***Well, for starters I'd think about changing vendors.  In the meantime
I'd have a serious talk with my rep as to why I wasn't informed about the
impending jump; he/she should certainly be familiar with library budgets,
budget processes and the difficulties of pulling $1000 out of a hat.

***Our vendor, Faxon sends us an Order Update every time a title is about
to take a large leap; we are given the opportunity at that time to cancel.

***I'm not quite understanding the serials/periodicals librarian
hierarchy; in my case I have a Collection Development Librarian who makes
the decisions about what we will order/cancel/renew and I have learned
tons from her about Spine Starch ;) You are the vendors' bread and butter;
*they* need *you* more than you need *them* - at least this particular
one.  If you pay this without a whimper, IMO, you are setting yourself up
for like treatment infinitum.

***You might also think about calling the publishers to find out their
cancellation policies first hand.

***Good luck!

Jeanette L. Skwor                       Email:skworj@uwgb.edu
Serials Dept., Cofrin Library           Phone: (920)465-2670
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay       Fax: (920)465-2783
Green Bay, WI  54311-7001

---------- Original message -----------
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 18:50:04 -0600
From: Len Cazares <lcazares@LAREDO.CC.TX.US>
Subject: Hello and SOS!

Hello,

My name is Len Cazares and I am new to the list.  I have just become
serials librarian, since I was already periodicals librarian.  My problem:
I recently received an invoice with price adjustments for our periodical
subscriptions and have just been made aware three titles have increased a
total of $1000, since the quote I was given this past summer!  I've told
our vendor rep I didn't have the funds to pay it and to cancel our
subscriptions immediately.  He told me I have to pay the invoice anyway,
that they don't have control over this.  I'll be speaking with his
supervisor, and alas, will have to inform my director.  Any suggestions on
how to proceed with this situation?  Also, I've just begun reading Chen's
book, "Serials Management: A Practical Guide," 1995.  Any other
recommendations of books or articles to read to bring me up to speed?
Thank you for just being there; I don't feel so alone.

Sincerely,

Len Cazares,Periodicals and Serials Librarian
Harold R. Yeary Library
Laredo Community College
One West End Washington Street
Laredo, TX 78040
956.721.5280
956.721.5447 fax
lcazares@laredo.cc.tx.us