---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 09:50:14 -0500
From: Doug Litts <Dlitts@vmfa.state.va.us>
Subject: Publisher/Vendor/Library Relations Committee

Did you know that the ALCTS Publisher/Vendor/Library Relations committee
is
available to assist you in working with vendors and resolving problems?
According to the> ALA Handbook of Organization the responsibility of our
committee is:
        >
>To serve as the review and advisory committee on all matters of vendor >of
library material-library relationships; to investigate these
>relationships;
and to prepare recommendations and develop guidelines >of acceptable
performance for libraries and vendors for ordering and >supplying of
library
materials.
        >
>Over the years, PVLR has pursued a number of activities to fulfill its
>charge. These have included:
        >
>1. Providing a mechanism (the PVLR complaint form) for librarians to
>employ when confronted by illegal, unethical, or obnoxious publisher >or
vendor activity.
        >
>2. Responding to such complaints in an appropriate fashion, whether by
>pursuing measures of communication, writing letters of >support, or
counseling libraries regarding appropriate measures.
        >
>3.  Educating the publisher/vendor/library community regarding
>unscrupulous business practices.
        >
>4. Working to increase understanding of the different roles each >segment
of the publisher/vendor/library community fulfills..
        >
>5. Developing programs that address issues of mutual concern within >the
community, such as what constitutes ethical behavior on the part >of
librarians in relation to publishers and vendors.

If you have an issue or complaint, our committee is here to assist you.
A
guide to the complaint process and a complaint form are available at
"http://www.ala.org/alcts/you/manual/forms/pvlrform.html
<http://www.ala.org/alcts/you/manual/forms/pvlrform.html> ".  If you
have
any questions, you are welcome to contact me for more information.

Doug Litts
Chair, ALCTS Publisher/Vendor/Library Relations Committee
****************************************************************
Douglas A. Litts, Assistant Librarian,
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
804-340-1496
dlitts@vmfa.state.va.us <mailto:dlitts@vmfa.state.va.us>