[WEB4LIB] Library exchange? expanded

[Masters, Gary E]

Bernie:

Certainly.  Companies are using the Internet to create a "spot market" for
what they sell.  It lowers cost and prices and gives them more access to
customers.  Check out InfoWorld for June 5 on page 41 for a special report
"Marketplace mechanics."  The idea is the Internet can create a more direct
marked with less overhead.  

I have thought this a good idea, but I wondered how libraries could use it.
We all have books we weed out.  Perhaps others need them.  I see now and
then people asking what to do with older computer equipment.  One person's
trash is another's treasure.  How about a labor exchange?  Library A has
some slack time (if they would admit it - which is a new idea) and swaps it
to Library B to do some authority work for them.  They get some used PC's in
return or what ever else can be legally swapped.  A man in Laredo made quite
a splash with a time bank where people do small errands for sick people and
build up credit for when they are sick or need help.  I think a time
exchange could work if done properly.

That is what I meant by "Books?  Used computer equipment?  Hours of work?"

Certainly it could give us a better way to match surplus to need.
I

But sometimes I am understandable only to myself.  


Gary E. Masters
Librarian (Systems)
CDRH - FDA
(301) 827-6893 

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Sloan, Bernie [SMTP:bernies at uillinois.edu]
	Sent:	Thursday, June 08, 2000 5:09 PM
	To:	'GEM at CDRH.FDA.GOV'
	Subject:	RE: [WEB4LIB] Library exchange?


	Gary,

	Can you clarify this a little bit? I'm not quite sure what you
mean....

	Bernie Sloan

	-----Original Message-----
	From: Masters, Gary E [mailto:GEM at CDRH.FDA.GOV]
	Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 2:34 PM
	To: Multiple recipients of list
	Subject: [WEB4LIB] Library exchange?


	The "hot new topic" in business and the Internet is business to
business
	digital trading exchanges.

	So, what are libraries doing in this area?

	Books?  Used computer equipment?  Hours of work?

	Seems perfect for someone who wants a future project.



	Gary E. Masters
	Librarian (Systems)
	CDRH - FDA
	(301) 827-6893