William--
New Mexico Statutes Annotated has been one of my personal betes noir ever
since it went to pamphlet format in the early 80's. The cost of
maintaining this set is surpassed only by the cost of maintaining North
^^^^^^^^^^^ Carolina's statutes. When I wrote Michie, they replied, in
essence, that "the customer (the state of New Mexico) is always right."
Years ago, I decided that we would not buy "interim supplements" to any
court rules volume. The shipping and handling charges exceeded the
cost of the supplement itself. Then, during our last budget shortfall, we
decided that we could live without state court rules altogether.
My annual budget is shrinking in terms of buying power -- if not in actual
dollars -- each year. With each new cycle, I have to cancel several more
sets just to keep what is mission critical. It's not going to get better
anytime soon. Meanwhile, I monitor notifications very carefully.
Kay Collins, Head Librarian, US Railroad Retirement Board, Chicago
On Tue, 2 Jul 1996, William Grady wrote:
> Last Friday we received three new paperbound volumes of court rules and
> jury instructions to the New Mexico Code, 1996 edition at a cost of $87.56.
> These are to replace the hole-punched versions now provided with the
> annual supplements. And of course, to be supplemented twice a year,
> increasing our cost of maintaining a New Mexico Code, and lining Michie's
> pockets at our expense.
>
> Not satisfied with gouging us for these new pamphlets in addition to the
> cost of the rest of the New Mexico Code supplements, Michie has had the
> gall to send out SUPPLEMENTS to these three volumes on Tuesday at a cost
> of $25.22!
>
> So instead of getting my court rules as part of the regular annual
> replacement parts, I now have to pay an additional $113.00. And there was
> no cost reduction on those replacement parts to offset this huge new charge.
> Plus, of course, the whole lot will be replaced in January with the 1997
> set at an additional cost.
>
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