Library Acquisifions: Practice and Theory, Vol. 7, pp. I8 I-I 82, 1983 0364-6408/83 $3.00 + .OO Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. Copyright 0 1983 Pergamon Press Ltd

ALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 1983

A REPORT OF THE RTSD RS BOOKDEALER-LIBRARY RELATIONS COMMITTEE OPEN MEETING

June 28,1983

DAVE MEYER

Editorial Assistant

Sara Heitshu of the University of Michigan, chair of the committee, called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. She announced that Gay Henderson of Ohio State University and Joan Mancell of Huron Valley Library System, Ann Arbor, would serve as new members of the committee. William Schenck of the University of Oregon will serve as chair for the next year.

Those in attendance were warned to watch for any news of particular problems with publishers. The newsletters of the Music Libraries Association, the American Association of Law Librarians, and the Special Libraries Association will publish any problems in their respective areas.

The revised Guidelines for Handling Library Orders for In-Print Monographic Publications and Guidelines for Handling Library Orders for Serials and Periodicals are still in preparation, Heitshu reported. It had been requested that the Foreword of the Monograph Guidelines be revised to make a more definite statement on the changes in library-bookdealer relations brought about by the proliferation of automated acquisitions systems. Heitshu and Henderson accordingly revised the Foreword to include a statement that though procedures may have changed with the advent of automated systems, the basic relationship between libraries and bookdealers has not.

Charles Willett of the University of Florida will be journeying to England to make application for a Library Licence, according to Heitshu. As far as is known, no American library has requested such a licence until now. The licence, issued by The Publishers’

Association (U.K.) entitles the holder to discounts of 10% or less on so-called “net books” which are solely for the use of the library and cannot be resold.

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182 DAVE MEYER

ALA Executive Director Robert Wedgeworth forwarded a request to the committee for advice on how to implement the “Resolution Concerning Freight Pass Through” which the Council adopted at the San Antonio Mid-Winter Meeting. Marvin Scilken, the author of the resolution, had requested that the resolution be transmitted by Wedgeworth to major library wholesalers. Wedgeworth instead referred it to the committee. The committee voted to notify Council that it sees no need for further action on the part of ALA, particularly since “the problem was already considered moot” in January 1983.

Heitshu next took up the question of program ideas for the future. Suggestions made from the floor included the following: a survey on the buying of children’s books; a full listing of ANSl standards for acquisitions purposes; basic information on 1SBN and ISSN numbers and their uses; the process of ordering from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the Government Printing Office (GPO). It was noted that a program is scheduled for the 1984 Annual Conference in Dallas on the practical applications of computers for acquisition librarians.

The following document, “Resolution Concerning Discounts Received by Public Libraries from Trade Publishers.” which was moved by Marvin Scilken in Council and seconded by Regina Minudri of the Executive Board, was sent on to the Committee for comment.

Whereas. many trade publishers extend lower discounts to public libraries than they extend to commercial book buyers;

and whereas, public libraries buy substantial quantities of the first printings of many trade books. thereby enabling

some trade books to be published: and whereas, public libraries do not return books; and whereas, public libraries

receive no advertising allowances or point-of-purchase displays; and whereas, public libraries do not need the services of

book travelers; and whereas, public libraries do not go bankrupt; and whereas, public libraries provide visibility for first

novelists and for commercially marginal books; and whereas, public libraries display books for longer periods than can

bookstores, thereby helping “establish” new authors; and whereas. public libraries encourage rcading for pleasure and

self-fulfillment. thereby enlarging the market for books: and whereas. book prices have risen faster than the cost of

living for a number of years; and whereas. library book budgets tend to be fixed. lower discounts cause fewer books to

be purchased. depriving readers and taxpayers of books; and whereas. it is in the interest of publishers. authors. and

libraries that books be widely available; and whereas. it is against public policy that tax-supported institutions routinely

be charged more than commercial buyers placing similar orders; therefore be it resolved. that the American Library

Association request that American trade book publishers examine their discount schedules to libraries to see if they are

in the publishers’ own self-interest in maintaining and enlarging a book-reading public and to see if their discount

schedules are fair to taxpayers; and be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Puhlishrrs Week!L

with a request that it be published and copies sent by the executive secretary of the Association to the major American

trade book publishers and that any replies received by forwarded to the library press.

There was general agreement from those in attendance that the resolution be returned to Council with the advice that it not be acted on. It was said that the resolution, as now written, “would be an embarrassment to librarians” and “would make us look like fools.” Some of the statements in the resolution were judged “patently untrue.” The Committee voted not to support the resolution.

Heitshu turned the meeting over to William Schenck for a discussion of the scheduling of the meeting at future conferences. There have been several problems with the scheduling of the committee meeting heretofore, as was brought out in comments from the floor. The meeting generally conflicts with the dismantling of the bookdealers’ exhibits, forcing them to rush or skip the meeting altogether. Too much time is allowed for what is usually a very short meeting. It is held so late in the conference that often many interested people have already found it necessary to leave. Schenck suggested, as a remedy to the last complaint, that the meeting might be combined with the joint meeting of the Acquisition of Library Materials Discussion Group and the Booksellers Discussion Group. No firm decision was made, but Schenck took the matter under advisement.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.