Acquisitions Department

BIBLIOGRAPHIC AVAILABILITY SEARCHING PROCEDURE

Availability Search:

Obtain or verify sufficient bibliographic details for an order to be placed. If at any point new information is found, e.g. author's name, title, or series, it is necessary to re-do the holdings search for the new data. The availability search is by-passed for material received as gifts, exchange, or standing order. Following is a list of the most commonly cited sources of verification:

In-print publications:

1. Books in Print (BIP), published annually in October, separate author, title, and subject sections; began as an index to Publishers' Trade List Annual (PTLA); kept up to date by Books in Print Supplement (BIP/S) issued in April, and quarterly by Forthcoming Books (FB); the date of the main volumes, supplement, or Forthcoming Books searched should be noted on the verso of the request card. From April to October each year, Searchers should check BIP/S first, then if not located, check BIP.
2. Current advertisements or catalogs from publishers or suppliers; a file of catalogs is maintained by the Acquisitions Department; advertisements are frequently supplied by the requester; if all necessary details are given, there is no requirement to verify in any other tool; on verso of request card, note "pub cat." or "pub ad.," and cite page number of which reference was found;
3. Publishers' toll-free telephone directory; maintained by Order Typist; phone for price and availability;
4. Foreign "books in print," housed on index table in Reference Room;
5. Miscellaneous sources such as:
1. Associations Publications in Print, Reference Room;
2. Small Press Record of Books in Print, Reference Room;
3. American Book Publishing Record, monthly with annual cumulation, Reference Room;
4. Cumulative Book Index (CBI), monthly with annual cumulation, Reference Room.

Out-of-Print publications:

1. Books Out of Print, 1980-84, 1984-88 and annual update volumes labeled OP-OSI: lists books declared by publishers to be out-of-print (OP) or out-of-stock-indefinitely; finding a title listed in this tool confirms its OP status but does not help in locating a copy to purchase;
2. Books on Demand, issued annually in microfiche by University Microfilms Inc. (UMI), lists OP titles for which master copies are available at UMI; microfiche or paper copies may be obtained;
3. Guide to Reprints, annual; an international bibliography of scholarly reports;
4. OP dealers' catalogs; this source is used when the requester specifies a dealer known to have a copy available for sale; the dealer's catalog is generally attached to the request form when it is submitted; the department does not maintain a large file of these as it would not be cost efficient to scout through numerous ones in search of a particular title;
5. OP search services: the department works with several OP dealers who are willing to undertake a search for particular titles; see OP Section for further details.

Send questions/comments/suggestions to Foster Bunday Acquisitions Department | The University of Memphis | University Libraries 126 Ned R. McWherter Library | Memphis, TN 38152-3250 Phone: (901) 678-2203 | Fax: (901) 678-8218