To me, the job function is not just “meeting with vendors”.  Rather, you are cultivating a relationship with a vendor.  One that is, ideally, mutually beneficial.  This is the most important part of my job.  If you’re good at it, you can leverage that relationship to benefit the library.  It is probably more important than whatever you feel like it is preventing you from doing.  One example:  I work with two different representatives that sell two different products for the same parent company.  I felt one of the representatives was trying to "get over" on us with a renewal.  I have a great relationship with the other representative and asked her to work on my behalf with the higher ups.  Our renewal ended up being 30% less than the original quote.  That relationship paid my salary for the year.  The point being, is that by making the effort to cultivate the relationship, you position your library to potentially benefit in the present and the future.  Also, most of vendors are really nice people and the relationship you establish often carries on if/when they switch companies and even outside of work.  That said, I recently got an office phone with caller ID and it has been a godsend.  I let all unknown numbers go to voicemail and return calls when it’s convenient for me.

Assistant Director for Resource Management
Medical University of South Carolina Library
171 Ashley Ave., Suite 309
MSC 403
Charleston, SC 29425-4030
(843) 792-8309
wattsg@musc.edu