I highly recommend the services of Absolute Backorder Service, Inc.
www.absolute-inc.com  We just had a faculty request today for 2 copies
of the most current issue of a science journal, needed rush for course
reserves.  Our staff person e-mailed Absolute this morning, and already
has confirmation for the order.  We've been using Absolute for the last
couple of years for almost all of our back issue needs and they are
terrific.  Before that, we used to go to the individual publishers or
other back issue dealers and it was a incredibly labor intensive.  Good
luck.

Heidi Fisher
Princeton University Library
Order Division-Periodicals, Continuations
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ  08544

Martin, Amanda wrote:
> If someone has found a better way to do this than contacting each
> individual publisher, please share.
>
> However, here's a sticker shock warning for purchasing single issues -
> Blackwell and Elsevier can be pricey, as much as $200+ per issue for
> certain titles.
>
> Hope this is helpful.
>
> Amanda Martin
> Serials Coordinator
> Research Information Center (RIC)
> AARP Library
> amartin@aarp.org
> 202-434-6245
> FAX 202-434-6408
> AARP
> 601 E Street, N.W.
> Washington, D.C. 20049
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
> [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Sandra Thomas
> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 3:57 PM
> To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: [SERIALST] Buying single issues
>
> We have encountered a situation where a professor is requesting large
> quantities of ILL from the same issue of different titles.  We want to
> look into buying these issues since he is just browsing these articles
> rather than conducting serious research.
>
> Is there somewhere we can go to do this or do we need to contact the
> individual publishers?
>
> I would appreciate any help offered.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Sandra Thomas
> Serials/ILL Librarian
> Southeastern Oklahoma State University
> Henry G. Bennett Memorial Library
> 1405 N. 4th Ave, PMB 4189
> Durant, OK  74701-0609