What special librarians want from publishers

Abstract

The demands made of publishers by special libraries are reviewed from the viewpoint of personal experience gained by a special librarian in managing BTexact Technologies’ Library through its transition from being a large physical library to a digital library with a small physical presence. Since libraries work in a customer-supplier relationship with publishers, buying in information products on behalf of their users, the pressure that is constantly exerted on corporate libraries to cut costs, or even be closed as part of cost-cutting exercises, means that publishers’ synergistic relationships with libraries give them common goals to succeed. It is argued that librarians and publishers need to transform this role to strengthen this synergism. Libraries must become more like retail outlets and market themselves more actively to users and potential users. They need to become more comfortable and attractive places, transforming themselves just as some bookshops have and they must become much more responsive both to user needs and commercial realities. Publishers can play an important role in supporting libraries in this way and should work with librarians to find appropriate ways to promote their material. As a typical example of what can be achieved, the BT library is currently working with a publisher in offering employees cheaper personal subscriptions to their journal. Other activities include: conducting author events at BT sites; combining bookshops with informal social events; and integration with local systems.