Message text written by "\"As good almost kill a man as kill a good book\"
-- John Milton"
>david west wrote:

> I'm interested in looking at how conservation services
> directories (contractors, product suppliers,
> consultants, other services) have been put together.
> Interest extends to both web and print media.
>
> Any recommendations?
>
> I'm particular interested in comments about how the
> selection process is managed ... i.e. how sure can I
> be that listings in the directories really do have
> appropriate heritage conservation/preservation
> experience and skills.
>
> sign me
> "looking forward to the usual deluge of replies of a
> non-technical nature, and the occasional gem of an
> on-topic response"
>
> Cheers
> david<

Seems like my cue. 

There are several ways this is done, depending somewhat on the directory
publisher's intent & financial model. 

Most directory publishers hoover up info at no charge to those listed, then
sell the resulting directory. They are charging for the service of
collecting the info in one place & making it available. They may (or may
not) attempt to verify data or establish qualifications for inclusion.
Mostly they don't, because they want the book to have more in it and they
want to keep their costs down. This results in lots of dead listings &
outdated info. They may or may not have paid advertising (most do, now,
even the non-profits). 

Some (very few) directory publishers charge money to be included and give
the books away. This was the practice at the Yearbook of Experts,
Authorities and Spokespersons. The definition of an expert was anyone with
$495 (the minimum cost of inclusion). Thus it was self-selecting & had a
disclaimer that info had not been verified. The entire book was paid
advertising, but it didn't look like it. It's distributed free to
journalists, who mostly think the listings are free & verified. Journalists
mostly don't understand the economics of publishing well enough to realise
that a 5-pound book could not be free to be in and free to them as well--at
least, that was the publisher's opinion. 

Some try to combine all these approaches. This is the practice of those who
are afraid to leave anyone out or miss a chance to make a buck, yet don't
want to choose one method at the possible risk of missing out on something.
This was the practice of the publisher of the Preservation Sourcebook, of
which I was associate publisher for 3 years (implementing but not making
these decisions). Anyone could be listed free, enhanced listings cost
money, and paid ads and paid project profiles were sold. Books are mostly
given away, but are sold too (depending on who you are). A standard was
established for "Confirmed Source" status (at no extra charge) for those
who could document actual histo presto experience. Initial lists were
obtained from anywhere & everwhere (all directory publishers 'borrow' from
one another, which is legal if they restrict themselves to names,
addresses, numbers). Everyone got a free listing and an invitation to
upgrade. Many of you already know this since you were among those contacted
& participating. 

So the answer about knowing whether the people in the book really have the
skills is, caveat emptor. Check them out to your own satisfaction. Even
documented experience on HP projects may not indicate expertise. 

We attempted to obtain state SHPO lists of sources where available, only to
find that not all states have them. Some have their own directories (or a
state HP group produces one), some have lists they will provide on request,
but some (Florida comes to mind) are actually forbidden to give out any
information. Seems that FL had a list of companies who had worked on
landmark projects, but some of those who had not done so protested & sued
for inclusion, with the result that now there is NO list whatever. 

The legal position on databases, as I understand it, is that names,
addresses & phone numbers are not copyrightable (the phone companies
already tried to stop other companies from republishing their data, &
lost), but ads are owned by the advertiser, and text, descriptions
submitted to a particular publisher are owned by the advertiser/lister or
the publisher. 

Don White

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