SLA PAM Division Practices Manual: Publisher Liaisons


		Liaisons to Publishers/Other Associations Description of PAM’s Liaison Program and its Benefits Types of Liaison Arrangements Liaison Duties and Appointment Process Current PAM Liaisons Selected Resources PAM's liaisons endeavor to fulfill Goal 4 of PAM's Three Year Strategic Plan 2003-2005, to "strengthen liaison relationships with vendors and publishers." Specific points: 4.1 Continue to represent the interests of the library/user community to publishers and vendors. Keep members apprised of relevant developments. 4.2 Continue to provide opportunities for librarians and publishers to communicate with and learn from each other, e.g., conference roundtables, liaison programs, joint library/publisher advisory boards. 4.3 Strengthen members' understanding of scholarly scientific communication and the issues that a changing, electronic environment presents to libraries, publishers, and other stakeholders. Publisher benefits of PAM-appointed publisher liaison: A PAM-appointed publisher liaison brings together the interests, knowledge, and opinions of a diverse group of librarians and information specialists. Many types of institutions are represented from small colleges to major universities and research libraries. PAMnet can be used to solicit feedback and communicate ideas to the whole PAM membership. Having a PAM-appointed publisher liaison either in a single person manner or included on a library advisory group indicates that the publisher is trying to remain responsive to the needs to researchers, publishers, and librarians. Provides a forum for discussion of issues and trends of interest to researchers, publishers, librarians Librarian benefits of PAM-appointed publisher liaison: The benefits to librarians include a broader knowledge of publishers and the issues that are most important to the publisher. Liaisons transmit information in both directions. It is possible for librarian’s to see results of their input into publishers’ decisions. Publisher liaisons can also assist in explaining publisher goals/decisions etc to the broader community via PAMnet or in a more individual sitatution. Types of Liaison Arrangements Below is a list of PAM liaisons/representatives to specific publishers. The terms of the relationship vary from publisher to publisher. For example, the American Astronomical Society liaison is one of the oldest official appointments, having been set up in 1992; the term is 3 years and duties include attending the AAS Publication Board meeting, which usually takes place in the fall of each year (with expenses to attend this meeting reimbursed by the AAS). On the other end of the scale is the liaison relationship PAM instigated with INSPEC in 1997, which has no formal parameters or set meetings; INSPEC representative(s) and the liaison communicate as issues arise and meet together at the annual conference. Formal PAM-Appointed Liaisons: Formal means we have a PAM member who is appointed by either PAM or the publisher (depending on the arrangement) to represent the PAM community's interests to the publisher (and advises the publisher) and to keep PAM members apprised of developments with that publisher (subject sometimes to some restrictions imposed by the publisher re: competitive info). Terms are usually for three years, with renewal possible. Formal, Not PAM-Appointed: Formal, not PAM-appointed means that a PAM member just happens to be on a library board for a publisher and is willing to share information between PAM and the publisher, but is under no obligation to do so. We have no formal arrangement with the publisher. Informal Liaisons: Non PAM/SLA members who reside on library advisory committees and are willing to represent PAM matters, etc. This category would not be used if any PAM members were on a library advisory board. Liaison Duties and Appointment Process PAM Liaison duties: In many cases the publisher supports a library advisory group (with a PAM appointed member). This group can meet regularly, irregularly, online or in person. It is recommended that agendas be published before hand, with the understanding the agenda will be broadcast via PAMnet to communicate with the whole division and solicit feedback. Notes of the meeting should then be written, allowing the publisher the final edit (the publisher may not want discussions of pricing models broadcast to the world) Another use of the PAM-appointed publisher liaison is to work through difficulties that other PAM members are experiencing (difficulties with subscriptions, receipt of material, electronic access, statistics, etc.). Having contacts within the publishing company, gives an edge to the PAM-appointed publisher liaison. The PAM liaison can also work as a single unit with no formal library advisory group. The duties are similar: communicating with the publisher and communicating with PAMnet. An ad hoc liaisons committee was formed in 1999, which is now coordinated by the Publisher Relations Chair. The committee usually meets during the annual conference to communicate with each other, set out guidelines if wanted, and help generate more liaisons. Ways to become a PAM liaison: A publisher may contact the chair of PAM to select a PAM member to be a liaison. Interested PAM members should communicate with the current chair of PAM. Those appointed to a publisher’s library committee may volunteer to be a PAM liaison by contacting the current chair of PAM. If there are several PAM members on the committee, the chair of PAM will select one of them as liaison. When new members of a publisher’s library committee are announced, the list should be reviewed for any PAM members. If a PAM member is on the committee, the chair of PAM will inquire if this person is interested in acting as the PAM publisher liaison. If no PAM members are on the committee, an individual may be approached to see if they will serve as an informal PAM liaison. Issues/attributes PAM considers when choosing a liaison: knowledge of library issues and values relevance of his/her experience to publisher's mission ability to articulate a thoughtful perspective tact, diplomacy level of PAM activity, communication with other PAM members Current PAM Liaisons Formal PAM-Appointed Liaisons: EDP - Nathalie Reymonet (until December 2010) Elsevier - Jane Holmquist (until May 2009) INSPEC - Richard Hunt (until July 2009) IOP Publishing - Susan Koskinen (until May 2009) SIAM - JoAnn Sears (2007- ) Springer Science+Business Media - Linda Yamamoto (until May 2009) Turpion - Thurston Miller (2008) Formal, Not PAM-Appointed: AAS - Donna Coletti (July 2007 thorugh July 2010) ACM Librarian Advisory Group - Mary C. Schlembach ACRL/STS - Joe Murphy (2006 and 2007) American Mathematical Society Library Committee - Carol Hutchins, co-chair (Jan. 2007); Steve Rockey (Jan. 2007); Ann Jensen American Meteorological Society Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts - Julia Triplehorn and Maria Latyszewskyj (2006-2009) APS Library Advisory Committee - APS Publications Oversight Committee - Molly White (through 12/31/2008) and Emily Poworoznek (through 12/31/2008) IAU Working Group on Publishing - Uta Grothkopf IEEE Library Advisory Council - John Dupuis Proceedings of the NAS, Librarians' Advisory Group - Michael J. Fosmire Mathematical Sciences Publishers - Martha Tucker OSA - Karen Andrews Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Publications Committee - Liz Bryson (2006-2009) World Scientific - Stella Ota Informal AIP Publications Policy Committee - Kerry Kresse Association for Symbolic Logic (ASL) - Flora Grabowski Selected Resources: Best Practices for Electronic Resources 2005 from Engineering Libraries Division, American Society for Engineering Education Recommendations on Information and Communication from The International Mathematical Union / Committee on Electronic Information and Communication, August 2002 Send comments, questions or updates to the Publisher Relations Chair: Liz Bryson, bryson@cfht.hawaii.edu PAM Practices Manual Editor: Kristine Fowler, fowler@math.umn.edu Copyright protected.

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