We’ve consolidated things as much as possible, so there aren’t too many vendors that I have to deal with.  For most of them, email is perfectly fine with both of us.  It can be handled at any time and leaves an easily accessible communication trail should it need to be reviewed.  If we get unsolicited calls (like from vendors who want to promote goods/services to us) we decline any and all previews (too much hassle) and ask that they send us an email with the info they want to share.

 

 

 

I’m curious if other libraries have developed any policies or guidelines for communication with vendors. Between on-site visit requests, telephone calls received, and emails received from vendors, I find time-management to be challenging around these relationships.

 

To be consistent and clear with vendors, I’d like to develop some policies which might make this communication less time intensive. For example, might we limit vendor visits to a specific month or two of the year or only when we request an on-site visit? And, could we say we prefer email to telephone communication?

 

I realize vendors have their own time challenges and needs to communicate so I want to respect that. How do others manage the communication relationships with vendors?

 

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Doralyn

Doralyn Rossmann
Head of Collection Development

Associate Professor

Montana State University Library

P.O. Box 173320

Bozeman, MT, USA 59717-3320

(406) 994-6549

doralyn@montana.edu

doralyn.org

@doralyn on Twitter

 

 

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