Re: Authority to sign licenses

["Jim Bothmer" <jbothmer@creighton.edu>]

Regarding Jeremy Blatchley's inquiry on authority to sign, I doubt we are
unique, but there is a process at Creighton University that has the Vice
President for Finance, the Vice President responsible for the initiating
department, the director of the initiating department, and the legal
council of the university all signing off on any contract.  For example,
on contracts initiated from the Health Sciences Library I would sign and I
would also do the initial negotiation with the publisher if it was
necessary.

Jim Bothmer, Director
Health Sciences Library/LRC
Creighton University
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE  68178
402-280-5120 (voice)
402-280-5134 (fax)
jbothmer@creighton.edu

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeremy Blatchley [mailto:jblatchl@brynmawr.edu]
>Sent: Friday, February 19, 1999 2:02 PM
>Subject: authority to sign licenses
>
>
>I haven't found any discussion that specifically addresses questions of
>how libraries are deciding who on their staff has signing authority for
>licenses. We have had many internal debates going back and forth, related
>to concerns for efficiency in our processing.
>
>o How easy are contracts to evaluate - are they getting any more uniform?
>My sense is no, they are constantly evolving, and we really need our legal
>staff involved.
>
>o How liable are individual staff members: is there any known, recorded
>instance of a lawsuit between libraries, or consortia and publishers?  I
>continue to hear of libraries that have the person doing periodical
>checkin signing licenses. It is not clear wether that person is expected
>to involve themselves in negotiating contract language.
>
>o But, disregarding that, those concerned with expediting things will ask,
>how likely is it that that person will find themselves in court?
>
>I'd appreciate hearing from any librarians that have worked through this,
>or arrived at a policy about it. Thanks,
>
>                                 Jeremy Blatchley
>                                 Serials Librarian
>                        Canaday Library, Bryn Mawr College
>                                  (610) 526-5297
>
>