Date:20 March 2001

Subject:Outsourcing Cataloging/Classification

To: Department Heads

From: William C. Robinson, Director

As some of you know, other academic libraries have had good success with outsourcing their cataloging and classification services. This is easier today than before since more than 90 percent of the items that we order have bibliographic records already available. It is also possible to outsource the preparation functions and purchase shelf-ready books.

We have received a proposal from New England Book Services to provide us with shelf-ready books and digital bibliographic records for each item that can be loaded directly into our integrated library system (HILS). If approved, such an agreement would allow us to eliminate several technical services functions in the library and use these resources elsewhere.

At our next staff meeting, I look forward to your thoughtful discussion of the assets and liabilities associated with such an outsourcing agreement. Staff in the affected units would be transferred to another department, perhaps in the public services.

----------------------------------------------------------------------