Courting controversy: views of a not-so-secret agent

An article from a subscription agent that does not seek to keep everyone happy by offering neutral statements about their historical role as partner to both the suppliers and consumers of scholarly journals. Can subscription agents afford to be controversial at a time when their very future is being questioned in an age of consortia and the Big Deal? Here is a break with tradition that will hopefully generate some discussion and, if nothing else, provide John Cox (who will be presenting a paper at the 2003 UK Serials Group Conference on the future role of the serials vendor) with some food for thought.