Hi,
One of our agents provides the subscriber numbers on their invoices,
although there are many blank spaces and in some cases these subscriber
numbers are no longer valid or contradict ones that we may already have.
Also, the numbers are sometimes composite numbers and the subscriber number
is contained within these, and it is not always possible to know which part
of the number is needed. Our other agent doesn't provide this information on
their invoices, although for this agent we now have access to their serials
management database and can find the number - if it is there, which it isn't
always.
Whilst it is easy to contact agents or publishers to find this information,
it can take a lot of time for all parties concerned, as already described by
several people on this list. Maybe publishers and agents could work more
closely together so that the information they have on their different
systems match each other. It is imperative that this issue be resolved.
Cheers
Lesley
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by the UK Serials Group
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Thompson, Jane
(THOMPSJL)
Sent: 05 April 2002 16:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Arranging access to print-with-online journals
In my experience, the subscription agents do not always have an accurate
number, and are unable to supply a list at the beginning of the new
subscription year of titles and subscriber numbers. I have asked numerous
times for this, and have not obtained a useful list.
Jane Thompson
Journals Collection Development Librarian
U. Cincinnati Health Sciences Library
Cincinnati, Ohio
-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret Clennett [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 4:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Arranging access to print-with-online journals
We have had similar experiences with trying to set up e-access, though we
have our journals sent direct. Finding numbers on mailing labels is OK for
an individual, but not for any library of even moderate size. Could
publishers or agents arrange to send us details of our subscription numbers
as part of the renewals confirmation process?
Margaret Clennett
Margaret A Clennett
Chief Librarian Public Health Laboratory Service
61 Colindale Avenue
London NW9 5HT
0208 200 4400 ext 4617
e-mail [log in to unmask]
or [log in to unmask]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 4:33 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Arranging access to print-with-online journals
> > I've just received a confirmation of online access to a journal after
> two weeks of intensive email correspondence with the publisher, the
> subscription agent and the content provider, and cannot help thinking
> there must be an easier way.
> > I received a notification from the content provider of online
> availability of a journal title we subscribe to in print. I completed
> an online activation form requesting access and supplied the agent's
> reference number as requested. I received an email from the publisher
> (in the US) that they could not locate our subscription. This was not
> entirely unexpected since we use the agent's consolidation service and
> the publisher may not have the library's address as the delivery address.
> We contacted the agent to ask for the subscription reference number the
> publisher requested. The agent emailed back a reference number. We
> forwarded the number to the publisher. The publisher replied that this
> was not the number they needed. We wrote back to the agent. All this
> was interspersed with what seemed like daily automated email messages
> from the publisher informing us that they failed to locate our
> subscription record. Eventually an email from the publisher suggested
> that we should look at the label on a recent issue. I had already done
> so but all I could find was a label printed and attached by the agent.
> There was no sign of a number in the format that the publisher required.
> However, I did have another look and found that under the agent's label
> there was a smaller label which had obviously been affixed by the
> publisher. By removing the agent's label carefully I was able to find
> the magic number that the publisher needed. I sent the number to the
> publisher. They replied that the number actually referred to the agent
> and could not identify us as the subscriber, but that the second number
> I also supplied helped to trace our subscription although it was not a
> valid number as it was for a subscription which had expired. (The
> journal issue I found the label on was the January-February 2002 issue.)
> They also explained that the reason why they could not trace our
> subscription was because our order had been placed through an agent.
> (I thought we'd already told them this!) Incidentally we have an
> agreement with the agent to arrange online access automatically if it
> is available as part of the print subscription and have given them our
> preferred access routes.
> > Was it worth the effort? I hope so - when our users can access the
> contents of this journal online - apparently no issues are avaialable
> online yet! But there must be a less time-consuming way to arrange
> online access to electronic journals...
> > Mieko
> -----
> Mieko Yamaguchi [log in to unmask]
> Technical Services Manager/System Coordinator +44 (0)1248 382970
> Main Library, University of Wales Bangor, UK +44 (0)1248 382979 (Fax)
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