A Darker Shade of Grey

1. How non-mainstream published books find their way into libraries Presentation at EURASLIC Conference, Lyon, May 2011 Anneli Meeder, Dipl.-Bibl. NHBS | Everything for Wildlife, Science & Environment A Darker Shade of Grey

2. Introduction Special libraries and specialist booksellers use the same methods and processes for the identification of new titles for inclusion in their catalogues. At NHBS: • We identify more than 300 titles for inclusion in our catalogue each month • We evaluate all titles, and reject inappropriate titles • Subject areas covered: Natural History (Botany, Zoology), Biology, Ecology, Conservation, Sustainable Development • All languages, all countries of publication

3. Title Selection The Challenge The objective for libraries and for NHBS: To have the most complete collection / catalogue of relevant titles on the subject The challenge: “How do you find out about all these titles?” More than half of all publishers in the NHBS catalogue have only one title in our subject range In 2010, 1300 publishers and suppliers sent books to NHBS, over 850 of them sent only one title

4. Title SelectionSources of Information Title selection for catalogue/collection development relies on information from: “Pulled” (research required): • Book reviews • Subject searches on booksellers' websites • Monitoring publishers' websites • Contacting publishers to request information on new titles “Pushed” (automatic): • Publishers' catalogues, fliers, emails • Booksellers' catalogues, emails • User/buyer requests • Mailing lists (i.e. IAMSLIC, Algae-l) • Acquisitions lists of other libraries

5. Title Selection What makes titles difficult to find? Typical reasons why titles are overlooked: • Established publisher with only one title in the subject area • New publisher, “niche” publisher with few publications • Society or Association with few publications • Self-published author • (Vanity publishing)

6. Not Grey Literature Books are overlooked, but they are published with the intention to sell: • They have an ISBN • They have a set retail price • Books are not available electronically • There is some availability through booksellers • Books receive limited marketing This is a challenge for both libraries and publishers!

7. Example 1: one-off title by established publisher Publisher usually specialises in other subjects, but publishes a one-off title in marine biology • Publisher doesn't know how to reach the target audience for this title • Librarians don't know the publisher • Availability: Usually available through booksellers

8. Coastal Plankton Photo Guide for European Seas • Otto Larink and Wilfried Westheide • Publisher: Verlag Dr Friedrich Pfeil, Germany • 2011 • 2nd edition, 1st edition was published 2006 • Publisher specialises in German and English titles on Archaeology and Paleontology

9. The Borneo Suckers Revision of the Torrent Loaches of Borneo • Tan Heok Hui • Publisher: Natural History Publications, Borneo • 2006 • Publisher specialises in botanical field guides

10. Example 2: New Niche Publisher New publishers trying to establish a publishing profile • Limited marketing know-how • Often print-on-demand or inferior printing quality • Availability: usually available from booksellers

11. Phytoplankton of Norwegian Coastal Waters • Jahn Throndsen, Grethe Rytter Hasle and Karl Tangen • Publisher: Almater Forlag, Norway • Publisher specialises in children's books • Publication year: 2007 • Translation of a Norwegian title, originally published in 2003

12. Coelacanth Portrait of a Living Fossil • Peter L Forey • Publisher: Forrest Text, United Kingdom • 2009 • Limited availability through booksellers • Publisher specialises in natural history titles by established authors

13. Example 3: Society or Association with small publishing arm Many specialist titles in Natural History are published by societies and associations. Publications are usually of a high quality: • Well edited • Printed to high standards • Advertising of new titles is generally limited to members of the society or association • Sensibly priced • Often not available from booksellers

14. Building a Future for Wildlife Zoos and Aquariums Committed to Biodiversity Conservation • G Dick and M Gusset • Publisher: World Zoo and Aquarium Association (WAZA), Switzerland • 2010 • Available from many booksellers

15. Subterranean Fishes of the World • Graham S Proudlove • Publisher: International Society for Subterranean Biology SIBIOS-ISSB, Italy • The only book ever published by the society • 2006 • Not available through most booksellers

16. Example 4: Self-published author Authors publish their own books without established publisher • Self-publishing is relatively easy • Editing can be low quality • Limited marketing abilities • Difficult to buy from regular booksellers

17. Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes • Maurice Kottelat and J Freyhof • Publisher: Maurice Kottelat, Switzerland • 2007 • Self-published by established author • Very limited availability through booksellers

18. Fishes of Tehran Province and Adjacent Areas • Brian Coad • Publisher: Shabpareh Publications, Iran • 2008 • Very limited availability through booksellers

19. Conclusion Some publications that cannot be classified as “grey” are nevertheless hard to identify. Some titles of relevance may take years to find their way into libraries. Marine Biology libraries need to rely on information-sharing to stay up-to-date on new relevant titles. Information can come from a variety of sources (publishers, library users, other libraries and booksellers). Specialist booksellers offer new title catalogues and subject catalogues that have many overlooked titles.

20. Thank you Anneli Meeder, Dipl.-Bibl. ameeder@nhbs.co.uk www.nhbs.com Subscribe to our Monthly Catalogue!