[OPLINLIST] Summary for Methods of Acquiring Library Materials

[Dorrie Russell Sacksteder]

A little late on this, sorry.

The original question was: "What methods do you use/have available to 
you to purchase materials for your library collection when the 
item(s) wanted are not available through a regular jobber such as 
Ingram or Baker & Taylor? This is when you wish to acquire them for 
permanent inclusion in the collection (not ILL or other resource 
sharing method)". This was a question from the librarian of an 
organization that does occasional publishing.

I received 17 replies, including one from a former supervisor (24 
years ago), and one from the current director of a public library 
that refused to issue me a library card when I was about 11 years old 
(long, stupid story).  Many stated that they could purchase from any 
online or physical retailer. Others had limitations, but they varied 
in the types and degrees of limitations.

The answers were all over the place, so here's some quotes:

"We have a few local purchases- such as yearbooks- that we are 
authorized to buy, but the amount of paperwork involved is rather 
daunting. We do have a corporate card- which is what we use for those 
purchases- but the process is onerous enough that we do not seek out 
other opportunities to use it and there must be a great need for us 
to go through the paperwork hassle to use it with a new company."

"I think a lot of systems, especially larger systems, have this 
limitation in place.  Not that they're under and exclusive contract, 
but that as a matter of policy or procedure they only do business 
with selected vendors."

"We will purchase from anyone."

"We generally go through B&T. This is primarily because we do not 
have a credit card and so must go through a place that will accept a 
PO and bill us. We do not do Amazon because my FO sees this as a 
credit account."

"We also purchase directly from authors, other vendors, small 
publishers, etc. They just need to be set up with our Fiscal Officer 
as a vendor and submit the appropriate forms (W9, etc.). "

"One time a staff member bought an older yearbook at an antique flea market."

Thanks everyone that took the time to reply.

-Dorrie

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Dorrie Russell Sacksteder, M.S.L.S.
dorrie at jdfiles.org