ABSTRACT
My experience is in large U.S. subscription agencies offering comprehensive “department store” services —agencies such as EBSCO, Faxon, Readmore, McGregor, and Majors —rather than the “boutique” agencies such as Harrassowitz which provide specialized services or services tailored to the needs of a specialized customer base. In contrast with the individualized approaches of the “boutiques,” the “department store” agencies have large regional or centralized offices, offer a common set of services, and compete on pricing, perceptions of service quality, and the promotion of a corporate image designed to appeal to libraries of all types and sizes.
