THE BOOKS ARE SHELF-READY - ARE YOU

Over the past 2 years, shelf-ready services, the out sourcing of catal oging and processing services, has become the hot topic in the library world. This article examines the implications of shelf-ready service, both operationally and organizationally, for both library and vendor Using the for-mat of a dialog between librarian and vendor the article discusses the following questions: Why are you interested in contract ing for (or providing) these services? What do you hope to gain? What are the stumbling blocks to implementing a shelf-ready program What is the impact on workflow and staffing in your organization? How many an d what kinds of jobs are affected How do library/vendor responsibiliti es change when shelf-ready procedures are applied to art approval plan ...to firm orders...to standing orders? How can quality control be ass ured Which errors really matter? Are the same standards applied to ven dor staff as to in-house staff? How are standards affected by shelf-re ady How do both library and vendor know when they're ''ready for shelf -ready'' in a given situation? (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.