1. Introduction. What is acquisitions? ; How this book is arranged -- 2. Pre-order checking. Requests to purchase ; Stock-checking ; Suppliers as information sources ; Reading lists ; Bibliographical data ; Keeping up with sources old and new -- 3. Publishers and publishing. Electronic materials ; Information on publishers ; Information from publishers -- 4. Beyond the basic book. A change of form ; Other collections ; Series and continuations ; European language materials ; British government publications ; Music ; Audiovisual materials -- 5. Suppliers. Choosing suppliers ; Outsourcing ; Online e-services from suppliers ; Internet suppliers ; Consortium purchasing ; Ordering foreign material ; Evaluating suppliers -- 6. Ordering. Information required by the supplier ; Information required by acquisitions ; Editing orders ; Order input ; Automated order systems ; EDI -- 7. Out-of-the-ordinary ordering. Urgent orders ; Direct orders ; Standing orders and continuations ; Blanket or open orders ; Material on trial ; Electronic materials ; Out-of-print and second-hand material ; Book sales and auctions ; Remainder and review dealers ; Reprints ; There is no such thing as a free book ; A time to refrain from ordering -- 8. When the orders arrive. The mail ; Checking in orders ; Delivery problems ; Accessions ; Statistics -- 9. Finance and budgets. Financial guidelines ; Budgets ; Prices ; The financial year ; Invoices and payment ; Financial records and auditing -- 10. The way ahead. Keeping up with developments.