----------(1)
>From jharmon@IUPUI.EDU Thu Dec  9 11:46:16 1999
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 10:00:00 -0500
From: "Harmon, Joseph C." <jharmon@IUPUI.EDU>
Subject: Re: Microfilm Pricing (Peter Picerno)

We librarians are too passive. Until we have the gall to band together and
refuse to pay the price, publishers will maximize their profits.  Yes, yes,
I know the faculty will demand that we pay the price anyway.  But if the
major libraries cooperate and show the faculty the wisdom of our approach,
we may be able to get them to support us.  Otherwise, we just keep proving
that we can make do under any circumstance, regardless of how hard it is.
Martyrdom for the sake of publisher profits is not my idea of a great cause
or a healthy profession. (I was trained by Herb White. Can you tell?)

Joseph C. Harmon
Cataloging Team Leader
IUPUI University Library
755 W. Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-274-8336
jharmon@iupui.edu <mailto:jharmon@iupui.edu>

----------(2)
>From COOKEI@CONRAD.APPSTATE.EDU Thu Dec  9 11:46:16 1999
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 10:00:30 -0500
From: ELEANOR COOK <COOKEI@CONRAD.APPSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Microfilm Pricing (was From Robert Bland) (Carol Morse)

When we complained to UMI (now Bell & Howell) we were told they do not
set these prices, the publishers do. So I suppose the publishers saw
what we were doing (delaying access but obtaining the material at a
pittance, compared to the print price). So, now the prices are close
to the same and the only advantage is that microform saves room.

Since everyone hates to use microform and the readers are horribly
expensive and tricky to maintain, the trend is to go electronic. There
are still archiving issues though. No matter which way we turn, we
still have the same old problems.  And of course with electronic
journals, we have a whole raft of new problems. So, life is ever
interesting in the world of serials ...

Sincerely,
Eleanor Cook
*********************************************************************
Eleanor I. Cook                   828-262-2786 (wrk)     NEW PO BOX
Serials Specialist                828-262-2773 (fax)         &
Belk Library, PO Box 32026                               Area Code!
Appalachian State University                             Spring '98
Boone, NC 28608-2026              cookei@appstate.edu
*********************************************************************