Do we get what we pay for?

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of intermediary companies (i.e. jobbers) in library operations Design/methodology/approach - The paper investigates how service charges are determined, if any industry standards for these charges exist, and if so, how they are monitored by companies and clients. Practical implications - Not much is known about the nature of jobber's business. This discussion has reinforced Daniel that the library makes good use of the jobbers employed, but has also underscored the importance of being able to explain, to people outside the library field, why they are important to library operation. Findings - For the authors' small academic library, employing intermediaries is currently worth the service charges. Originality/value - It is hoped librarians and library staff who use or are considering using intermediary businesses will find these experiences useful.