In re: the discussion of texts.  I teach Serials at Drexel and have
used Tuttle's book, supplemented with a LOT of readings for several
years.  My problem is that -- although I can put together a state of the
art set of sources for my students -- it comes at a GREAT cost.  JAI press
has always been a problematic publisher (according to my bookstore) and the
cost of Tuttle's book is quite high -- and it lacks a good general discussion
of serials management -- and it was published a while ago. The Advances
series has excellent articles, but the individual volumes are, again,
expensive. The Kinko's decision puts a higher price on any set of readings
my students want access to -- though I plan to explore permissions and
local production in the near future.

My point is -- we need a comprehensive, up-to-date text NOW -- and one
that is affordable. (Our bookstore has a "standard" 25% markup -- and they
do this regardless of the discount provided by the publisher.  Many of the
"small" publishers/distributers only discount 10% (and calculate that
differently from the way bookstores do) and some (including JAI press, I
understand) have a "no returns" policy which leaves the bookstore holding
unsold copies and puts pressure on the instructor. So any wonderful person
who is willing to put the time in to writing a text -- please consider the
problems of the student trying to get a copy of the text.

Kate McCain
College of Information Studies
Drexel