Electronic Serials Invoice Format Problem

["Abbott, Bruce" <babbot@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We have the Electronic Serials Invoice module and have had problems with
getting our vendor title number information from EBSCO loaded into the
system during processing of the invoice(s).

The problem is not a technical issue per se, but has to do with the format
required for vendors by III.  EBSCO's vendor title numbers (subscription
ID's) and coverage information are too long to fit within the format that
III specifies.  This means that we get the coverage information in, but do
not get the vendor title numbers in. EBSCO has provided us with barcodes so
that we can wand these into the records manually (for our 1200 plus titles).

We have to have the vendor title numbers in our checkin cards for electronic
claiming to work properly.

In the format required by III positions 34-63 are reserved for vendor title
# and coverage information. EBSCO requires more characters.  EBSCO's
solution was to allow us to choose between have the vendor title # and
coverage information and to prepare the serials invoice with either in
position 34-63.

In trying to work this out I have found myself in my customary
position--stuck between two vendors who each say the problem is the other
vendor's.

I have several questions:

Have other libraries run into this problem?
Have you managed to electronically load your vendor title numbers from
EBSCO?
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to resolve these sorts of
problems between vendors?


Bruce Abbott
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Library
433 Bolivar St.
New Orleans, LA  70112

504-568-7718 (fax)
504-568-6103 (voice)
babbot@xxxxxxxxxx