Books In Print (BIP) lobbying?

[Pat Wamsley <patw1@MUSKOX.ALASKA.EDU>]

I have noticed questions about BIP on LM_NET several times, and wanted to
throw in my two cents worth, and ask for help in lobbying the publishers
(Reed Reference/Bowker) to make this great tool more viable for purchase
in school libraries.

When I started a new high school and had bond money and a totally new
collection to order, I subscribed to BIP plus (with reviews) on CD Rom.
What a great tool it was, with both the database of all books in print
and almost all the reviews from SLJ, Booklist, Voya, etc. How wonderful
it was to do collection developement from a knowledge-base like that.

However, when the bond money ran out, the cost was too prohibitive for my
small school to continue.  Since then the cost for public schools has
come down a little, for $1095.00 you get an annual subscription with monthly
updates, but it is still very  expensive -- unless we could lobby the
publisher to make a special school subscription version available of just 1
or 2 updates (instead of monthly) for a couple hundred dollars or so...

If you would be interested, please LET THE PUBLISHER KNOW. I have talked
to them at several national conferences including Indianapolis, and they
always say there just isn't that much of a demand for that type of
service!

REED REFERENCE PUBLISHING
P.O Box 31
New Providence, NJ 07974
1-800-521-8810


Pat Wamsley (patw1@muskox.alaska.edu)  |{ancient Chinese blessing/curse}
wk: Colony HS Library (907) 746-9538   |
hm: 3700 Spruce Top Circle             | "May you live
    Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 376-8854   |         in interesting times!"