A view of the mutual dependence between libraries and vendors As technology advances, libraries are forced to reach beyond their own resources to find effective ways to maintain accuracy and superior service levels. Vendors provide databases and integrated library systems that perform those functions for profit. Library/Vendor Relationships examines the increasing cooperation in which libraries find they must participate in, and vice versa, with the vendors that provide system infrastructure and software. Expert contributors provide insights from all sides of this unique collaboration, offering cogent perspectives on the give and take process that every librarian, publisher, and database provider/producer can use. The symbiosis between libraries and vendors of databases relies heavily upon open communication to achieve each one’s beneficial results. Library/Vendor Relationships explores this partnership between profit and nonprofit entities in detail, focusing on issues of crucial importance for both sides. A variety of diverse types of libraries and vendors give voice to the multitude of issues facing them. Several charts, graphs, and other helpful visuals are included. Topics in Library/Vendor Relationships include: options for preventing systematic downloading of material benefits and challenges of delivering products on multiple platforms—using the American Psychological Association’s experiences as a case study book vendors’ efforts to help libraries become more efficient comprehensive online support services to help increase interaction between libraries and academic publishers Anatolian University Libraries Consortium’s effective relationship with vendors publisher and vendor use of library advisory boards to provide needed feedback a review of the database marketplace fostering a good relationship between library and vendor the future of government libraries in an increasingly technological age collaboration in standards development integrated ecommerce the relationship between OCLC and member institutions libraries’ position between commerce and science vendor/community college library relationships e-mail discussion lists and more! Library/Vendor Relationships is stimulating, insightful reading for academic librarians, government librarians, public librarians, deans, directors, reference librarians, publishers, and database providers.

Sue Polanka brings together a variety of professionals to share their expertise about e-books with librarians and publishers. Providing forward-thinking ideas while remaining grounded in practical information that can be implemented in all kinds of libraries, the topics explored include an introduction to e-books and their different types, an overview of their history and development, e-book technology, why e-books are good for learning, and how librarians can market them to a wide range of users.--[back cover]

This book offers everything you need to know about selecting and implementing the best integrated library system (ILS) for your library, whether you purchase and install it yourself or hire a consultant to assist you. This is the book you've been waiting for. Integrated Library Systems: Planning, Selecting, and Implementing is an all-inclusive guide to acquiring a new ILS. Detailed and practical, the book covers every step of the process, from cost-benefit analysis, to evaluating software, writing the request for proposal, and implementation and training. You'll learn about different types of integrated library systems—standalone, turnkey, hosted, software-as-a-service (cloud computing), and open-source—and how to assess your facility and staff to find the best fit. The book also covers evaluation of software and hardware; third-party add-ons, such as RFID; and writing successful budget proposals and justification statements. There is even specific, headache-saving advice on working with sales reps, such as the warning not to ever accept the statement: "The vendor will not be held accountable to the contents of the RFP." Even if you're working with a consultant, this book will help you understand the process and make informed decisions.

This comprehensive book covers the philosophy behind RFPs to prime readers to understand how to most effectively write them and provides instruction on navigating the submission process as it applies to multiple types of libraries. For many years, only large academic and public libraries and a few library systems regularly used RFPs. Now, smaller schools, public libraries, and library systems use RFPs as tools to select vendors for computer equipment, online systems, databases, and materials. Library consortia frequently use RFPs to select databases and integrated library systems. In this useful book, readers will learn more about the types and advantages of RFPs; the timelines and logistics for submitting RFPs; how to write different types of RFPs; how to evaluate vendor performance; the transfer process when a new vendor is selected; vendor perspectives; and RFP ethics. An appendix includes sample RFPs and evaluation materials, and a glossary defines language necessary to writing and understanding RFPs. This book is essential reading for librarians who need to select vendors to provide library materials including books, serials, and media in all formats as well as for those who are choosing integrated library systems, security and inventory systems such as RFID, computer equipment and software, online and streaming materials such as books and music, or services such as digitization.

Libraries are experiencing major changes concerning the role of technical services. Technical services librarians also are being challenged about their relevance and role, sometimes revealed by a lack of understanding of the contribution technical services librarians make to building and curating library and archival collections. The threats are real: relocation from central facilities, the dramatic shift to electronic resources, budgetary constraints, and outsourced processing. As a result, technical services departments are reinventing themselves to respond to these and similar challenges while embracing innovative methods and opportunities to advance librarianship in the twenty-first century. Library Technical Services provides case studies that highlight difficult realities, yet embrace exciting opportunities, such as space reclamation, evolving vendor partnerships, metadata, retraining and managing personnel, special collections, and distance education. Written for catalog and metadata librarians and managers of technical services units, this book will inspire and provide practical advice and examples for solving issues many libraries are facing today.

