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Funding H-NET The H-Net lists are looking around for some financing. Basically, we feel that a small amount of money ($2000-4000 per list per year) could enormously improve the quality of the lists. Up until now, all 20 H-Net lists are operated completely on a volunteer basis; our cash budget in 1993 was $3500. We need money to hire staff to handle a hundred chores (like compiling the Job Guide, setting up FILESERV and GOPHER services, indexing lists, handling inquiries, handling subscription error messages, handling books and software for review.) In addition our 29 moderators--20 of whom are graduate students/ asst profs or adjuncts-- need help with telephone bills, new software, and travel to report on conferences & conventions. 1. We are NOT considering any proposal to turn H-Net into a commercial operation. It is and will remain a not-for-profit educational program owned and administered by the History department of the University of Illinois. If it collects moneys--so do universities [tuition] and university presses [price of books and journals] and scholalrly organizations [dues]. We ARE considering: 2. Applying for grants. We keep doing this, with modest results ($1500 from U of Illinois and $2000 from ACLS). We are happy to accept individual, tax-deductible contributions! 3. Offering two-day training sessions in use of email/ Internet and the like. This would be offered to colleges for their history & humanities faculty & graduate students. Charge: about $200 per attendee. H-Net already did one of these at Binghamton U. 4. Charge for subscriptions. We are too new and raw to start this now. But in 94-95 it becomes a possibility. (The rate would be about $35 a year, with site licenses available for whole colleges.) 5. Affiliation with and financial support from an established organization. The list could be their electronic newsletter. 6. Selling "ads" to university presses and textbook houses. The ads could be much more interactive that paper ads (for example, a reader could send a GET CHAPTER XYZ command for a sample complete chapter.) We will be discussing this at the AHA convention. 7. Charging textbook publishers a fee for textbook forums that would discuss changes needed in new editions of major textbooks. Options 1, 2 and 3 are in effect right now. Options 4-7 are highly tentative. I would very much appreciate your feedback and comments. Thanks Richard Jensen director of H-Net
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