----- Original Message -----
From: Guy Etchells <guy.etchells(a)virgin.net>
To: <CDBOOKS-NEWS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 3:49 PM
Subject: [CDBOOKS-NEWS] 12 July 2002
Archive CD Books News
12 July 2002
In this issue:
* Latest CD releases this week
* Snippets, Feedback & Comments
** Visit the web based version of Archive CD Books News for the full
expanded edition including :
* Reviews & extracts from some of the books
* Family history hints and tips
* How to get the best out of available resources
__________________________________________________________________
Welcome to another Archive CD Books News, the text version of the new,
more detailed and wider ranging web page version of the
Archive CD Books News which is available for your enjoyment at :
http://www.archivecdbooks.com/news/
In order to make the most of the new opportunities the web based news
offers contributions in the form of articles and stories are required
from you the readers.
My inbox is waiting to hear your success stories, breakthroughs achieved
with the help of a cd, the uses you make of your cds, perhaps you have
used images from a cd to illustrate your family history, maybe your
great grandfather rode with the Belvoir Hunt, or used a Pigot's
directory as a commercial traveller.
Everyone has a story to tell share yours with us.
Email to :
guy.etchells(a)virgin.net
__________________________________________________________________
LATEST CD RELEASES THIS WEEK
http://www.rod-neep.co.uk/books/new/index.htm
1. A Perambulation of Kent Written in the Yeere 1570 - William Lambarde
Written in 1570 and first published in 1576, with this edition being a
1826 literal reprint
see Kent history & topography page
2. Acton, Middlesex - By W. King Baker 1912
An excellent historical and topographical portrait of this once rural
Middlesex village.
see Middlesex history & topography
3. A Topographical History of Surrey - Brayley and Britton 1850
A huge five volume set, this is *the* history of Surrey book.
see Surrey history & topography page
4. History, Gazetter & Directory of Cambridgeshire - Robert Gardner 1851
For its early date of 1851, this is an extremely comprehensive
directory.
see Cambridgeshire directories page
5. The Worthies of Devon - John Prince 1810
A fabulous book with accounts of eminent Devonshire people and families
from before the Norman Conquest.
see Devon history page
6. The City of Liverpool 1884, 1900 & 1923 Lists of Streets
Three books on one CD.
Every street in the city is documented along with details of adoption
dates (when the council assumed responsibilty for its maintainance),
measurements, re-naming details and dates etc.
see Lancashire history & topography
7. Bibliotheca Gloucestrensis - John Washburn 1825
An extremely rare and important book which Gloucestershire researchers
have discussed and coveted for nearly two hundred years. We have been
incredibly fortunate to have been loaned a copy which we have now
scanned and made available on CD so that all of those with
Gloucestershire interests can benefit from its contents.
see Gloucestershire history & topography
________________________________________________________________
Penny writes :
Re: success stories, well, for one, the Staffordshire directories were
the only place I have found ANY positive info on paper as to the
existence of my great grandfather Charles Hall in Bromstead/Gnosall,
Staffs!
Jim Fisher writes :
I have an ancestor named Frances FRY, of whom all I know is that in 1763
she married Henry LACEY in Tarrant Crawford, Dorset, and 40-odd years
later was buried in the same little church.
Yesterday I pulled out, from where it has been waiting for some weeks
untouched, the ACDB production of Somerset & Dorset Notes and Queries.
Therein I found that 150 years before Frances's marriage, a John FRY was
born in neighbouring Tarrant Gunville. In itself that's a useful clue to
look for Frances's origins in that parish, but there is an extra
incentive. This John FRY was apparently the man who wielded the axe that
removed the head of King Charles I.
It seems I may have a regicide as an ancestor!
How's that for an incentive to visit the record office in Dorchester
again (unless - optimist version of me takes over - ACDB is going to
produce the Tarrant Gunville parish register of course)?
Archive CD Books Production Schedule :
Are we busy here at the camp of Archive CD Books?
Yes... very!
