The Reality Is . . . Everyone Is Selling Something

Abstract

Vendors: Can’t live with them; can’t live without them. So more often than not, librarians view engaging with company representatives as a necessary evil and just put up with them. But these relationships don’t have to be adversarial and, in fact, can be ones of mutual learning and shared growth that benefit everyone involved. In this column, Diane H. Smith suggests a constructive approach to managing these important relationships. As someone who has been both a librarian and a vendor, she offers valuable insights from both sides of her experience. Smith posits that, in the end, we all share the goal of effectively selling the library to its constituents, and ultimately, we’re all in this together.—
Editor