Dear Dr. Stoll:
This is to let you know of my saga to get your book on the shelves of my local library (a suburb of Pittsburgh). I think I am getting a run-around but I am not 100% sure. Maybe you or other of your patients may have experienced a similar happenings. Do you have any suggestions?
About 4 or 5 months ago I donated a copy of your book to my local library with the condition that it be put in the shelves (as opposed to selling it for 50 cents or a dollar in their annual book sale). They initially toll me that it will take a while because they were so busy...
At about 2 - 3 months they told me that the delay was because there were no book reviews of your book. They like to see a book review to make sure it is OK to put a book in the shelves. Then they told me that their "censor" (my word and quotes) had read the book and that it was a good book worthwhile to be in the shelves.
A month later they told me that it will be in the shelves any day.
Last week they told me that "your book did not have an EIN number or an OCL (I think) listing. Also the catalogers in our library are "volunteers" that are quite busy and they only show up when they feel like it". I told them that your book was already in the Los Angeles Public Library (that is where my copy came from when they got it for me) so all of the requirements for cataloging should already be available.
The thought of asking for the book back and donating it to another library crossed my mind. However if the other library has the same requirements then it will just be that much longer to have your book around here (it is not in any library of Allegheny County, which covers Pittsburgh and vicinities).
My QUESTIONS are:
1. Have you experienced anything like this with any other library?
2. Do you have good relations with your local library? I was thinking that maybe the librarian from your local library could e-mail my librarian (or the cataloger) the details (EIN or OCL data) she needs to finally get your book on our library shelves.
Maybe you can have some "good" doctor friend of yours make and publish a book review or maybe now that Barnes & Noble is selling your book they may have some ideas about how to have your book reviewed.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Antonio
Follow Ups:
Re: Your Book & Library Hassles:
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 07, 1998 at 11:08:05:
In Reply to: Your Book & Library Hassles: posted by Antonio on October 06, 1998 at 15:57:42:
Dear Antonio,
I appreciate your persistance at getting the word out to others. I know of many libraries that have my book on their shelves. I have never heard of such a runaround.
It is time to find another library that will want your donation.
Anyone going to the library & knowing enough to ask for my book (they might need the ISBN number although they should not) can get the library to borrow it from the network which will find the book wherever it is in the library system.
My local library has several copies and tell me that half of them are always out being lent to other libraries.
Thanks again. Walt