3 messages, 165 lines: (1)--------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 16:04:30 EST From: Elizabeth Horn <horn_elizabeth@HOTMAIL.COM> Subject: Re: EBSCO free magazines Not to continue a discussion that has ended for the majority (but I will anyway). But I would like to get others' opinions on this as well, because I find it an interesting aspect of librarianship. In response to "If you have YM on your shelves for a year, you may create an expectation that it will be there next year. What do you do when your readers are looking for it next year and can't find it?", I would ask: if our patrons want and enjoy the publication, isn't that an indication that we should add it to the collection? Granted, this is the goal of "gift subscriptions," to rope us in to subscribing to some pretty idiotic magazines, but who am I to judge the tastes of my public? When they want and expect YM, should I place Aviation Week & Space Technology in their hands? If the demand is high enough for Self, YM, or another magazine, shouldn't that be an indication that we should make changes to please our public? This is probably a moot point for most Academics, because it's not an Academic Library's job to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy and happy. But speaking from the Public Library perspective, I don't think we should ignore a chance to find out what our patrons really want out of our collection. What do others think? Thanks, Beth Elizabeth Horn Reference and Serials Librarian Roanoke City Public Library Roanoke, VA <horn_elizabeth@HOTMAIL.COM> (2)---------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 14:53:49 -0500 From: Lynne Stevens <lstevens@RMWC.EDU> Subject: Re: EBSCO free magazines About the time I was reading these postings this morning, my EBSCO rep called me about something else. I told her that I did not want to receive these "free" titles, that it took staff time, and therefore money, even to deal with and recycle these issues, and that I did not like feeling that as their customers we were being put on a list to receive what amounted to junk mail and advertising. She implied that other customers had asked not to receive these, and asked me to submit my request not to receive them in writing (e-mail is fine). So: I have requested to EBSCO that we not receive any of these "free" subscriptions at any time, stating my reasons for my request. I e-mailed it to my service rep, and copied the message to Dixon Brooke, Vice President & Division General Manager (the name on the card announcing my "gift"). I hope the rest of you who are less than thrilled with this new foray into magazine jobber "services" will do likewise. ;-) Lynne N. Stevens Serials Coordinator Lipscomb Library Randolph-Macon Woman's College lstevens@rmwc.edu 804 947-8133/FAX 804 947-8134 -----Original Message----- From: Buddy Pennington [mailto:buddy.pennington@ROCKHURST.EDU] Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 11:06 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: EBSCO free magazines I agree that most of the negative comments on EBSCO's free subscriptions have come from academic libraries, but I don't know if it is such a great boon for public libraries. If you have YM on your shelves for a year, you may create an expectation that it will be there next year. What do you do when your readers are looking for it next year and can't find it? Also, it seems a waste of time, money and effort to catalog and create checkin records for a title that will be canceled in a year. Of course, many users may think that a year is better than nothing, and I know what it is like to struggle with meeting users' needs on a limited budget! Buddy Pennington Acquisitions/Serials Librarian Rockhurst University Greenlease Library buddy.pennington@rockhurst.edu #816-501-4143 <buddy.pennington@ROCKHURST.EDU> -----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Horn [mailto:horn_elizabeth@HOTMAIL.COM] Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 9:27 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: EBSCO free magazines As a public library, we greatly appreciate the gift titles that we have seen so far (we have received ESPN, have added it to our catalog, but have not seen any duplicates yet). Most likely the frustration that most librarians on this listserv have expressed is because they are speaking as Academic or larger libraries that support major research. Our periodicals are read and re-read again by a public who enjoys general interest and sports-oriented magazines- and we as a library struggle with the budget to meet our public's needs. I might not read the magazines we get (I haven't read YM since I was 12) but our patrons definately benefit from the free subscriptions (even if it is an advertising ploy). IMHO, Beth Elizabeth Horn Reference and Serials Librarian Roanoke City Public Library Roanoke, VA <horn_elizabeth@HOTMAIL.COM> (3)---------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 14:10:59 -0500 From: "Susan E. Sturgeon" <ssturgeo@SALEM.MASS.EDU> Subject: Re: EBSCO free magazines It would be my hope that Ebsco would have the courtesy to ask libraries if they want to receive these "free" magazines. Choosing to not do that is to choose to antagonize those who find them more of a nuisance than anything else. That can not be good public relations for Ebsco. SUSAN STURGEON SERIALS DEPARTMENT SALEM STATE COLLEGE LIBRARY 352 LAFAYETTE ST. SALEM MA 01970 NEW E-mail address:susan.sturgeon@salem.mass.edu On Thu, 6 Jan 2000, Karen Chobot wrote: > Thanks to everyone who replied to my query yesterday. I guess it touched a > nerve, because there have been a lot of replies! It seems as though most > folks are of the same opinion, that it doesn't serve us very well and seems > to be a waste of time and resources. > > I did have a call from Linda at EBSCO yesterday afternoon, and she said > that they are not the ones paying for this, but that the publisher had > requested a list. I noticed that we are all getting the same magazines - > YM, Fitness, ESPN, and so on. EBSCO will cancel any subscriptions if you > send them the address label. > > My worry is that these title will somehow end up on the Annual Renewal list > next summer, since they are in the database, and that is when the cost will > come home to us. Guess we'll all just have to watch. > > Again, thanks for all the replies. It reassured me to see that I wasn't > being as *ungrateful* as refusing a gift made me feel. > > Karen > > Karen M. Chobot, MS, MLS > Reference/Serials Librarian > Mildred Johnson Library > North Dakota State College of Science > 800 N. 6th St. > Wahpeton ND 58076 > 701/671-2385 > > "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and > outside the conventions and humdrum routine of daily life." Sherlock > Holmes, in "The Red-Headed League."
