Hawaii response to B&T -Pt II

[Pat Wallace <DENWALL@AOL.COM>]

FORWARDED BY PATRICIA WALLACE, Chair, Hawaii
Working Group, ALA/SRRT/AIP

From:      "Grant and Deborah Gutermuth" <gutent@hgea.org>
                Deborah Gutermuth, Reference and AV Librarian
                Kaneohe Public Library, HAWAII
To:          "progressive/alternative net" <PLGNET-L@cornell.edu>
Cc:          "Patricia Wallace" <DENWALL@aol.com>
Subject:   Hawaii response to B&T response--Part II
Date:       Thu, 6 Mar 1997

CONTINUATION

2.  Hawaiiana selection:

Baker & Taylor acknowledged the importance of local input in
this selection area from the offset, but it is clear that more must
be done.  To ensure that the appropriate books were being
ordered, Baker & Taylor subcontracted the Hawaiiana and
Asian-Pacific selection of the contract to a local book
wholesaler, Booklines Hawaii. Booklines has provided
Hawaiiana selections to HSPLS from local publishers for
many years.  The number of Hawaiiana books to be purchased
is stipulated in the HSPLS contract.  It is Baker & Taylor's
understanding that for HSPLS to remain within the restraints
dictated by the budget cuts, it was forced to reduce the number
of Hawaiian selections and many other categories.   Since
January of this year, Baker & Taylor and the HSPLS have been
developing a process to include HSPLS librarians with
Hawaiiana expertise to provide title selection recommendations.
This new process will ensure the best selection within the
contract guidelines and budget.

Important local presses, such as University of Hawaii Press,
Bishop Museum Press, etc., are NOT represented by Booklines.
We know of no attempt, as yet, to address this large gap in
Hawaiiana material.  Local presses have small press runs.
When they are gone, they are gone for good!  How
representative are Hawaii's Public Libraries of the wealth
of locally produced materials, when most of it, especially
scholarly studies, are not even represented.  Public libraries'
support of local presses is critical. Why didn't Baker & Taylor
do their homework before hiring Booklines.  Not only can't
they give total representation, they can't catalog it either!

If, in fact, someone with Hawaiiana expertise is doing
selection recommendations from HSPLS, it is news to the
field!  WHO?  And even more important, if this is true, then
HSPLS is both selecting and cataloging Hawaiiana - - all
while being charged for the service by Baker & Taylor!
I'd call this a real waste of taxpayer's money!!  Or maybe
this type of thing is normal practice.  You know - - hook
'em,  then explain that if they want it done right, they
(the customer)  must provide the personnel and expertise -
at their own expense- even though they have already paid
for this service.

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continued in Pt III