The Future of Baseball 'Hard-Copy' Libraries:

[JLange]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

With all the changes, I'm wondering how to at least 'cull down' my collections. I have donated many to my local library, but I'm short on ideas.


Anyone have any good ideas?

Is anyone looking for a book that I may have?

I also have a bunch of 'real pretty' auction catalogs.

I would keep all of the media guides from your favorite team, or anything that has a roster page. I’ve noticed in doing my own research on Cleveland players that the rosters within the media guides contain a bunch of info not easily found online. Often the rosters are a snapshot either during spring training or right at opening day that is not captured elsewhere or that you could not find online after the fact. Even though now a days you can find 25 and 40 man rosters online, they are in the moment and can change and it’s hard to find the digital snapshot of one from a specific date thereafter. If you look at any of your Braves rosters from pre internet you will see names and faces of obscure players that either did not make the team coming out of spring training or had just a cup of coffee in the majors. If you research and /or collect these players you just won’t find this info online easily. The only thing I have found comparable online are subscription services to historic newspapers, and even then it is not so simple to find.