Date: Fri, 22 Jul 1994 14:38:47 -0400
From: bensonwo%wrdc.dnet@WL.WPAFB.AF.MIL
Subject: Subscription Analogies

To SERIALST members:

        I recently requested stories/analogies/anecdotes about subscriptions,
that would help us communicate our unique problems to management and
customers.  Here are the interesting results, and my comments.

                   *** SUBSCRIPTIONS ANALOGIES & ANECDOTES ***

->  Handling serials is like trying to nail jello to the wall.
->  Serials are like monographs with attitude.

Lucien R. Rossignol
Smithsonian Institution Libraries
202-357-2010
libem004@sivm.si.edu
--------------------

->  Controlling serials is like nailing jelly to the wall. (another version)
As Susan notes, this has appeared in the literature several times.  She
wasn't sure who first said it.

Susan Davis
University at Buffalo
---------------------

-> Farming:  If you don't plant at the correct time and with the proper care,
you get no crop that year (or a greatly reduced yield).  (SEE MORE BELOW!)

Sandy Gurshman, Readmore
------------------------

-> Newspapers:  Almost everybody subscribes to a local and/or major city
newspaper. In order to receive a paper every day, you send a check every year
or every few months, etc.  If you forget to pay on time, you do _not_ get a
paper for several mornings.  Even after you mail your check, it takes a
number of days for the newspaper agent to record your payment and get your
newspaper delivery started again.  In the meantime, you have missed several
days worth of your newspaper, and you cannot get them because they don't keep
back issues at the delivery office.

Then one can extrapolate to point out that the larger the distribution, the
longer it takes them to process the payment (i.e., renewal order), because
they have thousands of subscribers and relatively little staff in the
subscription office.  That is the case with most journal publishers.  And if
you go through an agent (point out to them), you have the added delay of a
middleman (worthwhile as it is!).

Maybe these people have never subscribed to popular journals, where they
inform you to allow 6 to 8 weeks to start receiving issues at home.  But I
think the point of not getting one's newspaper, and forever missing the back
issues might be more tangible to non-serial people.

Sarah Tusa
Lamar University
tusa@lub002.lamar.edu
---------------------

I think the farming analogy is great - thanks Sandy!  Here's how I see it:

Planning what to grow and where to grow it (reviewing/updating title lists
and selecting suppliers); Budgeting for seeds and other supplies (estimating
costs and creating the budget); Ordering the seeds, etc. (sending in renewals
and ordering new titles); Preparing the soil (creating space on the shelves
and updating holdings lists); Receiving and planting the seeds (checking in,
shelving and/or routing); Receiving sufficient rain and sunshine (funds
transferred at last!); Checking the growing crops for problems-bugs, weeds,
etc. (handling problem journals, shifting, weeding, etc.) and finally
harvesting the crop (advertising to customers and helping them use the
periodicals).  Then of course, its back to planning again...

I like to think of our process now as "Raising Serials,"  or is that
"Periodical Farming?"  Someone will have to write the "Green Thumb Guide to
Subscription Renewals," or how about "Magazines and Manure?"  For the
Trekkies among us that's: "Through the Worm Hole."  Perhaps in honor of the
new cyberspace e-zines (electronic magazines) we should begin calling
ourselves ZINEOLOGISTS!  The next bumper sticker could read "I'd rather
be growing 'zines."

Well enough of this tom/janefoolery, I really must get back to my
"Serials Almanac."   ...Many Thanks to all of you for the inspiration!

P.S. If they start in on 'how simple it is to buy magazines at home,'
remind them that we are running a huge co-op, multicultural farm, not
doodling in the garden!                                  Peace.    :)

Bill Benson                  Internet: bensonwo@wl.wpafb.af.mil
Serials Librarian            Phone: (513) 255-6750  DSN 785-6750
Wright Lab Tech Library      Fax: (513) 476-4826    DSN 986-4826
2690 C ST  STE 4
Wright Patterson AFB OH 45433-7411