---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 13:14:53 -0500
From: Taylor, Martha <MTaylor@VTS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Periodical subscription agents

Until last year, we subscribed directly to all our US titles (500+). The
reason we switched to handling by an agent (EBSCO) was that the staff
time involved in maintaining direct subscriptions could be put to better
use. In terms of claim responsivness, I would say that in dealing with
large subscription houses that handle popular titles like Time and
Newsweek, you will get the same or perhaps worse results directly than
you would by claiming through an agent. I have found that a
comprehensive bill is much more convenient and informative than
individual renewals. We did not have the option of paying by credit
card, so we had to cut checks for each renewal. That meant requesting
and keeping records on 500+ small checks, which was a burden on our
business office. An additional problem with direct subscriptions are
publishers that do not automatically send out renewal notices. That
entails the library having some way of remembering to contact the
publisher every year to request a renewal notice. All in all, having
done it both ways, I am very glad to have the agent do this kind of
work.

Martha Taylor
Periodicals Librarian
Virginia Theological Seminary
email: MTaylor@vts.edu

> ----------
> From:         SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion
> Forum[SMTP:SERIALST@UVMVM.UVM.EDU] on behalf of Mark K
> Bowman[SMTP:MSMAIL.MBOWMAN@RANCH.STATE.ND.US]
> Sent:         Friday, February 07, 1997 5:36 PM
> To:   SERIALST@UVMVM.UVM.EDU
> Subject:      Periodical subscription agents
>
> A public library serving approximately 70,000 with 365 periodical
> subscriptions posed this question:  Have any libraries of comparable
> size
> and number of subscriptions considered not using a subscription agent,
> such
> as Ebsco-- in other words, ordering directly from the publisher?
>
> In particular, this library is wondering if publishers would be more
> responsive to claims from direct-subscribing libraries than the
> subscription
> agent.  Since they are using an automated serials system, claim
> notices
> would be generated by the system and sent to the publisher (the
> library
> would have to enter each publisher in their vendor file, but that is
> considered a one-time inconvenience).  The automated system also
> generates
> renewal notices.
>
> I also asked about separate bills versus one comprehensive bill.  This
> particular library has a credit card and could use this to pay for
> subscriptions (I don't know their purchase order and billing process).
>
> Have other libraries discontinued using a subscription agent and what
> are
> some additional pros and cons to using or not using a subscription
> agent.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Mark Bowman
> North Dakota State Library
> 604 E. Boulevard Ave.
> Bismarck, ND 58505-0800
> msmail.mbowman@ranch.state.nd.us
>
>