Re: Request for information on book purchasing

[Warren Holder <warren.holder@utoronto.ca>]

I hope this doesn't come across as too crass, but in my mind it 
nearly all comes down to the money issue. I work in a large 
academic library and at the moment it seems to me as if I can get 
the most e-books at the best price by negotiating directly with 
the publishers. I am happy to talk to a vendor of whatever stripe 
(book jobber, serial agent, etc. ) who will offer us similar 
discounts. I think there should be a business case especially in 
the humanities and social sciences where I predict we will buy 
both versions for a while. Have any of you seen a bundled price 
for a book purchase?

Warren Holder
Electronic Resources Co-ordinator
University of Toronto Libraries
130 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario CANADA M5S 1A5
warren.holder@utoronto.ca
www.library.utoronto.ca/its/warren.html


Engelland, Joachim wrote:

> Dear Roel,
>
> With reference to your question on how to order e-books:
>
> At Walter de Gruyter we have just developed with Atypon an 
> integrated ebook/ejournal content delivery platform, and 
> therefore the questions you raise in your third paragraph with 
> reference to the fulfilment process have been foremost in our 
> minds. The challenge has been to define a process that involves 
> as little disruption to the librarian at the same time as 
> recognising that the content delivery path is different for 
> digital content to that of the physical book. With these 
> requirements in mind we have a workflow in place that allows 
> you to order e-book titles exactly the same way as printed 
> books. The process in outline is as follows:
>
> 1) Order with your preferred book seller or library vendor 
> (Blackwell, YBP, Harrassowitz, Starkmann etc. - the same as you 
> use for printed books)
>
> 2) We will require with the order the email address of the 
> librarian responsible for the e-acquisition, which could be the 
> Acquisition Librarian or the E-content acquisition specialist.
>
> 3) The book seller or library vendor then places the order with
> our fulfillment partner (which is the same as for printed books:
> Rhenus Medien Logistik).
>
> 4) Your invoicing will come from your library vendor or 
> bookseller (just as with your printed books)
>
> 5) The additional and important step is that you will get an 
> email from our customer service team at Walter de Gruyter 
> letting you know how to register and set up and administer 
> access to this content. This email will also contain a list of 
> all the newly purchased items.
>
> We are hopeful that this process will prove to meet the needs 
> of librarians acquiring a variety of e-content. Your direct 
> feedback to me on this would be most welcome. Similarly if 
> other readers have specific feedback on this process please do 
> not hesitate to contact me directly.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Joachim Engelland
> Verlag Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
> Director Electronic Business
>
> -----Urspr=FCngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu Im Auftrag von Tilly R (UB)
> Gesendet: Donnerstag, 21. August 2008 00:33
> An: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> Betreff: RE: Request for information on book purchasing
>
> Dear Joe,
>
> I have been following your opinions for some time and find them
> very interesting especially on the book ordering issue.
>
> First of all in answer to your request on monographic orders we
> at the university library do not distinguish in the ordering of
> monographs. We have two main book suppliers domestic and foreign.
> In my view we have a contract with the bookseller and he has to
> supply as offered. We don't think its sound business to be
> preselecting the orders (you might be tempted to take the best
> bits out), in some cases grey literature is the exception.
>
> We at the university have a policy of supporting the local
> bookseller so they can provide the best service for our
> university students and staff.
>
> What I'm more interested in and that's a fundamental question how
> are we (librarians) going to order e-books from: Bookseller,
> Wholesaler, or straight from the Publisher. I'm asking this with
> the Big Deal (journals) in mind, with its advantages and
> disadvantages.  And the fact that most publishers are presenting
> impractical pricing models main issues in the discussions are:
> packages, simultaneous users and site (access) definitions.
>
> If you have any views or opinions on this I would appreciate these.
>
> Regards,
> Roel Tilly
> University of Maastricht
> Mail Address:
> PO Box  616, 6200 MD Maastricht