Sudden Position Guide to Acquisitions. Deborah Hathaway, Paul Kelsey, Stacey Marien, and Susan E. Thomas. Chicago: ALCTS Publishing, 2020. 86 p. $30.50 softcover (ISBN 978-0-8389-4849-1); $15.00 e-book (ISBN 978-0-8389-4850-7)

The third in the ALCTS Sudden Position Series tackles acquisitions and promises an easy-to-read introduction to the responsibilities covering “essential knowledge, tools of the trade, and best practices” (ix). At a slim eighty-six pages, someone “suddenly” in acquisitions, or those preparing to interview or start a new position, will still find a lot of ground covered.

For time pressed readers, chapter 1, “What You Absolutely Need to Know,” covers brief overviews of ordering and types of orders, licensing language, accounting and budgeting practices, and collaboration with other departments. The librarian new to acquisitions may not be familiar with the various purchasing models that they will soon use and it may benefit these readers to have access to a glossary that included the common terms, especially while reading this first chapter. Notably, on page 3, the authors mention “approval plans” but do not define what this model encompasses until pages 44–48 in the next chapter. The section on “Common Ledger Vocabulary” has duplication of terms and it could also be confusing to those new to this language.

Management of staff may not be the first concern of someone new to an acquisitions position, but the authors’ inclusion of this topic in the first chapter is practical. Though there is only so much that can be discussed in an overview, this section provides some starting points for anyone new to managing others. Getting to know staff through meetings, scheduling training, and simply being approachable are some beginning steps suggested, especially before trying to introduce new ideas and workflows.

In chapter 2, standard procedures and best practices are outlined. This chapter is dense with information and one the new-to-acquisitions librarian will probably return to as they encounter these situations and workflows on the job. The authors give an ample explanation of the basics of purchasing and subscription models, and briefly describe the patron-driven models of Demand-Driven Acquisitions (DDA) and Evidence-Based Acquisitions (EBA). However, the authors miss an opportunity to also introduce how the increasingly popular streaming video and other media fit into these models and do not do so until later in chapter 3.

Especially worth noting from the third chapter, “Things You May Encounter,” is the coverage on developing a spending forecast and dealing with budget reductions and cancellations. The authors explain how forecasting is essential to planning for new resources and expected increases for current holdings. They also provide advice on where to start when experiencing decreased funding while trying to maintain quality of service. Working with reports of various types related to orders and library collections are covered, as the acquisitions librarian will at least need to consult, if not be the one to create, most of them.

The widely-used software Microsoft Excel is deservedly (though briefly) mentioned, along with other “tools of the trade” in chapter 4. This chapter includes a useful list of vendors and publishers. The library’s Integrated Library System (ILS) will likely be a heavily used tool for many in acquisitions and navigating the ILS’ acquisitions module is a skill the new librarian will learn primarily on the job. Since there are many ILSs, this text does not discuss the specifics of any one system, besides the inclusion of two screenshots in the first chapter of the ledger structure displays in Ex Libris’ Voyager and a SirsiDynix ILS. The authors intentionally use multiple chapters to provide general overviews of how the librarian may be using their ILS, including creating purchase orders, receiving materials, paying invoices, and extracting reports.

The authors use the final chapter to suggest books, articles and journals, courses, listservs, and professional groups for continuing education and professional development. This is a good reminder for the new and possibly overwhelmed librarian that there are resources and professional activities available to increase experience in and understanding of acquisitions.

The “Sudden Position Guide to Acquisitions” is a successful addition to the series that covers areas of library technical services. While some sections may have benefited from more clarity and a different arrangement of the information, those new to acquisitions, or even library staff interested in understanding some of the functions of this work, will be able to quickly extract the background knowledge needed for initial success. This book could also be a title the new librarian consults as they develop the skill sets and workflows for their role in acquisitions.—Audra M. Deemer (adeemer@depaul.edu), DePaul University, Chicago