[Web4lib] Libraries: Standing at the Wrong Platform, Waiting for the Wrong Train?

[Louise Alcorn]

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Louise E. Alcorn     --    Reference Technology Librarian
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
West Des Moines IA 50265
(515) 222-3573      louise.alcorn at wdm-ia.com
http://www.wdm.lib.ia.us

>>> K.G. Schneider 10/26/05 11:55AM >>>

>It would probably be cheaper than most ILL!

I think the idea has merits, but I want to throw this comment out there, in
light of a patron interaction I had less than 15 minutes ago:

What if they 'buy' through Amazon a title you'd -never- add to your
collection?  The patron in question wanted another 'tell all' book on Princess
Diana (copyright 2005, so not eligible for ILL) which was -soundly- panned by
LJ, Booklist, etc.  We'd never spend our budget on it, unless it was *the* hot
book of the year and had to be bought (it's not).  Luckily, the book in
question happens to be a reissue of a 1998 title, not a new edition (just a
new, flashy cover), so I was able to ILL the '98.  If we had a policy to let
them buy new titles 'for us' through Amazon, we might have gotten stuck with
this book.  

My question/comment is:  I'm fine with 'giving them what they want' up to a
point in the budget, but how would we avoid budget abuses and retain some
selection control with such a system as has been suggested?  

I'm not asking this to be snarky, I'm genuinely curious how this would be
handled.  Or if it is already being handled by any libraries?  

Best,
Louise