Library contracts in a post‐NBA environment, Proceedings of a seminar held in Stamford, Lincolnshire, 24 April 1996

Citation

Ansell, E. (1998), "Library contracts in a post‐NBA environment, Proceedings of a seminar held in Stamford, Lincolnshire, 24 April 1996", New Library World, Vol. 99 No. 1, pp. 46-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/nlw.1998.99.1.46.2

The collapse of the net book agreement (NBA) in late September 1995, together with local government reorganisation, the European supplies directive and the public supply contracts regulations have had a profound effect on how libraries open to the public receive books and services from suppliers, and how they are negotiated. While restricted to offering only 10 per cent discount on book prices, suppliers offered inducements in the form of approvals services, deliveries, processing to library specification, stockholding and other support services, for free, to secure business. Local government reorganisation has led to some of the larger authorities reducing in size, thus losing some of their purchasing power, as well as staff, premises and stock. The European Supplies Directive and the Public Supply Contract Regulations 1995, designed to harmonise public procurement procedures across the whole community and develop growth of the single market, do not allow for what might be considered a restrictive practice in the purchase of books for public libraries.

This book forms the proceedings of a seminar held in Stamford in the light of these developments, in April 1996, chaired by Geoffrey Smith OBE, consultant for capital planning information, who has examined the book supply chain in previous studies.

In his introduction Geoffrey Smith outlined some of the options open to library services in order to secure an efficient and effective library book supply chain.

Ray Hyde, county librarian of Staffordshire, described the contract process in Staffordshire, undertaken in conjunction with significant reductions in staff, premises and stock. He opened with a brief background to the NBA, and events leading up to its collapse, together with some immediate reactions in the press. He then went on to give a very useful step‐by‐step account of Staffordshire’s move to contracting, outlining possible pitfalls on the way.

John Cropley, chairman of James Askew Ltd, gave his views on library contracts in a post‐NBA environment (supportive), and was followed by Jenny Glazer, assistant county librarian, Essex, and chair of the National Acquisitions Group, who described the deregulated marketplace and the National Acquisition Group’s supporting role for library acquisition services.

Steve Burton, contracts manager for the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation, gave a detailed breakdown of the contract process, indicating benefits and pitfalls, and stressing awareness of contract boundaries, and the inclusion of review and escape clauses.

Each of the speakers were followed by brief discussions and questions from the floor, and concluded with a discussion with the speakers’ panel, the seminar being attended by a large number of public librarians and at least ten library suppliers.

Altogether this is a useful and reassuring book for anyone involved in library acquisition and facing the need to embark on the contract process, as it seems that library suppliers and librarians who have undertaken the contract process have found more advantages than disadvantages, and have successfully negotiated around any problem areas, as described in this publication. It would also be helpful to anyone reviewing their contracts, and lists names to contact for discussion and advice.