Not sure who wrote this, either Peter O'Byrne, or Max <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [OGD] awards to species
Subject: [OGD] awards to species
"Also I believe the AOS has required reference books to be in each center's library for use by the judges, and in each judge's personal library."
Absolutely not true. There are no requirements for any judge's personal library or any judging center library. At shows, there are often NO research materials at all, except for AOS award descriptions (no photos) on Wildcatt.
Different judging centers make up their own rules. When I started at the Atlanta JC, I was told that all judges were expected to spend at least $1,000/year upgrading their library (and that's EASY to do if you want to have a decent library). Houston JC has no such requirement.
All JC libraries would/ought to have copies of all Awards Quarterlies and the Register of Awards, if possible, as well as copies of award slides as far back as possible. Beyond that, it's up to the funding available. Remember this system is staffed by volunteers and funded by those same volunteers and other donations. Judges pay for their own travel expenses, are expected to maintain membership in the AOS, keep a subscription to the AQ, and help maintain their affiliated judging center. The judging centers have to pay rent (several hundred $/month), have to build and maintain a library, and staff local orchid shows. Very few of the orchid societies we serve contribute financially to the judging centers. Judges buy books for their own libraires as well as contribute books to their judging centers. We are fortunate that Timber Press publishes several useful titles each year and offers substantial discounts to us for group orders. Despite the fact that judging
centers offer not-for-profit service to the orchid community, most orchid reference books are not available to us at a discount.
Compounding the issues with regard to JC libraries is that books disappear. Most are out-of-print, and very expensive to replace, if copies can even be found to purchase. We don't know how or when it happens, but we all suffer from the unethical and selfish actions of a few.
It would be beneficial if more out-of-print titles were scanned and available online. Project Gutenberg, for instance (http://www.gutenberg.org/), makes many titles available digitally through volunteer efforts. Primarily, these are works in the public domain in the US. Surely we would all like to see older ochid texts republished electronically.
Nina Rach
Houston
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