Librarians working in the areas of acquisitions and collection development must have the knowledge and ability to work well with publishers and vendors in order to achieve the best results for their libraries and patrons. This session will cover many aspects of a positive relationship between libraries and vendors including proper negotiation skills, ways to work together on pilot programs, development of new products and services, and the benefits of using both publishers and vendors to enhance workflow and ensure a more efficient operation. The speakers will discuss ways in which they have worked together in the past to enhance patron access to content, and will provide specific ideas for how librarians can reach out to information providers to address some of the challenges faced in the Digital Age.
