We have a slow but steady trickle of complaints regarding our inability to
obtain foreign "popular" periodicals in what patrons consider to be a timely
manner.  They frequently see the issue on a newsstand weeks before our copy
hits the shelves.  This is largely caused by our unwillingness to pay the air
speeded delivery charges for more than a few of the most important titles.

We have a local news dealer that supplies various newsstands with these
periodicals.  (Our local firm is called Speedimpex).  Very preliminary
information is that they airfreight over in bulk and deliver by their own
truck three times a week.  They will make a stop for as few as 6 titles.

Before I spend a lot of energy checking this all out, my question is:  Have
any of you made such arrangements with newsdealers?  What are the problems?
Where did the pricing fall in the spectrum of Surface mail, Air Mail direct
to library, and Air Mail through a newsdealer?  Do items really come faster?

Many thanks.

Jim Mouw
University of Chicago

Bitnet:                 uclmouw@uchimvs1
Internet:       mouw@midway.uchicago.edu