Re: [GBW] [GBW_EXEC] New England Update, second try

["Peter Verheyen" <verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm glad to see this discussion has started and interested in the twists and
turns it has taken. I'll throw my few cents in based on what I have read.

I do not believe there should be reduced rates for e- vs print. GBW
membership is a bargain, and I'd rather see the current income put into
programming regardless of National or Chapter level, or even better having
the Journals all scanned and made available via POD (print on demand),
internally for free and externally at a nominal cost that could quickly be
recouped. Good printers have gotten quite cheap and we can all print out.
For those that still insist on receiving print, GBW could set up a POD
system via LULU/Blurb?... that would cost little to nothing to maintain and
generate income. That would be for the Journal. For the Newsletter go all
online. Subtract the advertising, member information, and calendar - you're
talking about 2~3 pp of text.

Other benefits of online are color and even better image reproduction. The
print quality of the last Journal was a disaster despite the color cover.

In terms of segments vs. entire issues, that could be handled on the
administrative end, but on a basic level is only slightly more work. It is
something that I have thought about for the Bonefolder, but decided
against... More files to manage. For reading most that I have heard from
print and read that way. Some libraries and organizations do the same.

In terms of publishing online, I can safely say that e-only has not slowed
things down and if anything downloads of issues is increasing. Granted, this
is with a global open access (free) reach, but the numbers are staggering
for this type of genre-specific publication. Below are some numbers I just
compiled, current as of 15 minutes ago. 

Bonefolder Issue    Downloads since 12/10/06
 Fall 2004          10,890 
 Spring 2005        9,297
 Fall 2005          12,183
 Spring 2006        10,880
 Fall 2006          15,492
 Spring 2007        20,010
 Fall 2007          16,310
 Spring 2008        16,901
 Fall 2008          8,856

TOTAL SINCE
12/10/06            120,819

Since accurate issue level counting only began in late 06 I can only guess
at what the actual numbers are for the earlier issues are. 

If done right in terms of publication, even if only to let people know what
is available via tables of content, there is no reason to think that GBW
could not vastly increase its reach. The Journal especially is a
historically valuable resource. The material is there and the Guild can do
this - it's not that difficult or time consuming. Really!

Food for thought.

p.

_____________________________________ 
Peter D. Verheyen
Bookbinder & Conservator, PA - AIC
<verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
The Book Arts Web & Book_Arts-L Listserv
<http://www.philobiblon.com> 
The Bonefolder: an e-journal for the bookbinder and book artist
<http://www.philobiblon.com/bonefolder>


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