Thread Name: Need for a site complementary to Dogeared? From: <modlib@removed> ((Ron Holl) Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 8:22:03 -0500 For several months, I have been thinking about creating an ML Collectors web site, as a compliment to Dogeared. I am at the point where either I am going to do it, or stop thinking about it. The only way it will be successful is if there is enough interest and participation. I have spoken with a few folks, and they have all been positive about it. So, I am asking for responses from any collectors who are interested in this kind of a site, and who would participate. Also, please provide comments and opinions on what could be presented there. My thoughts are: - Collector pages, where each collector can identify what part of ML they are collecting, how complete their collection is, photos of their collection, what part of the world they live in, any kind of personal info (kids, pets, other collections, etc.), current/last ML title read, opinion on best ML title(s), opinion on worst ML title(s) (i.e. LORD JIM), other book interests. I would also like to allow each collector to be able to place their inventory on the site and keep it updated. This data base information could even help Henry make adjustments for pricing in the 2006 edition of the guide (or provide input for the Kamins Rarity list). - Project/Question page(s), where questions can be posted and answered. This would make the questions 'stick' longer (until answered). On the Listserv, both questions and answers tend to get lost. Projects could be any part of ML that still needs to be researched (if anything still needs to be researched; like is there a 347.1 that is not in binding #11?). - Buy/Sell/Trade area? - ??? Disclaimer: The site would be built at low/no cost. The data will be backed up, but 100% site up-time can't be guaranteed (especially during NE Ohio winter storms). It may take much time to get all features working. Given all this, any interest? ------------------------------------- From: Toby G Levy <tobylevy@removed> Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 10:58:41 -0400 I'd be happy to place my data in this site. ------------------------------------- From: "Bill DiBenedetto" <billdi@removed> Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 08:37:51 -0700 I think it's a great idea, although i wonder how it would serve as a compliment to Dogeared. Would the sites work/link in conjunction with each other? I would particiapte because getting to know individual collectors and their collections, maybe with a picture area, would be fun. And a buy-sell-trade marketplace would perhaps become a safer and more certain alternative than ABE and ebay, especially for those who collect rarities and first editions. ------------------------------------- From: Scot Kamins <kamins@removed> Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:02:56 -0700 Me too! > although i wonder how it would serve as a > compliment to Dogeared. Dogeared's mission is to provide fact-based information about collecting MLs. As I understand it, Ron's proposed site is more socially oriented with personal information about collectors and their collections. The goal of this ML ListServ (closely associated with Dogeared but totally independent of it) is to facilitate discussion about ML collecting. All the information here is archived and members can easily retrieve it, but the interface of the archives is clunky and not threaded. It sounds like the archives for the discussion part(s) of Ron's sites would be much easier to use. Ron, could you say more about this part? Would it be threaded discussions like at coin collecting forums? > Would the sites work/link in conjunction with each > other? Ron and I haven't discussed these details, but Dogeared certainly would link to Ron's site, and I would hope that Ron's site would link to Dogeared. There would be prominent promotions on Dogeared to Ron's site as there are now for this ListServ. > I would particiapte because getting to know individual collectors > and their collections, maybe with a picture area, would be fun. > And a buy-sell-trade marketplace would perhaps become a safer and > more certain alternative than ABE and ebay, especially for those who > collect rarities and first editions. That would be great! Dogeared can't do that now because of potential legal liability. Because Ron's site would be totally free of cost, perhaps he would escape that liability. (If I were he, I'd check this out of course!) ------------------------------------- From: <modlib@removed> ((Ron Holl) Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 12:01:49 -0500 > Dogeared's mission is to provide fact-based information about > collecting MLs. As I understand it, Ron's proposed site is more > socially oriented with personal information about collectors and > their collections. Yes, that is it 100%. For example, I enjoyed both reading Scot's About page and seeing Toby's collection. > It sounds like the archives for the discussion part(s) > of Ron's sites would be much easier to use. Ron, could you say more > about this part? Would it be threaded discussions like at coin > collecting forums? Wow, I was just thinking of copying relevant questions/answers from listserv mail messages and posting them for viewing/archiving. I had not considered making it interactive. Threaded topics would be a step up from a generic list server. However, I had no intention of duplicating services provided by the listserv. > Ron and I haven't discussed these details, but Dogeared certainly > would link to Ron's site, and I would hope that Ron's site would link > to Dogeared. There would be prominent promotions on Dogeared to Ron's > site as there are now for this ListServ. Right, only linking was discussed. In fact, linking from dogeared is very important. With no domain name, and most likely a dynamic IP address, a link from dogeared is the only constant! Bill, by compliment, I meant no overlap of information. > That would be great! Dogeared can't do that now because of potential > legal liability. Because Ron's site would be totally free of cost, > perhaps he would escape that liability. (If I were he, I'd check this > out of course!) In the 2 minutes I thought about it, I had not considered any legal issues. I was approaching it like a thumbtack board in the front lobby of a grocery store. For Sale:, or Wanted:, etc. But better, because you can't take down someone elses notecard for that old lawn mower and put your own up instead. ------------------------------------- From: Scot Kamins <kamins@removed> Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:57:10 -0700 > Wow, I was just thinking of copying relevant questions/answers from > listserv mail messages and posting them for viewing/archiving. > This alone would be a great service. Many people who are new to the Listserv could skip having to deal with the Listserv archives that way. ------------------------------------- From: "McBride, Jo-Anne C MCF:EX" <JoAnne.McBride@removed> Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:59:32 -0700 I would certainly participate by sharing thoughts on what I've read of my MLs, where I've been finding and my glee at what I've been finding. After seeing the picture posted recently of a collection, I've been reinvigorated and even kept a sharper eye than usual. That is what I hope for, a collection like that, it looks well loved. Keeping on this list is for me an attempt to glean a few crumbs of the information I want, which is what is worth reading, more titles to look for, etc., rather than the information that is the focus of this list, which isn't important to me. It sounds like this site might be closer to what I was looking for. (Not to dis the list, this stuff is important to you and I think it is really neat, I just place content first and I figure if I can read all the ML I will have a very broad education, rather dated butinteresting!) -------------------------------------