Nothing pisses off a librarian like…

2007 March 8

Apparently libraries are SO popular that they’re in danger of diluting the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit market with their reckless distribution practices.

The publisher has decided not to send it to any institutions. Librarians who call in to complain are being offered an subscription extension of two issues. That will not satisfy patrons who are looking for the swimsuit edition. They’ll just have to go buy it on the newsstand (surely that’s not the publisher’s intent!)

C’mon, there has to be another reason. Libraries can’t really be all that threatening to the cash cow that is the swimsuit issue. Plus, every librarian knows that the first person who takes it out is going to keep it as long as possible. Heck, I’m annoyed that I won’t get to cash in on my dibs.

Hat tip to The Consumerist; dependably providing me with my daily dose of rage and acrimony. I can’t imagine how I missed the story in Library Journal, but love the idea of a “mesage board full of pissed off librarians“.

Awesome comment by Brianwalsh1975 suggesting that SI is witholding the copies from libraries in order to use them to create buzz and ‘make the issue seem more risque than it really is’. Beautiful.

2 Comments leave one →
2007 March 13

A library in Maine reported to the Maine Library Listserv on their experience with this issue. Below are some excerpts:

> Apparently at some level the decision was made not
> to ship the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to many
> libraries. We called in a claim to our vendor and
> were told that they would try to send us an issue and
> if they ran out of the swimsuit issue, they would
> extend our subscription by one issue. Here is the
> official response from SI:
>
>> We value you as a customer and apologize for the
>> difficulties that you have experienced.
>>
>> We are sorry to hear that you missed the Swimsuit
>> Issue. We have removed the Swimsuit Issue
>> restriction from the renewal order we received
>> from ______ on November 7, 2005, which will begin
>> with the issue dated October 8, 2007. You should,
>> therefore, receive the Swimsuit Issue in 2008. We
>> do not have control over the orders you purchase
>> through agencies. The orders come to us with the
>> Swimsuit Issue restricted.
>>
>> As regards the 2007 Swimsuit Issue, a replacement
>> has been requested, and will be mailed the next
>> business day, supply permitting. We apologize for
>> any inconvenience.
>>
>> We appreciate this opportunity to be of service.
>>
>> SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Customer Service
>> http://www.sicustomerservice.com
>
> At least this saves us form having to account for
> its probable theft in our next inventory.

2007 March 19

Oh for heaven’s sake, buy a damned copy and let the librarians enjoy their copy. Goodness this is the only issue of Sports Illustrated I read – the rest I just avoid like the plague.

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