The evolving approval plan: How academic librarians evaluate services for vendor selection and performance

Library Collections, Acquisition and Technical Services

Volumn 23, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 231-277

  Brown, Linda A ^a   Forsyth, John Harper ^a  

^a BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Academic libraries; Acquisitions; Approval plans; Survey results; Vendor selection

Indexed keywords

EID: 0033196106     PISSN: 14649055     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/S1464-9055(99)00036-6     Document Type: Article

References (25)

1. Preliminary results of this survey are reported by Brown, Linda A. "Approval vendor selection - What's best practice," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 22 (Autumn 1998), 341-351.
2. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
3. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
4. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
5. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
6. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
7. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
8. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
9. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
10. Previous surveys of libraries using approval plans included McCullough, K., Posey, E., and Pickett, D., Approval Plans and Academic Libraries, Phoenix: Orix, 1977, who cite some earlier surveys on p. viii. The landmark survey in this area was conducted by Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor: A step-by-step process." Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 7 (No. 2 1983), 115-112; "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 157-202; and, especially, "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 177-260, which is the most extensive survey in print dealing with approval plans, to our knowledge. Surveys of management of approval plans in ARL libraries were contained in Approval Plans in ARL Libraries Spec Kit #83, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1982 and Approval Plans, Spec Kit #141, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1988, 1-30; and Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution & Status of Approval Plans. SPEC Kit 221, Washington, D.C.: Association of Research Libraries, 1997, 1-21. Rossi, Gary J., "Library approval plans: A selected, annotated bibliography," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 11 (No. 1 1987), 3-34, is a standard bibliography to 1986. More current on one aspect of approval plans is Case, Beau, "Approval plan evaluation studies: A selected, annotated bibliography, 1969-1996," Against the Grain, 8 (Sept., 1996), 18-22, 24.
11. The authors wish to thank Franklin Goza, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University and Elaine Howard, Vice President, Market Facts, Inc., Arlington Heights, IL, for reviewing the survey questionnaire and Howard for her valuable suggestion to include the ratings of vendor performance in the survey questionnaire.
12. The authors wish to express their sincere appreciation to the five vendors whose cooperation was indispensable in allowing this survey to proceed. They bear no responsibility for or association with any statements made in this article. Responsibility lies solely with the authors.
13. Names of additional doctoral institutions were selected from "Earned doctorate (and intermediate degrees) in regionally accredited American universities and college, 1975-1989, by institution and year," American Universities and Colleges, American Council on Education, 14th Edition, New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1992.
14. With the exception of two large research libraries, one survey was sent to each institution. Where two surveys were sent to one institution, two individual libraries within each university were identified as having approval plans.
15. The authors are especially grateful to Linda S. Dobb, Dean of Libraries and Learning Resources, Bowling Green State University, for her support of this research project.
16. Sources of data for non-responding libraries: American council on education. American Universities and Colleges. 15th Edition, New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1997. American Library Directory, New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1998. For non-responding university libraries undergraduate enrollment was estimated as 90% of total enrollment given by the reference source.
17. Sources of data for non-responding libraries: American council on education. American Universities and Colleges. 15th Edition, New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1997. American Library Directory, New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1998. For non-responding university libraries undergraduate enrollment was estimated as 90% of total enrollment given by the reference source.
18. The authors wish to thank Nancy Boudreau, Associate Professor, Applied Statistics and Operations Research and Director, Statistical Consulting Service, BGSU, for data processing and counseling on questionnaire design and data analysis.
19. Return policy may be seen alternatively as a factor in cost or in service. It is both.
20. Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M. "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 166-167. They enumerated five items in this system of discounts and charges - discount, cost of notification slips, service charges, shipping charges, and returns - without excluding the possibility that there were others.
21. Libby, Katherine A., and Caudle, Dana M. "A survey on the outsourcing of cataloging in academic libraries," College and Research Libraries, 58 (November 1997), 550-560, found that ". . . libraries with larger collections and larger numbers of incoming titles are more likely to outsource (p. 556)."
22. Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M. "Selecting an approval plan vendor III: Academic librarians' evaluations of eight United States approval plan vendors," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 9 (No. 3 1985), 189, also recorded robust ratings of vendors' performance. This is probably predictable in long-term business-to-business marketing relationships.
23. In contrast, Reidelbach, John H. and Shirk, Gary M., "Selecting an approval plan vendor II: Comparative vendor data," Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory, 8 (No. 3 1984), 158-159, collected vendor data from eight vendors for this 1983 study.
24. Flood, Susan, compiler, Evolution, & Status of Approval Plans, SPEC Kit 221. Washington, D.C., Association of Research Libraries, 1997 (p. 4).
25. The authors hope to discuss the non-traditional categories in more detail in a subsequent publication.