Library/Vendor Relationships

Citation

Neil, A. (2008), "Library/Vendor Relationships", Library Management, Vol. 29 No. 1/2, pp. 132-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120810844711

The editors Sam Brooks (Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for EBSCO Information Services) and David Carlson (Dean of Library Affairs at Southern Illinois University) have compiled a balanced book which provides insights from all sides of the library/vendor relationship.

The book comprises 14 short chapters (excluding the two introductory chapters from the editors) all with their own focus about this very important relationship. The lack of depth in the book reflects, I feel, that the contents which were co‐published simultaneously as Journal of Administration, Vol. 44, Numbers 3/4 2006, cater more for the journal format rather than a book.

The book starts with two introductory chapters from the editors who each identify that the library/vendor relationship is very much part of the twenty‐first century information world. Both editors indicate that the relationship is a dependent one and that both sides can benefit from a mutually open dialogue. These two chapters reflect the main theme of the book, which is that it is a relationship that needs to exist and that good things can come if both parties work hard and always together.

Some chapters deal with different types of libraries ranging from Government libraries and how to handle their growing need for privatisation and outsourcing; or library consortiums such as The Anatolian University Libraries Consortium (ANKOS) and how they meet the budget and online access requirements of all of their members. Public Libraries also feature where their own requirements are discussed and how they negotiate with vendors who often see them as like a small university.

Other chapters look at more then just the commercial relationship and examine collaboration between all parties to develop standards and how Library Advisory Boards benefit both vendors and libraries.

Finally you are able to examine how vendors feel about the relationship from the development of the academic publisher to software enhancement partnerships.

As outlined the book would provide many in the different areas of the information world some useful tips about the complex library/vendor relationship, but it does not really provide any depth. This book would only be the first step to finding out more about how to improve or develop the relationship from both the library or vendor side.