Two main reasons:
1. Due to our free CD offer to new purchasers we are several days behind
in order processing and posting. However, we are at the stage of
catching up.
2. Vacations. During the summer all of the team, at one time or another
have vacations.
They deserve it!
If you are waiting for delivery of a CD then I really do appreciate how
you feel though!
"Impatient" isn't quite the right word, but I know how I feel if I order
something and it doesn't arrive here the following day, or even
yesterday.
Unfortunately we (Archive CD Books) am not big enough to act like a big
mail order house and keep huge stocks waiting for the orders to come
in.That sort of operation can only be achieved by holding very large
stocks of items, and I can't afford to do that.
e.g. let's say I hold just 10 copies of each CD in stock.... that's not
many... right?
Multiply that by over 800 CDs now available, and that's 8,000 made up
CDs in stock.That's quite some investment. (Actually I do make a few
extras of some very popular CDs - but not many)
So... I do what I have always done... CDs are made each day to satisfy
that day's orders.
Its a system known as "Publishing on demand".
Importantly, it is one of the ways of keeping prices down!It works like
this....
== day 1 ==
1. an order is received and it gets entered into the computer that
starts its tracking. (if yours went in on a Friday that's the worst day
because of the weekend)
2. at the end of that day the computer works out how many CDs of each
title I need to make from the incoming orders. By nature, I can't afford
to make lots and then keep unsold CDs in stock.
== day 2 ==
3a The CDs are made for that batch of orders3b The printed jewel case
inserts are done
4. The CDs are packed into the jewel cases
5 Once the CDs have been made, then they are entered as being "in
stock" into the computer.
6 The computer software then allows a "sale" to be generated, and
allocates made CDs to the orders.
Actually that system works well, as it is impossible for an invoice to
be generated unless your CD has been made.
== day 3 (or perhaps day2) ==
7. Then the invoices are processed, and it is at this time that the
credit card is charged.
8. The printed invoices go onto the "mailing table"
9. The CDs are packed up for posting.
== day 4 or 5 ==
10. Posting.... then add on the time that a packet is in transit.
But.... they are not necessarily posted the same day.
Gone are the days when I walked down to the Post Office in town and
stood there sticking on stamps. What happens is that the Royal Mail call
here every couple of days and collect it in bags.... one bag for the UK,
and several other blue airmail bags for various other destinations
around the world.
The collection varies.
So you see... an order received on a Friday can take 3 to 5 days plus
(Saturday & Sunday) to get through the system, and another day or two to
get into even a UK letterbox at your home.
So at the best, a packet can just catch the mail in 2 days from the day
of the order, or in the worst case scenario (over a weekend), and also
miss the mail bag collection and wait for the next one it can take
several days. (Possibly even 7/8 days from the order to the day the
packet leaves here).
However... my *aim* is to keep right up to date, and CDs are very often
being packed for mailing on day 2. And if they are done by the morning
of day 2, when that day is a mail bag collection then they also go out
on day 2. That's the very best I can hope to achieve at this time, but
usually the mail collection happens on day 3 to 5.
Exceptions :
Times of extra demand, such as Christmas, the new year, or the release
of a CD which is very popular. On occasions we can add around a week or
more to the above schedule. That doesn't happen very often, but it does
happen.
So.... that's the "system" ... it does work, and I am succeeding ;-)
It isn't the best system, due to not being able to hold large stocks and
not being able to employ more people, but it does work, and it enables
me to keep costs of CDs down to what really is a very low price.
To improve on the system it really would mean that prices of CDs would
need to go up quite considerably. More people and higher stocks means
more money.
Best regards
Rod
_________________________________________________________________
Don't forget to visit the Archive CD Books web page news where we bring
you news, family history hints & tips, interesting articles, extracts
from books and instructions on how to get the best from available
resources all at :
http://www.archivecdbooks.com/news/
To contribute stories, articles & snippets mail to :
guy.etchells(a)virgin.net
Cheers
Guy
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