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Archiver > GEN-EDITOR > 1997-08 > 0872692322


From: LIBBIE GRIFFIN< >
Subject: Re: Top Ten of Donation Libraries
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 09:32:02, -0500


Janet,

I missed your first message (I was on vacation) so I don't know if your
newsletter is a family one, one for an organization or a for-profit
enterprise. It seems to me there is a difference -- is your goal to
share information or to make a profit? Sending copies to libraries is a
great way to find new subscribers, but if you're not careful you'll just
give away your information.

When I first began my newsletter I mailed copies to about 30 libraries -
- all the state archives in the region where this family lived, plus
selected county libraries where I thought descendants might look. After
the first year, though, I realized that people were reading the
newsletters at the library but not subscribing. Our goal is to "grow"
our association, so I wanted people to join the group and subscribe to
the newsletter. So on the fourth issue I stapled a notice that said I
would hold all of the second year issues until the end of the year, then
mail them together. The reason I gave was that I could send out twice
as many free library copies if I did that -- which is true. It costs
about a dollar to mail one issue and less than $2 to mail four. The
benefit to doing that, though, was that I got many new subscribers --
the people who had been reading library copies and didn't want to wait a
year for more.

I would add to your list the LDS Family History library. Also, the Ohio
Historical Society in Columbus operates a large library, and there are
many good libraries in Pennsylvania. Your library should have the
Genealogists Address Book, which will have listings of all major and
minor libraries, as well as a book that lists all public libraries in
the U.S. The current issue of the Va. Gen. Society newsletter has an
article about the German gen. collection at the History Library at
Eastern Mennonite College, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. You
might want to include them.

Libbie Griffin

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Wednesday, 27-Aug-97 02:24 AM
>
> From: Janet Reinhold \ Internet: ()
> To: Gen-Editor \ Internet: (.
com)
>
> Subject: Re: Top Ten of Donation Libraries
>
> >The Library of Congress
> I thought this was appropriate, but sent them copies and they sent me
back a
> "do not send" message.
>
> and New York Public Library should also get a
> >copy. They may both then decide to subscribe.
>
> So far I have:
> 1. NC Gen Soc in Raleigh NC
> 2. NSDAR in Wash DC
> 3. Allen Co Library in Ft Wayne IN
> 4. Dallas TX library (name?)
> 5. Clayton Library, Houston TX
> 6. Newberry Library, Chicago
> 7. NY Pub Lib
>
> One should always send at least one per year to Everton's GH as they
make a
> listing yearly of the publications that way. What's the deal with
Heritage
> Quest?
>
> For my purposes, I would like a PA library. Most of our surname
queries are in
> PA & OH, then on through the Midwest. We do have TX researchers so
I'd like
> one in TX, not two. Which is better for German names, Dallas or
Clayton, and
> why? We have SC & GA researchers, not many in NC. Is the NY public
library
> good for NY researchers?
>
> Thank you for all the input.
> Janet Reinhold
> PO Box 4001
> Covina CA 91723
> Family genealogy at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/8878
> Editor for the Kunkel Kunkle Conkle Gunkel "Spindle" Family Genealogy
> Newsletter at http://www.flash.net/~conkle/INDEX.HTM
> Fax: 626-915-0798
> Email:
>
>

-------- REPLY, End of original message --------

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