This book explores the expectations and resources available to develop a set of important core skills needed for this profession. Leading authorities in the field of librarianship offer their extensive experience and insight to help beginners to understand precisely what actual measurable skills are required to become a successful career science librarian. Librarians currently working in the area will gain the data they need to be able to effectively collaborate with more experienced people. Topics include reviews of key concepts, basic skills, terminology, ACRL instruction competencies, teams, and assessment of services. It also provides the latest knowledge on trends, standards, terminology, professional associations, and a brief literature review, and recommended readings for familiarizing librarians with their job responsibilities. Besides job competencies, the book reviews collection development, reference issues, in-depth research assistance, cataloging and metadata, faculty liaison and outreach, career development concerns, continuing education tracks, and issues in collaboration assistance. This source also provides extensive references and tables and figures to clearly present information. This book is a valuable resource for beginners who wonder what they need to know as they start their careers or are considering this as an area of concentration, and as a refresher and professional development track for current librarians working with more experienced people in the area. This book was published as a special issue of Science & Technology Libraries.

There’s a new buzz phrase in the air: Supplier Relationship Management (SRM). Corporate executives know it’s necessary, but there’s only one problem. Nobody yet knows how to do it. Or they think it’s all about bashing your vendors over the head until they reduce the price another 4%. Supplier Relationship Management: How to Maximize Vendor Value and Opportunity changes all that. Containing the best and most innovative advice from the operations and procurement experts at consultant AT Kearney, this book shows that SRM is at root a strategic discussion requiring cross-functional interaction and internal alignment at the highest levels. It requires an honest appraisal of the value that suppliers now bring to your firm, as well as their potential value. It then requires a frank and constructive business-to-business dialogue about how to improve the relationship. When this happens, a company reaps myriad benefits, ranging from new opportunity to added value to competitive advantage—and, quite likely, to overall (and sometimes substantial) cost reductions. This book shows the most concrete methods you can use today to: Identify value-adding opportunities in the supply chain Work closely with suppliers to maximize the benefits Work the "Critical Cluster" of suppliers, where the greatest opportunity for advantage lies Review suppliers to encourage constant gains in quality and cost Turn your SRM strategy into a major competitive advantage Supplier Relationship Management introduces and explains the Supplier Interaction Model, a key tool that will help you get the most from your supplier relationships. It segments the supplier universe into nine categories, from those you want to run away from fast to those so good and so useful to your organization that it can make sense to invest in them directly. Numerous case studies show how to apply the principles to your situation. Supplier Relationship Management burns off the fog that has surrounded the procurement process for far too long. It is the definitive guide for business executives who want to get the maximum benefits from suppliers and gain very real advantages over competitors.

This basic guide to acquisitions includes chapters covering: selecting book vendors; contracts and bidding; approval plans, documents and non-print media; the out-of-print market; pricing; and vendor evaluation.

Vendors and Library Acquisitions is an enlightening book that addresses the sometimes troublesome relationships between acquisitions librarians and the jobbers with whom they work. Various issues are explored to establish the most efficient and satisfactory methods of selecting a vendor, the way to gain expertise in evaluating the system, and the best ways to reach a successful relationship with the vendor and the public served by the library. The book is divided into three sections, the first of which discusses the selection and evaluation of a vendor, from the vendors's point of view. The chapters in this section cover what a vendor can do, should do, and should not be expected to do. The new technologies are also mentioned, with attention paid to the ways in which they have made the job of the vendor both easier and more difficult. The second section looks at vendor selection and evaluation from the librarians’perspective. Among the topics discussed are: making sure all orders get filled, obtaining material for numerous language groups, containing serials costs, and handling approval plans. Part Three, “Approval Plans and Vendors,” is a study of the similarities that are shared between approval plans, vendors, and librarians. Detailed instructions are given on what and what not to do when setting up an acquisitions program based on approval plans. Non book types of materials are also discussed, which are currently of great interest to many libraries. This practical book will be of great assistance to anyone working with serials and/or books and vendors.