"paperless" clarification

[Susan Waide <hpkraus@maestro.com>]

To address briefly a tangential issue raised in response to my posting
(i.e., was the acquisitions dept. the most appropriate recipient of  a
rare book catalogue), our catalogues are variously sent to special
collections librarians, library directors, rare book curators, subject
bibliographers, acquisition departments, collection development
officers, and even deans of academic departments who may be the
principal advisers for small rare book collections.    The mailing was
quoted verbatim - it just so happened that it came from an acquisitions
department.  We take form letters in stride, hopefully with a sense of
humor when necessary, and we follow up in the appropriate way.    In
these days of changing administrative structures and departmental
functions, getting the catalogues to the right person can be a
challenge!  Of course, these difficulties apply mainly to that part of
our institutional customer base  with whom we have only intermittent
contact.  On the positive side, library web sites have done much to keep
us informed on changing staff and collecting policies, in addition to
the usual telephone calls, letters and visits to the shop.   We
appreciate the postings, on-list and off-list, that shed light on how
librarians go to particular media for particular needs, which media they
feel more “comfortable” working with, and how the organization of a
catalogue works for or against an efficient use of their time.  The form
letter was intended to serve as a springboard - thanks for the feedback.

Susan Waide/H.P. Kraus, Inc.