I spent time I did not have this morning re-doing a pattern (because our
library is on the NOTIS system, and LSER is as unforgiving as systems come)
for a bimonthly journal that published only 5 issues last year, sending us
a very nice, thoughtful letter last fall describing monetary difficulties
and their, regretfully made, decision not to publish a Nov/Dec issue.

Being in somewhat of a snitty mood, then, when I received their renewal
notice in the mail minutes later, I found myself fantasizing about sending
it back $20 short, saying, "Libarary budgets being what they are, I'm sure
you'll understand we can't afford to send you the whole amount this year.
We hope to be back up to our former funding next year."

The same mail brought me a claims reply.  Again, very reasonable, polite,
yes, I'm glad to have the problem recognized, but--"to compensate for the
issue missed, we are extending service for one issue."

Hey.  We *bind* that title.  It's a quarterly.  Now I have 3 unbound issues
on the shelf, and it's a heavily used title, so they will very soon become
3 unbound *disheveled* issues.

So.  Yes, it's better than just ignoring my claims, or changing publishing
schedules and not letting me know, but I think these well-intentioned
people need to know, also, that they're solutions are not all the helpful
to the rest of us.

And no.  I don't have any answers.  But I *do* feel better :)

Jeanette Skwor
Cofrin Library
UWGB
<SKWORJ@GBMS01.UWGB.EDU>