----------(1)
>From Susan_Andrews@TAMU-COMMERCE.EDU Fri Apr  7 09:37:36 2000
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 17:01:09 -0500
From: Susan Andrews <Susan_Andrews@TAMU-COMMERCE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bulk ordering of magazines (2 messages)

Sarah,

We had the same problem, too, although we ordered 2d copies to ensure that
we would have something to bind when the time came.  And we frequently had
them turn into 1 copy for 2 years.  What seemed to work best, and I don't
guarantee this, it just worked best, was: 1) We had the subscription agent
invoice us on a *separate* invoice for the 2d copy (although, if you have
multiple copies, this might not work as well), and 2)  We put a person's
name (mine, in this case) in the address for the 2d copy (the rest of the
address remains the same).

For some reason, don't ask me why, the name seems to help tremendously. I
don't know if you have enough different names in your dept. to make this
work, but it did make a *big* difference to our problem.  Good luck!

Susan Andrews
Head, Serials Librarian
Texas A&M University-Commerce
P.O. Box 3011
Commerce, TX 75429-3011
Susan_Andrews@tamu-commerce.edu
(903)886-5733

----------(2)
>From NobleStation@COMPUSERVE.COM Fri Apr  7 09:37:36 2000
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 23:32:51 -0400
From: Albert Henderson <NobleStation@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: Bulk ordering of magazines

on 6 Apr 2000 Sarah Christenson <siracksa@OPLIN.LIB.OH.US> wrote:

> I am hoping you can help me.  We are a public library with 7 branches.
> Right now, we order all our magazines for each branch individually but
> with the same street address.  We receive all magazines here at the
> Administrative Center, but with the branch name so we know where to send
> them.  This is causing major headaches because the publishers will give
> one branch 4 years worth while the other 3 branches get none.  We claim
> through EBSCO, but it takes time to get things straightened out.
>
> We are thinking of changing to ordering all copies with the exact name and
> same address and keeping track of the branches ourselves.  Does anyone else
> do it this way?  And if so, have you experienced any problems?
> Any suggestions or feedback would be most welcome.

Publishers' fulfillment systems are set up to serve thousands of
individual orders. The latest innovation requires all addresses to be
standardized according to the U.S. Postal Service and verified as
"deliverable" when matched against a CD-ROM. They also now need room for
the barcode, a match code that helps identify unwantedduplicates, and, for
foreign subscribers, a country.  That limits some creative options that
you once had when composing a label.

You didn't include an example of your address. My experience has been that
institutional addresses challenge the limits with detail that may be
extraneous. For delivery, you don't need the full official name of the
library and other trivia that confuse publishers' back offices.

Here are some options that may help:

1. Order each subscription to be delivered direct to each branch at its
own street address. Let each branch do the check-in and report to you.
(Why should your system delay shelving?)

2. Simplify each address, eliminating boilerplate like "serials section"
so you have one addressee name (for example: RIVERDALE BRANCH) in addition
to the essential street address, city, state, and zip+4.

There are other possibilities, but think about these.

Best wishes,

Albert Henderson
Editor, PUBLISHING RESEARCH QUARTERLY
<70244.1532@compuserve.com>

----------(3)
>From bjones@SMCVT.EDU Fri Apr  7 09:37:36 2000
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 09:11:01 -0400
From: Bernadette Jones <bjones@SMCVT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bulk ordering of magazines

I've had this same problem with a few titles, especially our subscriptions
to Value line, which were incorrect every single year.  I finally ordered
one of the copies in my own name (with the library's address) and haven't
had a problem since.  EBSCO kindly set up a separate account for us under my
name for that purpose.

Bernadette Jones
Periodicals Department
Saint Michael's College
Library & Information Services
Winooski Park
Colchester, VT  05439

e-mail: bjones@smcvt.edu
Phone: 802-654-2404