The concept of freight pass-through pricing (FPT) as used by booksellers and publishers is explained, noting variations in FPT, recent actions and reactions, FPT pricing and libraries, and recent changes in FPT. (EJS)

This book is for community leaders, librarians, library committees, volunteers, aid workers and others who are interested in the practical aspect of starting and maintaining a successful library. Throughout the developing world, countless dedicated people respond to the pressing need for information in their communities by helping to start a…

Discussion of factors contributing to successful procurement of automated library system focuses on preparation of Request for Proposal (RFP) and elements included in the RFP--administrative requirements, functional requirements, performance requirements, reliability requirements, testing procedures, standardized response language, location table,…

Since technology is so expensive, making the wrong purchasing decisions can have severe financial consequences. The purpose of this article is to describe three technology decisions that failed to achieve their original intent. For each of the three, the author's discuss the expectations of the chief information officer, the vendor's sales pitch,…

Documentation of author's personal experience in the purchasing of a microcomputer discusses background learning, the purchase decision, needs assessment, computer literacy, general information on microcomputers, the situation assessment, and the final check. (EJS)