We recently did our RFP for a serials vendor, sending requests to five vendors.  One never responded in any way, one replied that our title list was not fillable by them, and the other three submitted responses.  While there was the possibility of getting subscriptions for less, the number of titles that could not be provided, requiring us to use direct subscriptions, overrode the price differences.  While an audit can report that there are cheaper sources, a clear list of requirements, including cost, will go far in clarifying the best vendor for your needs and purposes.

Charles L. King

Serials Librarian

Hawaii State Library

Hawaii State Public Library System

478 S. King Street

Honolulu, HI 96813-2994

http://www.librarieshawaii.org/Serials/serials.html

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Coakley, Lynn
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 9:47 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] vendor question

hi all:

A colleague at a neighboring college asked me for information about periodicals vendors besides Ebsco of which they are a customer.  Apparently an audit turned up the fact that there are other vendors that are cheaper.  Personally, I think the agony of getting titles transferred from one vendor to another is not worth the lesser cost, but that's my opinion.

I told her I would ask this list for ideas of a different periodicals vendor that you love (or that you hate), I'd love to have that info.

Thanks

Lynn

--

Lynn Coakley

Coordinator of Technical Services

Library

Springfield Technical Community College

One Armory Sq.

Springfield, MA  01102

413.755.4565

fax 413.755.6315