Birdie's letter is very eloquent and says it all as far as the Pricing Newsletter goes. But my relationship with Marcia pre-dates NSPI...going way back to 1984 when we were part of the infamous class of '84 attending the UKSG. That trip was a milestone in my professional career, cementing lifelong friendships and creating valuable mentors. Marcia appointed me to my first ALCTS (then RTSD) committee and wrote a letter on my behalf for tenure. She has been one of my champions ever since for which I am extremely grateful. One of my other mentors and dear friend (from the class of '84) retired officially in December. I won't reveal her name but her first initial is also "M". So to my two "M & M's" I salute you and look forward to seeing both of you at NASIG. An excellent tribute to Marcia on her retirement can be found in Serials Review, v.23:no.2 (1997:Summer) p.1-30. Take a look! I still believe in "The Serials Manager's Obligation!" Susan ############################################################################ Susan Davis Chair, Serials Section (ALCTS) Head, Periodicals 2001/02 Acquisitions Dept. University at Buffalo (SUNY) Lockwood Library Bldg. Buffalo, NY 14260-2200 (716) 645-2784 (716) 645-5955 fax unlsdb@acsu.buffalo.edu On Fri, 25 Jan 2002, Birdie MacLennan wrote: > Greetings All, > > Marcia Tuttle's announcement about the Newsletter on Serials Pricing > ceasing publication sent me down Memory Lane. Here's some excerpts from a > letter that I had sent to Marcia, following her announcement to the > Newsletter's Editorial Board. This also includes some reminiscing > about the special relationship of SERIALST to the Newsletter on Serials > Pricing. Please excuse the length ... > > Dear Marcia, > > When I read your announcement informing us that the Newsletter was going > to officially cease publication, I have to admit that my first reaction > was emotional. I shed a couple of tears. I was saddened. I remember the > first time a colleague told me about the Newsletter and I signed on and > was awed by the power of the technology, as much as I admired the spirit > of invention behind the Editor/Publisher who made it work. And then when > I contacted you to ask what you thought about the idea of a serials > discussion list (that later became SERIALST), you encouraged and counseled > me to see its development through ... and we worked together to develop > complementary resources. When I look back, I can see it all almost as > clearly as if it was just yesterday. But it was 12 years ago! Where does > the time go? > > Your announcement marks the end of an era. But I think we all understand. > No one can make the Newsletter work like you did. Besides, your efforts > are going into other things -- like enjoying your retirement! Good for > you ! > > Other things considered ... I am really glad you didn't think *too* > seriously about selling the Newsletter to a commercial publisher. It just > would not have been the same. I'm also glad you never changed its title > or launched a series of supplements, each with its own complex array of > alternate numbering schemes ;-) (ok, I borrowed that from SERIALST > co-moderator Stephen Clark! - thanks, Stephen!) You always knew better > than to strive for the Snake in the Grass Award ! > > Like Cecelia Leathem, I'd like to say "Thank you, Marcia!" for > all you do ... and for all the years of professional collaboration > and friendship. I've always appreciated (and continue to appreciate) your > wisdom and guidance in matters concerning pricing issues, acquisitions and > serials. You never steered away from a good controversy -- in fact, > sometimes I think you knew intuitively how to invite controversy -- just > to keep things interesting! I know you always worked hard to give your > readers a fair, balanced representation of the issues -- often going out > of your way to contact individuals and groups to get the "scoop". You did > that for the Newsletter, and you did it for SERIALST on more than one > occasion. > > I'm going miss working with you on the Newsletter. But I take comfort in > noticing you haven't tendered a resignation from your role as a SERIALST > co-moderator. I am glad that you have agreed to continue working with us > -- we hope for a good long while -- so we'll still solicit your advice > and know that you are present on the e-waves. > > What more to say? We've just updated the SERIALST Scope & > Purpose Statement, section 1.2, which talks about the relationship between > SERIALST and the Newsletter on Serials Pricing Issues > (cf. http://www.uvm.edu/~bmaclenn/serialst.html#nspi ) > Here's what it says: > > 1.2. RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEWSLETTER ON SERIALS PRICING ISSUES > > For a ten year period, from 1991 to 2001, SERIALST benefited from a > collaborative and complementary relationship with the electronic > publication, Newsletter on Serials Pricing Issues. During that time, > selected postings from SERIALST, related to serials pricing, also appeared > in the Newsletter. The Newsletter ceased publication with issue no. 257 > (Aug. 12, 2001). Those interested in an in-depth look at serials pricing > issues will continue to have access to its archives. A searchable web site > for the Newsletter archive remains available, courtesy of French scholars, > Laurent Guillope at Nantes and Monique Marchand at Grenoble, via the > mathdoc server in Grenoble > (http://www-mathdoc.ujf-grenoble.fr/NSPI/NSPI.html). The library server at > the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill > (http://www.lib.unc.edu/prices/) will also continue to provide an archive > of the Newsletter. For additional information, contact Marcia Tuttle: > Tuttle@email.unc.edu, editor and publisher of the Newsletter during its > entire run from February 27, 1989 to August 12, 2001. > > > THANKS again, Marcia, for all you've done with the Newsletter for these > many years. > > Best wishes and kindest regards, - Birdie > > Birdie MacLennan > SERIALST Listowner/Moderator > Coordinator, Serials & Cataloging > University of Vermont > bmaclenn@zoo.uvm.edu > >
