Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 15:19:17 -0400
From: Judith Stokes <jstokes@GROG.RIC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Claims/WWW and One Question (Tom White)

Hi, and thanks for asking,

I didn't get a chance to answer your first question because I'm so swamped
with paperwork and equipment failures and all the work that used to be done
by 3 people, but now there's only 2 of us...

I bet there's other libraries like mine.  This is how I survive:  if it
comes in the journal it probably falls out and gets lost and if
it comes in the mail bulk rate I throw it in the recycling bin.  Also, if
it comes addressed to my name, but it's from one of the publishers that
sends tons of advertisement to me by name and first class(!) routinely, I
throw that out, too.  BUT, the rest I try to find time to open and read.
I get way, way behind when the library is busy or, worse, when the only
other staff member is out sick.  Likewise, my e-mail.  I just don't have
time to read lots of messages.  So, I want all the schedule changes to go
to my subscription agent.  I don't have time to go tweak every check-in
record everytime a publisher is late BUT, when it gets late enough to
generate a claim, then I'd like to get that info and reset my "expected
dates" in my check-in record.  If my agent can send me that info when I
need it, great.  Otherwise, I just don't have time to check dates, so as to
have every title timed just right.

As for cancellations, when I have cancelled, and publishers have written to
ask why, I have alway written back with an explanation of the criteria we
used.  I would still do that, because I think its important.

>Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 16:32:59 -0800
>From: "Tom White, Journals Marketing Mgr., UC Press" <tom.white@UCOP.EDU>
>Subject: Claims/WWW & one ?
>
>I want to thank the many librarians who took the time to respond to my
>recent query to SERIALST.  Most of you emailed me directly.
>
>The responses I received, in order of preference, were 1. to send the late
>notices directly to the librarian, separate from the current issue (10); 2.
>include a late notice in the current issue (9); 3. send the late notice to
>the vendor (7).   Many opted for more than one route.
>
>While most respondents would appreciate having online/WWW access to
>frequency, scheduling, pricing and online claiming, they also did not want
>to have to go searching Web sites for late notices.
>
>I'm sorry to say that journal publishers have little control over editorial
>production, at least at Cal where most journals are produced and edited by
>offices unrelated to the Press or UC.  It would make all of our lives much
>easier if editorial content was consistently on time.
>
>If I can press my luck a little more and ask of you another question, it
>would be this:  What is the best way for me to learn the reason for a
>journal cancellation?  I realize that many libraries are under the budget
>gun, but I would like to know why one of our journals got chosen instead of
>another.
>
>Again, thanks for your time.  I will take your suggestions to heart and to
>my planning meetings.
>
>Tom White, Journals Marketing Manager
>University of California Press
>2120 Berkeley Way # 5812, Berkeley CA 94720-5812
>Voice: 510/643-0953; Fax: 510/642-9917; Email: tom.white@ucop.edu
>Web site - http://library.berkeley.edu:8080/ucalpress/journals
>

Judith Stokes, Serials Librarian
Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908
phone (401)456-8165   fax: (401)456-9646