Bigger isn't better: Quality matters, not size

This chapter is essentially a reaction to a talk given at last year's conference. That talk answered the question: "Is the bigger library supplier the better library supplier?" with a resounding "YES!" The main arguments we heard in favor of this point were that the larger supplier has the advantage because it maintains offices in different countries and on different continents, it has better technical knowledge, and, based on its size and experience, it can handle a multitude of tasks that a smaller business can't. We would like to suggest that these points, although they are certainly important, are not the main criteria on which to judge the efficiency and ability of a library supplier. The cur-rent situation of suppliers is best defined by the continually expanding variety of tasks they need to master to best serve their customers. In our opinion, the three most important factors in this situation are those discussed below.