I would like to reply to the message that discussed microform titles that
are no longer being offered by ProQuest Information and Learning.
Unfortunately, Buddy Pennington was given incorrect information by a
ProQuest sales representative when he was told that the microform titles
listed below were discontinued due to publishers not wishing to pay for a
microfilm copy.  Microfilming of popular titles, like those listed below,
are not paid for by publishers.  However, the titles did cease in the
microform program due to publisher requests.

The recent Tassini ruling caused a disruption among publishers.  As a
result, publishers are reevaluating their agreements to ensure they are in
compliance.  We know that members of this list are aware that microform is
not, nor ever has been, at issue in copyright infringement with authors.
Tassini did not address microform, which many librarians as well as
publishers view as the "official" archival medium.

We have a team of more than 20 people working with publishers, and are
striving to reinstate the titles listed below (as well as other titles) in
the microform program.  We feel certain that our team can provide
publishers a clear understanding of Tassini, and many titles will return
to the program in the next 12-18 months, some more quickly than others.

Happily I can announce that rights to one title, Kiplinger's Personal
Finance, has just been secured and will shortly be reinstated in the
program.  We anticipate at least five additional titles on the list below
coming back in the program before the end of the year (I will keep the
list updated regarding these titles.)

I apologize again for the incorrect information that Mr. Pennington was
given and I hope this message clarifies the situation.

Thank you.
Austin McLean
Director, Publishing
ProQuest Information and Learning
300 N. Zeeb, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
phone:  (800) 521-0600 x6718
fax:  (603) 806-6109
austin.mclean@il.proquest.com

----------
From:   Marcia Tuttle[SMTP:tuttle@email.unc.edu]
Sent:   Tuesday, September 04, 2001 4:28 PM
To:     SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject:        Disappearing microform titles... (Buddy Pennington)

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
 Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 14:58:10 -0500
 From: "MD_Buddy (Buddy Pennington)" <MD_Buddy@KCLIBRARY.ORG>
 Subject: Disappearing microform titles...

Hi all,

In looking at our annual renewal list from ProQuest-Bell and Howell-UMI
(take your pick) we have discovered that several fairly popular titles are
no longer available on microfilm.  The list of titles that affects our
library are:

                Audubon
                Business Ethics Quarterly
                MotorBoating
                World Press Review
                Country Music
                Discover
                Field and Stream
                Journal of Career Planning and Employment
                Kiplinger's Personal Finance
                Outdoor Life,
                Popular Science
                Publications of the Modern Language Association of America
                Skiing Magazine
                Sky and Telescope

When I contacted our rep at ProQuest, we were told that the publishers had
decided not to continue to pay for microform.  We obviously can live
without the film for some of these titles, but it seems to me that the
publishers are making a big mistake discontinuing such titles as Popular
Science, Discover, World Press Review, etc.

Is there anything we can do about this?  Also, what ideas do you have
about retaining this stuff?  We do not have room to bind the materials.
We can send the issues out to a vendor to film them, but many of these
titles have missing issues by the end of the volume (another important
reason for the film). And these other vendors charge more than ProQuest
does.

                Buddy Pennington
                Document Delivery Librarian
                Kansas City Public Library
                md_buddy@kclibrary.org
                816-701-3552