Anyone in the printing world out there?

[Atarah]

I am in the process of typing up a gentlemans memoirs. When completed there should be, at a guess, about 120ish A4 sized sheets. He wants it printing for family only, therefore would want about 24 copies doing.
Anyone out there able to offer any suggestions/help?

Atarah

[Caz]

Are you meaning you would like it doing free? that's approx 2,500 copies, quite a lot.

All I can suggest is that you ring a few printers and put the idea to them, & possibly you could sort out some kind of plug for any company willing to do it on your site, that might work!

If you end up having to pay, how many of the family members have a computer? Possibly consider using CDs as this would be cheaper.
Maybe the family members could make a contribution anyway?

[Atarah]

"Do I want it doing for free"?

I think not my friend! Not in this day and age! Twenty four copies only of a book is something most printers probably wont even entertain. Just wondered if there was someone out there who perhaps knew a printer who would be interested in taking a small job as this on.

Cd's are fine, but, when its something written by a family member, its still nice to see it in print.

Thanks anyway

[Caz]

Wasn't trying to be funny Atarah!

Assumed you had put it on here cos you were trying to get it done at as little expense as possible for this guy!

Hence the suggestion about a plug on your site, somebody might like publicity, you never know unless you contact them.

Are you just after a straight print run or binding & backing?

[Weary Tourist]

My musings on this subject...
The price and the quality required are probably the main considerations here.

Students tend to print A4 sometimes duplex (both sides of paper) and then visit Rymans (or similar outlets) for various binding options. So you are talking about a pack of paper and the cost of laser printing (not inkjet it is not waterproof and smudges anytime thereafter) and binding. However the finished article may not have a long shelf life depending on the paper, ink and bindings used.

Even a professionally printed booklet may not have a long shelf life. My copy of the Moorfield pit disaster by Harry Tootle is showing wear and tear.

The electronic option with CDrom's, webpages etc., has a strength in that the material can be updated and corrected easily thereafter, and could be available to a wider audience if published to the web. However, not everyone has a computer, or internet connection. Not everyone wants their material on the web. Which is a pity as Accrington has a rich past, and there are not many websites about its local history.

The websites can of course be removed. So I know of one archive site that is considering harvesting the web for a particular subject (subject to copyright of course), as a lot of information may be lost forever if it never gets into print form ! ! !

Accrington Pals by William Turner is a lovely book, but additions and corrections I would like to include will never happen unless it undergoes a reprint, and so future readers will always read the same information that was true at the time it was published

For the professional publishing option there are lots of resources on the web.
There is a brief guide for first time publishers here http://www.biddlesbooks.co.uk/hh_faq.htm

A possible links try searching using terms 'short print run'
http://www.castleprint.co.uk/digital-print-service.html

You cannot beat personal experience. Why not contact Bob Dodson Landy Publishing for email advice
http://www.forl.mcmail.com/landy/dobson.html

Bet your local family and history society has many examples of booklets with short print runs. Why not check out inside and back covers for publishing contact details.

Did that help ?

[Atarah]

Thank you so much for your help, just out of interest, Bob Dobson is my couz!!!!