Supplementation has been the hardest single expense to budget
for in our library publications expense budget. This has been
true for a number of years. I am not sure the day has actually
come when practicing lawyers are willing to forgo the latest
supplement to put more hard earned cash into their pockets.
But if it isn't here now it's on the way.
Matthew Bender may have redeemed itself with the new annual
fixed priced for supplementation with a prepayment discount.
But what about all the other major law publishers? We
discovered that Michie offers a 6% discount for prepayment
and does not charge shipping and handling for prepaid
supplementation or new book orders. We plan to contact all the
major law publishers and see what programs they offer. So far
it looks like West, CBC and Lawyers-Coop. do not have
prepayment discounts. West does have a monthly fixed payment
plan with a "settlement" process at year end. What luck have
any of you had pursuing discounts and annual or monthly
payments plans? We are more than happy to share our experience
and information. Is this an idea whose time has come? Or is it
an idea whose time has come and gone because we are all fed up
with ever escalating supplementation costs?
Would a cooperative effort to cajole publishers to make
supplementation more affordable be worthwhile? I am also
looking for predictablity for budgeting purposes. A first step
would be to share what we have discovered about the existing
"deals." Anyone else have any thoughts on this? Any
publishers on this email who would like to get involved? (Jim
Shelar - Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C. 202-872-3992)
internet address aporter!dap7!shelaja@uunet.uu.net
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