[LM_NET] HIT: Cost of shelf ready processing vs. in house processing

["Lili, Library" <EFLILILI@ESTHERVILLE.K12.IA.US>]

Thank you to those who replied to my original post asking for
information on a cost comparison of shelf ready vs. in house processing.
Several requested a Hit and the summary follows:

 

I received several suggestions on how to compute my own in house
processing costs by timing how long it took me to process a book and
then computing the cost of that amount of time in terms of my salary.
This would then be compared to whatever fee the various vendor was
charging for the same service.  No one mentioned cost of materials, but
of course, you would also have to compute your cost of the materials you
use to process as well (bar codes, spine labels, mylar covers, etc.)  I
had already done this type of cost comparison prior to my target
request.

 

Most agreed that shelf ready processing is cheaper than in house
processing when a professional's time is considered.  I have also found
that is true in terms of my own computations.  However, I do take some
time to review what I receive as I often need to modify records somewhat
to better "fit" with my specific collection and to be sure the MARC
records are as complete as I'd like them.

 

I use Mackin a lot (www.mackin.com <http://www.mackin.com/> ) and they
provide free shelf-ready processing.  Others that responded to my target
mentioned them as well.

 

However, what I was looking for was something "published" similar to
SLJ's annual average cost of library books.  I didn't get any ideas on
that from anyone.

 

Lili Jensen

Library Media Specialist

Estherville, IA

 

 

 

 

 


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