Acquisitions in a Nutshell

Abstract

Designed specifically for librarians new to the field of acquisitions, this session featured an informal introduction to the basics of acquisitions librarianship from three standpoints: a veteran acquisitions and serials librarian, a library director with a background in acquisitions, and a librarian who began her first professional appointment in 2013.The session covered a variety of issues related to the acquisition of both monographs and serials in various formats, plus database and backfile purchases. Discussions included definitions, ordering considerations, avoiding purchase of duplicate resources, negotiating prices and access options, licensing, selecting vendors and jobbers, and various services that vendors' representatives can provide to assist librarians. The presenters discussed various aspects of access versus ownership of e-books and periodicals and the impact of each on space and budgets both current and future, and suggested the best times in the annual budget cycle for different types of spending decisions.