Re: Disney Twenty-three--opinions? Susan Sturgeon 22 Dec 2009 20:06 UTC
I think it boils down to marketing and greed. Doesn't that just sound like Disney? Susan Sturgeon Serials Librarian Salem State College Library 352 Lafayette St. Salem, MA 01970 (978) 542-6765 Fax: (978) 542-6596 email: susan.sturgeon@salemstate.edu >>> Barbara Pope <bpope@PITTSTATE.EDU> 12/22/09 2:56 PM >>> Did the publisher indicate why it was making this restriction? The craziest thing is that patrons may show up at the library wanting to read this magazine and because they don't want to buy or cannot afford to buy it, they won't be able to read it. This reminds me that there is an architecture journal where the publisher does something similar with one of its regular issues by only sending it to professional architects. Maybe the publishers are making assumptions that only certain people would want to read such material. Whereas a university may not have professional architects, for example, it may have architecture students who need to read the professional literature. I think it was a couple of years ago that something crazy happened with Sports Illustrated because the publisher did not send the swimsuit issue to libraries. The story I heard was that the publisher didn't think it was appropriate to send it to libraries. This is just completely crazy. You would think that in this economy, publishers would be glad that somebody wants to buy their publications. Journal and magazine titles seem to be frequently folding or going to online format only a lot lately, so getting any kind of subscription business would seem worth it. Publishers should wise up to the fact that peoples' need or want to read journals or magazines is not so black and white. Sincerely, Barbara M. Pope, MALS Periodicals/Reference Librarian Axe Library Pittsburg State University Pittsburg KS 66762 620-235-4884 bpope@pittstate.edu BLACK, STEVE wrote: > > In the course of selecting periodicals to review for /Library Journal/ > (see e.g. > http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6709259.html?industryid=47384), > I’ve run across an unusual case of controlled circulation. I don’t > know what to make of it, so I’m interested in what you folks think. > > Disney recently launched a new magazine that’s a benefit of membership > in the Disney 23 club. It’s a large format, lushly produced magazine > that many public library patrons would enjoy reading. I’ve seen the > magazine in my local Barnes & Noble, so it’s available on newsstands, > too. But Disney’s terms of use state subscriptions to /Disney > Twenty-three/ are for “individuals only (no corporations or other > entities, associations or groups).” I e-mailed customer service and > received confirmation that this includes libraries. > > What do you make of this? Is it outrageous? Irksome? No big deal? > > Steve Black > > Reference, Serials, and Instruction Librarian > > Neil Hellman Library > > The College of Saint Rose > > 392 Western Ave. > > Albany, NY 12203 > > (518) 458-5494 > > blacks@strose.edu >