ABSTRACT
SUMMARY. In order to function effectively, a library acquisitions department requires a means to manage its budget and generate financial and collection management reports. An automated acquisitions system can be an efficient means to do this; an automated system shared with other libraries can be an efficient use of resources as well. Since libraries operate in diverse environments and have diverse needs, however, system-imposed uniform practices and the compromises made in choosing system-wide options offset some advantages of sharing. Florida’s State University System libraries, which are sharing a centralized NOTIS system, are seeing first-hand the consequences of sharing.
