The RFP Process: Effective Management of the Acquisition of Library Materials

(Paperback)

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Description

This comprehensive presentation of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process shows librarians how to successfully prepare RFPs when determining which vendors to use for purchasing library materials. Contending that the straight bid process, where only costs and discount rates are considered, does not offer the best options for libraries, the authors provide information on every facet of the RFP processfrom philosophical and pragmatic reasons for writing an RFP to evaluation of responses and awarding of contracts to transferring titles and evaluation of vendor services and products. All of the material in this book can be transferred to any kind of RFP for any kind of library materials. Special features include chapters on the acquisition of specialized materials (e.g., science, technology, fine arts) and foreign materials, and specific information on electronic/automated services. Appendixes contain samples of the cover letter, questions for various sections and types of RFPs, and evaluation criteria

Reviews

A valuable addition to the professional literature ... For any library interested in developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for approval plans or serials, this volume should be considered required reading ... This volume is highly recommended.-Journal of Academic Librarianship
This book covers an important area of acquisitions and provides useful information on the intricacies of the business aspect of contracts for materials and services that is too frequently neglected in library education. It is readable, provides "reality-based" information, and is essential for all collection management, acquisitions, and selection personnel. The authors have managed to create a book that fills a void in the literature of the field, providing useful and useable information for practitioners. Every library and information center should own a copy of this book.-Journal of Library and Information Science
"A valuable addition to the professional literature ... For any library interested in developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for approval plans or serials, this volume should be considered required reading ... This volume is highly recommended."-Journal of Academic Librarianship
"This book covers an important area of acquisitions and provides useful information on the intricacies of the business aspect of contracts for materials and services that is too frequently neglected in library education. It is readable, provides "reality-based" information, and is essential for all collection management, acquisitions, and selection personnel. The authors have managed to create a book that fills a void in the literature of the field, providing useful and useable information for practitioners. Every library and information center should own a copy of this book."-Journal of Library and Information Science

Author Bio

FRANCES C. WILKINSON is Director, Acquisitions and Serials Department, General Library, and Associate Professor of Librarianship, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque