Need address for Tightwad gazette
Tim Vorce
I'm interested in subscribing to the tightwad gazette. It's written
by a lady named Amy out on the east coast. Anybody have the address??
Thanks.
tvo...@mich.com
Be Here, Be Now
TJennMesa
She stops publishing it in a few months. Just get her books. It's cheaper
anyway. You can get or order them at any decent bookstore.
Marla Saunders
tvo...@mich.com (Tim Vorce) wrote:
I can't believe this query hasn't been deluged with answers on this
newsgroup!!!!
Tightwad Gazette
RR1 Box 3570
Leeds, ME 04263-9710
But hurry, Tightwad is ceasing publication with their December issue.
To subscribe, send $1 for each remaining monthly issue. Back issues
are available, as well as two of her books.
Marla Saunders
Editor, Homelight
mar...@emi.net
--------------------------------------------------------
Homelight is a hardcopy newsletter
dedicated to Success at Home from a Biblical Perspective
"Formula for Success:
Know what you are doing.
Love what you are doing.
And believe in what you are doing."
-- Cavett Robert
For more information: mar...@emi.net
A1B2321996
>She stops publishing it in a few months. Just get her books. It's cheaper
>anyway. You can get or order them at any decent bookstore.
You can find the books online at the Volition Bookshop.
http://www.volition.com/bookshop/
They are 10% off the cover price.
David & Anita Pirkle
Or, as Amy herself suggests, check your local library. There are a lot
of ideas I can't use, but they spur me to come up with my own ideas for
similar/related things.
Anita
TJennMesa
Remember, the library is our friend. I like to donate books to them,
especially newish ones they can add to their stacks instead of selling
them in the Friends of the Library bookstore. Every little bit helps. Go
through your books and find out how many books you have that you either
NEVER read or refer to once every year or so. If it's in really good
condition, could you donate it to the library and just check it out when
you need it? How about buying a book you'd like to see at the library and
giving it to them? How about donating a magazine subscription to them? How
about going to the Friends of the Library bookstore and seeing what they
have? You can't get much more frugal than to buy a hardback book for .50.
I bought a HUGE volume of Shakespeare's complete works for .50.
Killjoy
TJennMesa wrote:
--much great advice and commentary snipped--
> You can't get much more frugal than to buy a hardback book for .50.
> I bought a HUGE volume of Shakespeare's complete works for .50.
You're right, you can't get much more frugal if you want a "hard copy."
But if you don't mind reading off your computer screen, you can get
that, and hundreds of others free.
In case anyone else out there doesn't know it, there's a site on the
internet called "The Project Gutenberg Home Page." There at their
non-profit site, they are digitally publishing books of all sorts and
distributing them over the internet for free. It started in 1971, and
the history is a somewhat interesting as well. They are archiving all
of the classics, and just about any literature they can get their hands
on that isn't covered by copyright laws.
So far, I've downloaded Descartes, Carroll, Shakespeare, and Verne.
When I get those read, I'll go back for more, but I've enough for now.
The site is at this address:
I am in no way involved with this site, but I'm impressed, and agree
with their goals.
Best regards,
Michael.
Dorothy Klein
tjen...@aol.com (TJennMesa) writes:
>Remember, the library is our friend. I like to donate books to them,
>especially newish ones they can add to their stacks instead of selling
>them in the Friends of the Library bookstore. Every little bit helps. Go
>through your books and find out how many books you have that you either
>NEVER read or refer to once every year or so. If it's in really good
>condition, could you donate it to the library and just check it out when
>you need it?
That's fine, if the library actually KEEPS the book instead of tossing it
into the "sale" pile. Make sure they understand that if they won't shelve
it, you want it back. Stick a note to that effect in the book, since the
decision will likely be made by someone other than whomever accepts donations.
>How about buying a book you'd like to see at the library and
>giving it to them?
See above. I was sorely disappointed to see how few of my gardening books
made it onto the shelves, even though the library SAID they wanted
more gardening books.
>How about donating a magazine subscription to them?
That's my local library's answer to patrons' "Why don't you carry
Magazine X?" Seems to work well.
I wonder if a gift certificate for a used or overrun bookstore would
be used by the library? That way, the collection grows in the direction
the library wants, at less than full price. This would be
especially helpful if the library will shelve paperbacks and "trade"
paperbacks, since that's most of what is traded used, and after a few
circulations, purchased-new paperbacks look worse than the used bookstores'
stock anyway.
The used stores around here sometimes get stacks of fiction
from high schools and private schools which are weeding out their collection.
Many of these books are paperbacks re-bound to make hardcovers, and aside
from the previous library's stamp, are in great shape.
Later,
Dotty Klein
SB Public Library - Eastside Branch
You can borrow it for free from your local library! Marge in CA (a
librarian)
: You can find the books online at the Volition Bookshop.
SB Public Library - Eastside Branch
Thanks for the plug! I always add anything I can to our collection, sell
as much of what's left as I can (cheaply so anyone can afford it) and give
away the leftovers on a free cart in the lobby. I rarely have to recycle
anything. Marge in CA (a librarian)
: Remember, the library is our friend. I like to donate books to them,
: especially newish ones they can add to their stacks instead of selling
: How about buying a book you'd like to see at the library and
: giving it to them? How about donating a magazine subscription to them? How
: about buying books from the Friends of the Library bookstore
TJennMesa
<<But if you don't mind reading off your computer screen, you can get
that, and hundreds of others free. >>
I'm sorry, but I'm a purist when it comes to books. Also, when I'm reading
a BOOK, I don't have to worry about computer crashes, lightning storms
that will fry my system, or having enough paper if I want to print it out.
Plus, I don't know about you, but it's darned uncomfortable to bring my
computer to bed with me so I can read a book before I go to sleep ;-D.
TJennMesa
<<That's fine, if the library actually KEEPS the book instead of tossing
it
into the "sale" pile.>>
This is really NOT meant in a hostile, troublemaking way, and I really am
curious, and I may be totally naive, but do you really think that if you
donate a brand-spankin new (or new-looking) book to the library, and you
don't just drop it off but you tell the librarian that you're donating a
book in excellent condition that they might want to add to the stacks,
that they'll sell it instead? Has that happened to you? Gosh, I hope not.
Maybe I need to wander down to my library and see if my donations have
been added to the stacks.
Dorothy Klein
tjen...@aol.com (TJennMesa) writes:
(I originally wrote)
><<That's fine, if the library actually KEEPS the book instead of tossing
>it into the "sale" pile.>>
>This is really NOT meant in a hostile, troublemaking way, and I really am
>curious, and I may be totally naive, but do you really think that if you
Not taken in that way. I was shocked to see where my donations
actually went.
>donate a brand-spankin new (or new-looking) book to the library, and you
The original suggestion was to donate your seldom-referenced books
to the library, where on the rare occassions you actually need them, you can
go visit them. Tough to visit 'em if they've been sold for a song so
the library can buy that 15th copy of Danielle Steele's latest. Really.
"Utterly new" was not part of the original discussion parameters, and
if the library has NO BSN books with similar information, why would they
reject a slightly-battered but still readable book? Especially when
the collection's 1940s fiction is in similar shape.
>don't just drop it off but you tell the librarian that you're donating a
"The Librarian" is a wee bit difficult to SEE in my library. The
circulation desk is manned by what appear to be volunteers. The staff
don't have uniforms/hats/vests to sort them out from the patrons.
The donation-decision-maker has an office waaaay in the back, in the
"staff only" section, and doesn't seem to work the night/weekend
shifts. Notes are best.
>book in excellent condition that they might want to add to the stacks,
^^^^^
They'll thank you for your contribution and put it into the piles of
books to be sorted through. Everything from the library's excess copies
of last year's bestsellers, to random castoffs, yard-sale leftovers,
and entire "estate" collections are in those piles.
It gets sorted through before the monthly sale, and a few lucky
books are selected to be cataloged and Dewey-decimal'd. The rest
get sold on the last Saturday of the month for $0.10 to $1.00.
Imagine how a donor feels seeing his/her carefully considered donations
for sale next to the zillion National Geographics, ten-year-old
Popular Mechanics, and a 1958 World Book encyclopedia. Hence my
suggestion of notes attached to the books indicating that if they
won't be shelved, the library should call you to pick them up.
And considering the state of some of the currently circulating
paperbacks, "excellent" condition is anything that doesn't need a
rubber band to hold it together. I kid you not.
>that they'll sell it instead? Has that happened to you? Gosh, I hope not.
It's happened to me. My town's library recently expanded and wanted
to expand the collection in certain areas, and gave a list of those areas
to potential donors. They wanted gardening books, I gave them my
second-string gardening books. Few of my donated books are on the shelves or
in the catalog, and it's been a few years, so they're not sitting
in back waiting to be processed.
A few times, I bought slightly-used favorite science fiction in
hardcover and donated the book to the library, which didn't have a copy
in the catalog. They _still_ don't have those titles in the catalog.
>Maybe I need to wander down to my library and see if my donations have
>been added to the stacks.
A good idea. If you remember the titles, check the catalog, too,
in case they're circulating at the moment.
Instead of doing the book-donations-dance, I wish my library would
start a program to accept credits at the local used/overstock bookstores,
or with Edward Hamilton's mailorder. A patron buying a $1-$20 book to donate,
which subsequently gets resold for pennies, wastes a lot of money.
Giving the library credit in an account a bookstore so they can get
what they'll use makes more sense to me.
My $0.02,
Dotty Klein
Tammy Duletzke
TJennMesa wrote:
>
> <<That's fine, if the library actually KEEPS the book instead of tossing
> it
> into the "sale" pile.>>
>
> This is really NOT meant in a hostile, troublemaking way, and I really am
> curious, and I may be totally naive, but do you really think that if you
the library and donated them figuring they were going onto the shelves.
Well I went back and wanted to read some of them again and couldn't
find them. When I asked about it they informed me that they had limited
shelf space and they'd sold them! As I had tons of books sitting around
in boxes I figured I'd donate them and then I'd still have access to
them while others could use them also. I can guarentee that's the last
time I donated a book to the library.
RWeidwall
In a previous post, lost to the netherworld at this point, someone said
not to bother subscribing to The Tightwad Gazette because it was ceasing
publication in December. Well, I got my September issue today, and I think
it would be useful for all non-subscribers to read, too. Amy D. has a
special four-page insert with reviews of sixteen other frugality
newsletters, as well as a lengthy article on how to choose a newsletter to
read and ethical issues with many in the frugal newsletter "industry."
If your library does not subscribe to TG, I think it would be well worth
the $1 she charges to buy this issue alone. Naturally, I have nothing to
do with TG except that I like it and will miss it when it's gone!
R. Wallace
Melinda Meahan
TJennMesa wrote:
>
> curious, and I may be totally naive, but do you really think
> that if you donate a brand-spankin new (or new-looking) book
> to the library, and you don't just drop it off but you tell
> the librarian that you're donating a book in excellent
> condition that they might want to add to the stacks,
> that they'll sell it instead? Has that happened to you?
Yep, they do all the time around here. When I donated a book
to the library that I only used occasionally for reference,
I talked to the children's librarian first and actually gave
it to her to handle instead of going through the regular library.
I have read that if the librarian doesn't feel like they need
to stock such-and-such a book, or if it comes from the wrong
worldview, they will deem it inappropriate and sell it. ALL
the time.
al...@lehigh.edu
>
>I have read that if the librarian doesn't feel like they need
>to stock such-and-such a book, or if it comes from the wrong
>worldview, they will deem it inappropriate and sell it. ALL
>the time.
>
one!
Our mission is to have a balanced collection (something I sometimes define,
tongue in check, as "something to offend everyone") within our extremely
limited space. We solicit donations in order to stretch our book-buying
funds, but we also let people know up front that anything we can't use will be
put out for sale. We RARELY throw a donated book out, though -- we try to
find "good homes" for them all, even if it means that WE donate the donations
to another organization. ... The number of times people have changed their
minds about donating books to us under these conditions? To the best of my
knowledge, zero.
br...@tamvm1.tamu.edu
I feel the need to stand up for public libraries! (I'm a university
librarian, so it's not as if my job were on the line!)
I understand that when you see a shiny new library but not the books
you want, it can seem like the library's priorities are out of whack.
(I'm assuming you asked a staff member or librarian, and didn't just
assume if you couldn't find it, the library didn't have it.)
In all three communities I have lived in in the last few years, public
libraries were wonderful about either acquiring books patrons
requested or getting them through Interlibrary Loan. Keep in mind that
just because one person wants a book doesn't justify purchases in most
library's collection development schemes. They will usually be happy
to try to get it on loan, though, and I have found this to be
especially true in small communities.
In sum, if you are an active user of your library, make your voice
heard. I admit if there truly are no books (or no other sources of
information) on, say, Tourette Syndrome, the library's collection is
lacking in that area. But make your voice heard, and articulate your
priorities (such as easy access to periodicals.) It is a PUBLIC
library, after all! Keep trying; the more people using the public
library, the better it will get. And it really is frugal!
Best wishes, and good library luck,
Beth M. Russell
Rick & Dianne Olsen
I'm not an expert on this topic, but my stepmother heads 8 libraries in
Missouri so from speaking to her I know a couple of things I didn't
realize as a regular library patron -
1 - The binding for many library books are different than what you'd buy
at the store (they are sturdier) so that is sometimes why they sell the
donated books.
2 - Many people think that as long as it's a book, a library would want
it. That's not true. I thought this myself before I met my stepmother.
Books that haven't been checked out for X number of years get taken off
the shelves as they are taking up valuable space. Also a library needs
to have a well-rounded collection. Since public libraries rely on
public funds, they need to spend wisely for books for the library.
So sometimes although the book is brand new, it's more valuable to the
library to be sold for funds to put back into the library than to be put
on the shelf.
As for some librarians getting rid of books they deem inappropriate for
whatever reason, there may be an underlying reason that you don't
realize, like one of the above. However, keep in mind that this would
not usually happen when the librarian is a professional in her field
(for example, my stepmother, a Christian, would not buy or get rid of a
book on other religions. That would be unethical). I imagine that
librarians who do this aren't professionals. By professional I mean
have a degree in library science (my stepmother has a master's degree in
library science). MANY librarians have NO professional degrees but are
more like administrative assistants. People who aren't skilled in
running a library and handling a collection would probably toss books
they wouldn't be interested in because they think they aren't interested
in it, so who would be? (I'm not saying there are no bad professional
or unethical librarians out there, I'm merely saying they chance of a
non-professional doing this is higher).
Hope that gives you all some insight.
Melinda Meahan wrote:
>
> TJennMesa wrote:
> >
> > curious, and I may be totally naive, but do you really think
> > that if you donate a brand-spankin new (or new-looking) book
> > to the library, and you don't just drop it off but you tell
> > the librarian that you're donating a book in excellent
> > condition that they might want to add to the stacks,
> > that they'll sell it instead? Has that happened to you?
>
> Yep, they do all the time around here. When I donated a book
> to the library that I only used occasionally for reference,
> I talked to the children's librarian first and actually gave
> it to her to handle instead of going through the regular library.
>
Melinda Meahan
TJennMesa wrote:
>
> I must say I am so sad about what I've read here about the libraries,
> especially when they're always screaming for more funds because of
> budget cutbacks.
I understand from a library volunteer here that they offered to
provide volunteers who were willing to be trained to check out
books and such so that the libraries could keep longer hours
and cut their costs, and because of the union, the library
employees belonged to, they turned them down cold.
:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( (: :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(
FloralMotif
Let me second this as a former resource librarian! Inter-library loans
are a great thing; many books are now available if you will just ask
about an ILL. Secondly, if your library has a suggestion box, keep
suggesting new titles/topics/authors! This is part of how a library
assesses demand by the readership. Don't overlook resources like
videos that can be borrowed (many popular titles are available!) and
music that you don't have to buy, but can just check out when you
want to listen to it!
Jeanne Stapleton
>
>
TJennMesa
Okay, how's about if you have a book you don't think you'll EVER read
again, donate it to the library instead of the thrift store?
TJennMesa
I must say I am so sad about what I've read here about the libraries,
especially when they're always screaming for more funds because of budget
Barbara Cartland book, but good reference books are hard to find in a
library sometimes. Even the fact that a book is a bestseller is not a
guarantee that it will end up on the library shelves.
Take "Simple Abundance," fr'instance. Published in 1995, bestselling book,
Oprah devoted an entire show to it. Our local library in Redlands, CA,
with BEAUTIFUL hardwood floors (so glad they could find the funding for
that....) and interior decorating didn't deem it advantageous to acquire
the book for their collection. They have NO books on Tourette Syndrome
(and believe me, there are enough different titles in print), and few
books on autism. Many of their magazines (past, not current issues) are
relegated to what I call the magazine museum, because they're downstairs
in the basement where only employees can go, you can only check one out at
a time and only for one day. Why bother??? What a major hassle. I'll do
without, thank you, because I feel tremendously uncomfortable asking
someone to keep going downstairs to find the issue I want. I know it's
their job, and all that, but sheez! What I'm finding out is that the
library seems to be more flash than substance. Priorities, I guess.
br...@tamvm1.tamu.edu
I just thought of two more things about public libraries.
I know these aren't really "frugal living" suggestions, but ...
1) Beautiful hardwood floors v. books:
It's often much easier to secure funding for showy things like
buildings, computers, etc. than for books. Tangible "results," like
hardwood floors, are easier to see and justify than spending money on
books. People don't really "see" books, and only notice when the books
they want AREN'T there. Rarely do they notice when they ARE. Books,
especially in public libraries, are often worn out, mutiltated,
stolen, lost, etc. So it's a lot easier for donors or other funding
sources to get excited about things like hardwood floors, especially
if the perception is that the governing body of the library will
provide (magically, of course) all the money needed for books.
2) Storing old periodicals in an out-of-the-way place:
Not only is it the staff's job to get materials from these locations
for you, but this is often really the only practical solution. Do you
have any idea how much SPACE back issues take up? They can't be stored
in the neat, easy to access upright cases for the current periodicals.
And if space weren't an issue, the back issues wouldn't stay neat, in
order, or even whole for very long. It's really just a matter of what
has to be done. I'm often surprised at how long public libraries DO
keep back issues.
Sorry if I come on like the avenging librarian, but I just would like
people to take an active part in libraries and let librarians and
administrators know what's important to them. If you can't find
anything or have questions--ask us. That's our job, too!
I'll climb down from my soapbox & let you all discuss frugal living
now! :)
Beth M. Russell
'Jherek' W. Swanger
TJennMesa <tjen...@aol.com> wrote:
>Take "Simple Abundance," fr'instance. Published in 1995, bestselling book,
>Oprah devoted an entire show to it. Our local library in Redlands, CA,
>with BEAUTIFUL hardwood floors (so glad they could find the funding for
>that....) and interior decorating didn't deem it advantageous to acquire
>the book for their collection. They have NO books on Tourette Syndrome
>(and believe me, there are enough different titles in print), and few
>books on autism.
Librarians can't be expected to know everything (speaking as one) :)
and most librarians with a background in the sciences end up in
academic libraries. It is therefore quite possible that the librarians
at your local library are not familiar with the areas you mention and
so do not know what the available books on the topic are, or do not
know that they could benefit by having books on the topic.
The next time you stop by your library, please ask to speak to the
librarian responsible for collection development and suggest specific
titles you would like to see added as well as subject areas that need
beefing up. How can we expect to know what people want if they don't
tell us, after all? :)
As far as donating books goes (this was mentioned earlier; not sure
if it was you or not), it's usually a good idea to speak to a
librarian when you donate items. That way s/he can let you know
what the library will do with your gifts and you can request that
the items you donate stay in the collection.
kirsti
(not jherek)
(my "real" .sig)
Kirsti S. Thomas
Reference/Technical Services Librarian
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA 98119
(206)281-2790
k...@paul.spu.edu
TJennMesa
<<<I understand that when you see a shiny new library but not the books
you want, it can seem like the library's priorities are out of whack. (I'm
assuming you asked a staff member or librarian, and didn't just assume if
you couldn't find it, the library didn't have it.)>>>
Yes, I often do ask the librarian. I even check the reference section. I
was also in journalism for many years, and learned how to be a great
researcher. I figure that if *I* can't find it, how is the average person
going to find it?
I also think I have a pretty good sense of what is going to be a specialty
item and what is going to appeal to the masses. I hope I learned something
in all my years of graphic design and advertising. I am talking about
books that are on the *bestseller* lists with TV shows about them. Hmmm. I
think I see a problem here.
I'm also thinking that the money spent on heavily lacquered oak floors,
oak trim throughout the library, and stained glass windows would be better
spent purchasing books, tapes, magazine subscriptions, better training for
library pages so they don't constantly misshelve books. etc., instead of
turning the library into some pseudo-museum/historical piece of
architecture. Ya know what I mean?
Incidentally, when I asked the librarian, she did NOT offer the
possibility of an interlibrary loan, probably because this library is not
part of the county system.
TJennMesa
<<Keep in mind that just because one person wants a book doesn't justify
purchases in most library's collection development schemes.>>
Incidentally, the Southern California Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome
Association has almost 1,000 members. The Autism Society group in San
Bernardino and surrounding areas is also rather large. The Inland Empire
Support Group for our TSA chapter probably has well over 100 members in
it. It meets in Loma Linda (right next to Redlands, which is right next to
San Bernardino). The woman who runs the group lives in Redlands. She is
also the medical liaison for the entire chapter. I am not the only person
in this area who needs this information. There are quite a few of us. Our
chapter is working on this oversight by trying to purchase the books for
the libraries in our areas. Still, of all the libraries I've been to, I've
never been in one that didn't have at least 1 book on Tourette Syndrome,
which researchers are finding is more common than was thought possible (I
won't bore you with a discussion of the genetics of the disorder and its
associated disorders).
Janet Solursh (jbray@uga.cc.uga.edu)
In article <5075hf$6...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>
tjen...@aol.com (TJennMesa) writes:
>I'm also thinking that the money spent on heavily lacquered oak floors,
>oak trim throughout the library, and stained glass windows would be better
>spent purchasing books, tapes, magazine subscriptions, better training for
>library pages so they don't constantly misshelve books. etc., instead of
>turning the library into some pseudo-museum/historical piece of
>architecture. Ya know what I mean?
>
>Incidentally, when I asked the librarian, she did NOT offer the
>possibility of an interlibrary loan, probably because this library is not
>part of the county system.
It's possible that the library got a bequest from some dead rich so-and-so to
build a new library, but the bequest specifically earmarked all funds for the
architectural details you're complaining about. The library I work in has
big columns on the front for exactly such a reason.
janet bray solursh
jb...@uga.cc.uga.edu
TJennMesa
br...@tamvm1.tamu.edu wrote:
<<<2) Storing old periodicals in an out-of-the-way place:
Not only is it the staff's job to get materials from these locations for
you, but this is often really the only practical solution. Do you have any
idea how much SPACE back issues take up? They can't be stored in the neat,
easy to access upright cases for the current periodicals.
And if space weren't an issue, the back issues wouldn't stay neat, in
order, or even whole for very long. It's really just a matter of what has
to be done. I'm often surprised at how long public libraries DO keep back
issues.>>>
Less than five miles from our local magazine museum is a little city
library. The building isn't flashy - maybe circa 1960s. It's really a tiny
little thing. They have the usual contingent of librarians and library
volunteers. The library is even in a depressed part of town. The first
time I walked in there, I was AMAZED at their use of their tiny little
space. I had never SEEN so many videos and audio tapes in *any* library
I'd been in. I was able to read TWO YEARS' worth of Countryside and Small
Stock Journal (published every two months) - of all things - AND I was
able to check them out for two weeks. I think there was a limit to the
number of magazines I could check out, but since I read 750 words per
minute, I was able to check out enough magazines for two weeks to keep me
very busy. That's what a library should be. Some of us have young children
or children with disabilities or paying JOBS and can't read a magazine in
a day, and can't afford to run to the library EVERY day to read something
the library has. I expect it for reference materials. I expect to have to
stay there to read a current issue of a magazine. But the rest is
ridiculous.
I am even willing to pay a little more in overdue fines if it will mean
more books and better use of space. Heck, I'll deliberately keep a stack
of books an extra day AND pay a little extra in fines if it will help! ;-)
Marla Saunders
rwei...@aol.com (RWeidwall) wrote:
>R. Wallace
I think that was my post, back in the earlier days of this thread!
However, I didn't say not to subscribe, just to hurry!
I read the Sept. issue with interest, too. By the time I was done, I
alternated between wanting to subscribe to all of the newsletters and
none of the newsletters! Anyone else have any inclinations? I'm just
not crazy about Tightwad, and don't have much experience with any of
the others listed. Sure would like to hear from others!
Feels like a friend is moving away, doesn't it?
Marla Saunders
Editor, Homelight
mar...@emi.net
--------------------------------------------------------
Homelight is a hardcopy newsletter
dedicated to Success at Home from a Biblical Perspective
"Formula for Success:
Know what you are doing.
Love what you are doing.
And believe in what you are doing."
-- Cavett Robert
For more information: mar...@emi.net
TJennMesa
<<What system is it a part of?>>
It is a city library.
Jean Brice
In article <32263E...@value.net>, mme...@value.net wrote:
> TJennMesa wrote:
> >
> > I must say I am so sad about what I've read here about the libraries,
> > especially when they're always screaming for more funds because of
> > budget cutbacks.
>
> I understand from a library volunteer here that they offered to
> provide volunteers who were willing to be trained to check out
> books and such so that the libraries could keep longer hours
> and cut their costs, and because of the union, the library
> employees belonged to, they turned them down cold.
>
> :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( (: :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(
I was involved in the volunteer service business. I had a staff job
training volunteers to provide direct service to the public. The people I
worked with were truely the salt of the Earth. I have personally witnessed
a support organization, whose sole purpose was the improvement of the
volunteer sector, which had as a guideline that volunteers would not be
used to supplant paid employees. With the exception of professional
liscensure, that means, literally, that volunteers can only be used in
jobs which are either so onerous that you could not pay anyone to do them
full time, or so marginal that the organization would not budget for the
work. What an un-frugal waste of precious human resources!
Jeanie
William R. Watt
All the materials at our public library are bar-coded and patrons can check
out their own stuff. No volanteers needed. Of overpaid unionized public
sector librarians. Very frugal for the taxpayer, no?
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better
care of my investments."
Melinda Meahan
William R. Watt wrote:
>
> All the materials at our public library are bar-coded and
> patrons can check out their own stuff. No volanteers needed.
> Of overpaid unionized public sector librarians. Very frugal
> for the taxpayer, no?
Well, yeah, when the automatic check-out machines work and
there is someone to return the books to the shelves. Or are
patrons allowed to check their own books back IN and re-shelve
them as well?
Permacltur
>I have read that if the librarian doesn't feel like they need
>to stock such-and-such a book, or if it comes from the wrong
>worldview, they will deem it inappropriate and sell it. ALL
>the time.
>
this
one!
Our mission is to have a balanced collection (something I sometimes
define,
tongue in check, as "something to offend everyone") within our extremely
limited space. We solicit donations in order to stretch our book-buying
funds, but we also let people know up front that anything we can't use
will be
put out for sale. We RARELY throw a donated book out, though -- we try to
find "good homes" for them all, even if it means that WE donate the
donations
to another organization. ... The number of times people have changed their
minds about donating books to us under these conditions? To the best of
my
knowledge, zero.<<
The Framingham, Massachusetts, USA, library used to pay me to haul donated
books to the municipal incinerator. Needless to say, they didn't quite
make it. It is good to hear that some libraries actually respect all
books, but it is not universal.
For Mother Earth, Dan Hemenway, Yankee Permaculture Publications (since
1982), Elfin Permaculture workshops, lectures, Permaculture Design
Courses, consulting and permaculture designs (since 1981), and The Forest
Ecosystem Food Network.
If its not in your food chain, you're not thinking.
Bonita Kale
In a previous article, je...@erinet.com (Jean Brice) says:
>
>I was involved in the volunteer service business. I had a staff job
>training volunteers to provide direct service to the public. The people I
>worked with were truely the salt of the Earth. I have personally witnessed
>a support organization, whose sole purpose was the improvement of the
>volunteer sector, which had as a guideline that volunteers would not be
>used to supplant paid employees. With the exception of professional
>liscensure, that means, literally, that volunteers can only be used in
>jobs which are either so onerous that you could not pay anyone to do them
>full time, or so marginal that the organization would not budget for the
>work. What an un-frugal waste of precious human resources!
>
>Jeanie
>
I see your point, in a way, but I'd rather see people employed at paying
jobs than as volunteers. Checking out books, cleaning up parks, collecting
garbage, inspecting electrical lines, teaching children--all are tasks that
-could- be performed by volunteers. But there are people out of work.
It's my impression that any job offering medical benefits will draw plenty
of applications. And if I were a hungry librarian (teacher, garbage
collector, electrical engineer, etc), I wouldn't much like seeing unpaid
volunteers doing my job.
And it wouldn't be temporary--it would become like those hospitals where
you pay huge amounts of money, and volunteers are still manning the info
desk.
Bonita
--
Bonita Kale
bf...@cleveland.freenet.edu
jacque greenleaf
In article <01bb9cc9$b21b1720$0f3e...@koogles.startext.net>, "Boyd
Roberson II" <koo...@startext.net> wrote:
>
> You have a right to that paycheck, doncha?... You sure do sound like a
> unioner.
> You should only be getting paid because it's the most cost-effective way
> the employer has of getting the job done.. Like training a volunteer to
> replace 20yrs of experience and hardwork vs requiring nothing more than
> giving 'em a 20 minute lecture and booklet.
> Same goes for replacing a $20/hr worker with one willing to do the job for
> $5 or whatever..
> Big-biz has the same rights to frugality as we do! They aint welfare.
>
hey, I've got an idea! lets just skip paychecks altogether! every business
should feed and house and provide medical care for its workers and
families! of course in return the workers would have to promise never to
leave the employer (and the gov would have to enforce the contract), and
since the kids' upbringing would be the responsibility of the employer,
the employer would also be responsible for putting the kids to work as
soon as they were able! and of course if the owner wound up with too many
workers - change in the economy and all that - why the owner could sell a
worker's labor contract to another owner!
just think of the savings! we wouldn't have to build all those expensive
subdivisions, people can get by on a lot less house than that! wouldn't
need to build all those freeways, if you live where you work, there'd be a
lot less commuting! wouldn't have to pay taxes for nearly as many colleges
or parks either!
why didn't someone think of this a lot sooner?
Nancy Perry
In article <507lqg$u...@cambridge.emi.net>, mar...@emi.net (Marla Saunders)
wrote:
>
> I read the Sept. issue with interest, too. By the time I was done, I
> alternated between wanting to subscribe to all of the newsletters and
> none of the newsletters! Anyone else have any inclinations? I'm just
> not crazy about Tightwad, and don't have much experience with any of
> the others listed. Sure would like to hear from others!
>
> Feels like a friend is moving away, doesn't it?
>
>
>
> Marla Saunders
> Editor, Homelight
> mar...@emi.net
I too will be sorry to see the TG go. I've subscribed since the beginning
and re-read often. I sent for some of the newsletters that Amy wrote on.
I thought they were OK but I guess Amy spoiled me. I was really not
impressed. I've decided to stick with the "Dollar Stretcher" newsletter
here on the internet. It's free, you can read it off-line, save what you
find useful and delete the rest. Gary does a good job. It comes out
weekly via email on Monday nights. Good stuff. Below is the information
to subscribe. I don't know what the URL You can easily find it via a
search on "Frugal". Check it out before you pay anyone for a snail mail
version. Good luck and enjoy!!
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:
"The Dollar Stretcher" is a FREE weekly newsletter.
To SUBSCRIBE send e-mail to ga...@stretcher.com with 'subscribe'
in the subject and your e-mail address in the body of the message.
--
Nancy Perry
nan...@mont.mindspring.com
Alabama
Kristin Phillips
In article
<nancyp-1709...@user-168-121-140-12.dialup.mindspring.com>,
nan...@mont.mindspring.com (Nancy Perry) wrote:
> SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:
> "The Dollar Stretcher" is a FREE weekly newsletter.
> To SUBSCRIBE send e-mail to ga...@stretcher.com with 'subscribe'
> in the subject and your e-mail address in the body of the message.
>
> --
> Nancy Perry
> nan...@mont.mindspring.com
> Alabama
I followed the above directions and my email was sent back as
undeliverable. Is there another way to get through? Do they have a web
page?
Jennifer Greene
[discussion about choosing a replacement for Tightwad Gazette once it
ceases publication]
I don't know- Amy's style of frugality and the way I apprach frugality
matched really closely, which is why I enjoyed her newsletters and
books so much. Maybe it's a Maine-thing since I grew up in Maine.
Dunno.
The few other frugality and voluntary-simplicity newletters that I've
seen weren't the same at all, even the free electonic newsletters.
Most were remarkably different in philosophy or were too basic or
seemed too extravagant compared to what I considered frugal.
Actually I'm waiting for Mari to decide to publish a newsletter :)
All of her postings have seemed incredibly sensible to me. Add
a few Amy-esque philosophical essays and a few research articles
and you've got at least once subscriber! :)
-Jennifer
---
Jennifer L. Greene . jgr...@jimmy.dfci.harvard.edu
Who? What? Huh?
On the notable day of 23 Sep 1996 22:43:20 GMT,
jgr...@sid.dfci.harvard.edu (Jennifer Greene) stood before the
denizens of misc.consumers.frugal-living and gave the following
oration:
>[discussion about choosing a replacement for Tightwad Gazette once it
>ceases publication]
>
>I don't know- Amy's style of frugality and the way I apprach frugality
>matched really closely, which is why I enjoyed her newsletters and
>books so much. Maybe it's a Maine-thing since I grew up in Maine.
>Dunno.
