Outsourcing Technical Services Ready to Import RFP Specifications Disk

Addressing one of the most controversial topics in librarianship today, the authors, (in)famous for outsourcing technical services at Wright State University, have written a practical manual covering the entire process, from re-engineering and cost studies through preparing an RFP (Request for Proposal), selecting a vendor, and coping with the effect of outsourcing on staff. The chapters include detailed information and sample RFPs for outsourcing of acquisitions and cataloging; the RFPs are also available in electronic form on a companion disk, "Outsourcing Technical Services: Ready-To-Import RFP Specifications (Neal-Schuman, 1996)".This book will likely add fuel to the outsourcing fire; for example, statements such as "once [national standards and local cataloging practices] are defined, the generation of the actual component records becomes a matter of production according to specifications, not one of design" are likely to offend many catalogers. Nevertheless, if one accepts the authors' premise that "creative use of outsourcing is essential to the proper running of libraries," one will find this book a useful guide to managing outsourcing effectively.
Recommended for library administrators and technical services staff.? Janet Crum, Oregon Health Sciences Univ. Lib., Portland