largest percentage of library orders
definition: agencies purchasing substantial quantities of materials from various publishers and then

selling them to retailers and libraries
  1. because they buy in volume, they receive a large discount from publishers
  2. jobber's client receives a discount off producer's list price, but it is much lower than the
discount the jobber received reasons for use:
  1. savings in time; processing titles from many publishers on a single order
  2. varied services:
    1. cataloging and processing
    2. continuation services
    3. approval plans
    4. automated ordering programs (including some book reviews)
    5. book rental plans
    6. media other than books
    7. library furniture
    8. library supplies
    9. advice on publishing trends
questions to ask any jobber before contracting for its services:
  1. Will you give me a list of all the publishers that you d not handle?
  2. How does your frm handle a request for a title not in stock?
  3. Will you give me a list of series that your firm does not handle?
  4. Do you have any service charges on any category of material? (If so, ask if the charge is
indicated on the invoice as a separate cost.) what libraries expect from jobbers:
  1. large inventory of titles
  2. prompt and accurate order fulfillment
  3. prompt and accurate reporting on item not in stock
  4. personal service at a reasonable price
what jobbers expect from libraries:
  1. time to get to know what the library needs
  2. cooperation in placing orders
  3. keeping paperwork to a minimum
  4. prompt payment for services
jobber evaluation
  1. foremost consideration in selecting a jobber > who performs best on a certain type of order
    1. first thing to do is to decide what "best" means

      2. --highest discount?

      --fastest delivery?

      --most accurate reports?

      --highest percentage of the order filled with the first shipment?

      --all of the above?

    2. the answer varies from library to library
    3. once "best" is defined, library knows what data to get from the system
  1. other questions to consider in the evaluation process:
    1. Who handles rush orders most efficiently?
    2. Who handles international orders most effectively--a dealer in the country of origin
or a general international dealer? (c) Are specialty dealers more effective in handling their specialties than are general dealers?
  1. a commonly used means of comparing serials jobbers consists of sampling commonly
held titles and then checking on
    1. service charges on those titles
    2. effectiveness of claims processing
    3. jobber follow-up
    4. handling of credit memos
  1. to be fair, keep in mind some of the problems jobbers have with producers:
    1. changes in title, or not publishing the title
    2. not being informed when publishing schedules change or when publishers suspend or

      3. cease publication

    3. incorrect ISBNs or ISSNs
    4. producers refusing to take returns
    5. producers refusing to sell through jobbers
    6. producers reducing discounts or charging for freight and handling when these were free

      7. in the past

    7. poor fulfillment on the producer's part
    8. constantly changing policies on the producer's part
    9. producer price increases without prior notice
keys to successful relations with jobbers:
  1. learn about each other's operations
  2. have realistic expectations for one another
    1. be professional and ethical in working with them
    2. expect and demand the same from them