I've been talking with my boss, the Head of Acquisitions, and she
pointed out that we're paying our subscription with state money, and not
receiving this issue is a misuse of state funds--something our auditors
would not look kindly on. Not only that, but we paid for a full-run,
and we all know how important it is to libraries that we receive all of
the published issues. We've decided to reclaim the issue and escalate
our response, as necessary. I'm pasting the letter I've sent to our
EBSCO representative, to let you all know what we are doing. If you do
the same, please use your own wording, as that is always more effective.
***
We've been talking about Time, INC.'s policy not to send the Swimsuit
edition. The Serials Listserv I'm on is also all up in arms about this
new policy, and they're all receiving different reasons why they are not
receiving the issue. One library was told that "someone" at the
university had requested that Time not send the issue. Another library
recently called Sports Illustrated directly and was told that any
library that orders through an agency (such as EBSCO), is not receiving
the issue. Another library was told that they were simply out of the
issue, and they got their subscription extended by two issues.
Another library called directly and was told the issue would be sent,
but it still hasn't arrived.
We would like to insist to Time, INC. that we have the issue. A refund,
if they even agreed to give one, isn't acceptable as a resolution of the
problem. Neither is extending the subscription. The State of Georgia
paid for a full-run of the magazine, and that is what we must receive.
Anything less would be a misuse of state money that would raise
questions with auditors, and rightly so. So we would like to reclaim
the issue, with the above stated reason. If they are refusing to budge,
we would like the contact numbers so that people from the university can
make the claiming calls from here. If they still refuse, a refund for
that issue will be insisted upon.
***
-Melissa Farley
Howlett, Lee Ann wrote:
>Even though I don't work in a library that
>has a subscription to SI, I have to speak out.
>I find this action by the publisher appalling and
>frightening.
>
>This sounds too much like someone is responding to
>the 'tenor of the times'.
>
>LAH
>
>_________________________________
>Lee Ann Howlett, MA
>Head, Serials Dept.
>Shimberg Health Sciences Library
>University of South Florida
>12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 31
>Tampa, FL 33612
>(813) 974-9080
>(813) 974-7032 (fax)
>Email: LHOWLETT@HEALTH.USF.EDU
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
>[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Susan Kellett Gue
>Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 10:47 AM
>To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
>Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Sports Illustrated policy
>
>
>So now publishers are putting themselves in the role of censors? That's
>
>a scary development.
>
>skg
>
>Susan Kellett Gue
>Sr. Library Specialist
>Robert W. Woodruff Library
>Emory University
>404-727-2588
>404-727-0408 (Fax)
>
>
>
>Melissa Farley wrote:
>
>
>
>>My EBSCO representative called the publisher when I noticed we didn't
>>receive this issue, and sent me this message:
>>
>>Just called and was told, TIME INC's policy is NOT to send swimsuit
>>edition
>>to any libraries. So they will NOT be sending to you. Sorry, new
>>
>>
>policy
>
>
>>which went into effect this year.
>>
>>
>>I forwarded it to our Head of Acquisitions, and she asked EBSCO if we
>>would be receiving a credit for this issue. We haven't heard back yet
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>about that, but I suggest that all of us insist on a refund.
>>
>>The policy is completely ridiculous. Frankly, I don't think it has
>>anything to do with protecting students from scantily clad women--I
>>bet that corporate is afraid that if students can look at the issue in
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>libraries, they won't buy their own copy. It's all about money.
>>That's my cynical side, perhaps.
>>
>>-Melissa Farley
>>
>>Lynne Weaver wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hello, Folks -
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Shame on the people at Time, Inc., who apparently have decided to
>>>censor our receipt of Sports Illustrated. We did not receive v.106
>>>no.7, the Swimsuit Issue. (This is usually dated midway between the
>>>second and third February issues, this year the 12th and 19th, so I'm
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>>>guessing February 16th?) I've been checking a couple of other
>>>colleges, who hadn't gotten it either, so I just figured it was
>>>delayed. When it still hadn't arrived today, I called EBSCO to claim
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>>>it.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>My customer service rep said they've gotten many calls claiming it,
>>>and so contacted the publisher. The publisher's response was that
>>>they did not send it to "institutions" because they didn't think it
>>>was appropriate to do so. It seems to me that if one has a
>>>subscription to a title, all issues for that subscription period
>>>should be sent. It is up to the recipient to decide what to do with
>>>the issue once it is received. By the way, I checked and found that
>>>our public library did receive it!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I asked our rep to claim it anyway. I'm hoping that all of you out
>>>there will also do that. I also intend to send e-mail to SI customer
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>>>service complaining and claiming the issue. Maybe if they get enough
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>>>complaints, they'll send it. (I know; I'm an optimist.)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>If any of you have different/better information, please tell the rest
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>>>of us. Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Lynne N. Weaver
>>>
>>>Serials Coordinator
>>>
>>>Lipscomb Library
>>>
>>>Randolph-Macon Woman's College
>>>
>>>2500 Rivermont Avenue
>>>
>>>Lynchburg, VA 24503
>>>
>>>434 947-8396
>>>
>>>434 947-8134 Fax
>>>
>>>lweaver@rmwc.edu
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
--
********************************
Melissa Farley
Library Technical Assistant
Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA 30118
(678) 839-6498
mfarley@westga.edu
********************************