Ooooo, another Mainer! :-) I'm a Maine-to-Nastychusetts transplant as
well, but headed back up to Life In The Slow Lane next spring....just
in time for mud season. (All you southern-type folks - and to us true
Yankees, people in New Jersey might as well be in the Deep South -
just don't understand the joys of a land with only three seasons:
Snow, Mud, and Blackflies. *grin* But I digress...) From another
Mainer's POV, yes, Amy D's frugal style is very typical Maine, where
unless you're "summer people" tightwadding is kind of ingrained as a
way of life. My mom was really rather peeved at about 2/3 of the
material in the TG books since it was stuff she'd been doing since she
was a little girl anyhow!
But I suppose it was all quite novel to folks who didn't have the
benefit of growing up in a region where that sort of behavior is the
norm and no one ever looks in a store to buy something without
checking the Uncle Henry's Swap and Sell It Guide first.... :-) (In
retrospect, I should have lived with my clueful frugal mom instead of
my spendthrift dad after they got divorced - coulda skipped some bad
habits eh?)
>The few other frugality and voluntary-simplicity newletters that I've
>seen weren't the same at all, even the free electonic newsletters.
>Most were remarkably different in philosophy or were too basic or
>seemed too extravagant compared to what I considered frugal.
The only ones I've checked into are the Dollar Stretcher (e-mail) and
Cheapskate Monthly. Dollar was "nice" but seemed to not apply to my
needs - the "example couples" in Dollar Stretcher seem not to be
_anything_ like me and my husband. Cheapskate, OTOH, seemed WAY too
commercial-ish and consumerist (very heavy on the
buy-buy-buy-just-buy-it-for-less instead of making do with something
else or making it yourself) for my tastes, although I understand some
people do really enjoy it. Personally, I thought Ms. Hunt hadn't
really let go of her "gotta have it" side left over from her
spendthrift days.
>Actually I'm waiting for Mari to decide to publish a newsletter :)
>All of her postings have seemed incredibly sensible to me. Add
>a few Amy-esque philosophical essays and a few research articles
>and you've got at least once subscriber! :)
Ack! *blush* Thank you for that compliment, Jennifer, but it's not in
the works. I'm answering this part publicly instead of by email as
I've recently received several letters on this very subject...rather
than retyping it several times, you all get to slog through! (And by
the way, I do get easily as much hate mail as I do "fan mail." It's
all part of the "job" of being as vocal and opinionated as I am.)
For one thing, I've found that I can't be frugal, funny, sensible and
reasonably noncontroversial on a deadline - when it happens it
happens, and I can't force it. (I entertained the idea last year and
even wrote up a few articles. Dreadful - not at all like my posts
here. Of course, some folks think my posts here are just as dreadful,
but hey... :-)) I suppose I could collect up all my own posts and cull
them for book material, but in true frugalista fashion, I'd prefer to
keep them in "free space" so that people can have them for nothing
more than a bit of effort in hunting them down.
So instead, you and everyone else are just going to have to stay tied
to your trusty ISP's and keep reading MCFL, since I'm going to keep on
disseminating my dubious wisdom here...and a DejaNews search will
provide enough material of mine to keep people going for a long time!
And to those of you who hate me (and I'm well aware that you're out
there)....when I move I'll make sure to have a neutral person let you
all know so you can update your killfiles! :-)
-------------------------------------
Abbie Normal, aka Mari Morgan
mor...@argo.net, http://www.argo.net/~morgans/
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life,
take big bites. Moderation is for monks." --Lazarus Long
*All emails will be read, although not all get replies.*
----------------
PLEASE excuse any unusual berserkness, I quit smoking!!!
Nancy Perry
In article <knswain-2109...@dialup-pkr-5-14.network.umr.edu>,
kns...@umr.edu (Kristin Phillips) wrote:
The Dollar Stretcher web site is: http://www.stretcher.com/dollar
Good luck. I was just there.....it should work for you.
Nancy
Marla Saunders
kns...@umr.edu (Kristin Phillips) wrote:
>In article
><nancyp-1709...@user-168-121-140-12.dialup.mindspring.com>,
>nan...@mont.mindspring.com (Nancy Perry) wrote:
>> SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:
>> "The Dollar Stretcher" is a FREE weekly newsletter.
>> To SUBSCRIBE send e-mail to ga...@stretcher.com with 'subscribe'
>> in the subject and your e-mail address in the body of the message.
>>
>> --
>> Nancy Perry
>> nan...@mont.mindspring.com
>> Alabama
>I followed the above directions and my email was sent back as
>undeliverable. Is there another way to get through? Do they have a web
>page?
That was the right email. Odd. They do have a web page, at
www.stretcher.com
If you still have trouble, let us know and we'll get you in touch!
Marla Saunders
Editor, Homelight
mar...@emi.net
Rere555
You can get the Tightwad gazette books at the Volition Bookshop at 10% off
the cover price.
Kristin Phillips
Thanks to everyone who offered advice about getting subscribed to the
electronic newsletter. I finally just went directly to their home page
and signed up that way. I already recieved my first issue!!!!!
Kristin