ALCTS committees and interest groups submit reports to the ALCTS Office after each conference. Following are reports submitted by four Acquisitions Section (AS) committees and interest groups.
Executive Committee
The ALCTS AS Executive Committee met during the 2017 ALA Annual Conference on Saturday, June 24. Chair Sally Gibson provided updates from the ALCTS Board Meeting, and Vice-Chair Xan Arch reported that she has completed the majority of committee appointments. The Education Committee is nearing completion of a rough draft of core competencies for acquisitions professionals. The Publications Committee reported that two titles in the Acquisitions Guides series are in process: the Guide to Information Resources Budget and the Guide to Streaming Videos. The Technology Committee is planning a preconference session on technology tools that help with acquisition workflows for the 2018 Annual Conference.
Submitted by Sally Gibson
Organization and Management Committee
The ALCTS AS Organization and Management Committee met during the 2017 ALA Annual Conference on Saturday, June 24. Present at the meeting were committee members Jeff Eller (Chair), John Ballestro, and Tim Hagan.
The committee discussed the program they hosted earlier in the day entitled “Streaming Video and Graphic Novels from an Acquisitions Perspective: Unusual Workflows.” At that program, committee member John Ballestro (Texas A&M University Libraries) presented on the challenges of acquiring and cataloging graphic novels, and Trey Shelton (University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries) discussed challenges in the acquisition of streaming video. Audience participation following the presentations was lively, and the committee deemed the program a success.
Looking ahead to the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, the committee brainstormed program ideas, many of which centered around migration of acquisitions data during library services platform (LSP) transitions. By way of addressing the ALCTS Strategic Plan’s goal to facilitate remote participation in association activities, the Organization and Management Committee will consider shifting its meeting during the 2018 Midwinter Meeting to a virtual format.
Submitted by Jeff Eller
Technology Committee
The ALCTS AS Technology Committee met during the 2017 ALA Annual Conference on Saturday, June 24. Members discussed a preconference on new tools being used in acquisitions we are proposing for the 2018 ALA Annual Conference. While committee members have already compiled a significant list of tools, we agreed to reach out to acquisitions electronic discussion lists to ask for additional ideas and perhaps identify interested speakers who could lead hands-on demonstrations. The committee is also seeking co-sponsors, such as the Continuing Resources Section (CRS) Acquisitions Committee and the AS Education Committee.
Submitted by Erika Johnson
Acquisitions Managers and Vendors Interest Group
The ALCTS AS Acquisitions Managers and Vendors Interest Group met during the 2017 ALA Annual Conference on Sunday, June 25 with approximately 25 people in attendance. Interest group chairs put together a panel discussion entitled “Negotiation between Libraries and Vendors: Practices and Strategies.” Four panel members, two vendors and two library staff, provided brief presentations on such questions as:
- What is the best way to approach negotiation for pricing, services, or licenses?
- What techniques have you used that were successful?
- What relationship-building and collaboration strategies have you used?
- What best practices do you recommend?
Following the presentations, audience Q&A evolved into a lively discussion about negotiating from both a librarian and vendor perspective.
Submitted by Jared Howland
