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                             ASTRONOMY Network News
                AN ON-LINE NEWSLETTER FOR ASTRONOMY CLUB OFFICERS

Issue #2 - January/February 1992

        Published by ASTRONOMY Magazine
        PO Box 1612
        Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
        414-796-8776, Fax [phone]
        Compuserve E-Mail: 72000,2704; Internet:
[e-mail]

        Network News is an on-line newsletter for astronomy clubs
uploaded approximately every two months by ASTRONOMY
magazine. It is designed to provide a forum for clubs to share news
of their accomplishments and innovative programs, as well as discuss
issues all clubs have in common - how to raise funds, attract new
members, publish an interesting newsletter, among others.
        We hope the ideas in Network News will help other clubs
provide the best possible services to their members and to their
communities. Address comments, articles, and news of your club
activities to the editor, Tom Gill, at his address below, or contact
ASTRONOMY magazine via mail, e-mail, or the Compuserve
Astronomy Forum.

Tom Gill, Editor, 1391 N. 72nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53213  (414)
476-6986

        From The Editor
        Thanks for the enthusiastic and supportive response to the
issue #1 of the Network News. It reinforces our main goal-to provide
a valuable resource for all clubs.
        Your newsletters are the main source of our information but
most focus primarily on club news. If your club has any programs,
experiences, or success stories that fit the content of this publication,
please contact me directly. Your involvement is needed and
appreciated.
        On a sad note, Kalmbach Publishing recently announced the
discontinuation of Deep Sky and Telescope Making magazines which
were unable to sustain themselves finacially.
        While the editors will reinvest their efforts into making
Astronomy an even better magazine, the challenge passes back to the
amateur community to fill the void left by these two specialized
magazines.
        Group subscriptions are no longer collected for either magazine.
All subscribers will receive information and credit for remaining
issues.
        Watch theNetwork News for information on the availability of
back issues. Whether your club has inspired telescope makers and/or
avid deep sky observers, the information contained in back issues
constitutes a valuable resource for any club library.

        Sharing the Resources-Starting a Club Library
        Clubs of all sizes benefit from some form of a club library. To
take a closer look at the functions of a club library, I talked with
Sally Waraczynski, librarian of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society
(MAS). Other clubs should find this information useful in starting or
maintaining their own libraries.
        There's no limit to what materials a library can include. The
idea is to collect items to enhance everyone's enjoyment of
astronomy. The MAS library includes books, periodicals, article
reprints, pamphlets, atlases, star charts, globes, posters, slides and
projectors, computer software and video tapes.
        Sally's involvement began when the MAS board decided to
elevate its library beyond its then current state-boxes of
uncataloged books and loose material that was fast becoming a home
for mice. Sally and her assistant, June Regis, a professional librarian,
worked together to create order out of chaos.
        Sally said that the most important aspect of starting and
maintaining a club library is a commitment from the board of
directors and membership to support the library's set-up and
growth. The MAS library benefited from generous member donations
of books, slides, magazines, filing cabinets and bookshelves. Then the
board voted to create an annual budget with which Sally can acquire
new materials. Occasionally Sally will put on a used book sale of
duplicate or out-of-date material to raise additional funds.
        Another important decision is finding a place to store materials.
A 'traveling collection' may work for small clubs, but most will opt
for a permanent location. The library needs climate control to
preserve materials and make it comfortable for year-round use.  And
if machines like computers and copy machines are used, climate
control is critical. The MAS's library occupies a portion of a meeting
room on the observatory grounds. Conditions at the library are not
perfect so video tapes, computer software and books of historical
significance are kept at members' homes until a space with better
conditions is available.
        If you are just starting out, joining the Astronomy Book Club is
a good way to quickly build a collection. In addition to discounts on
books, their literature provides many book descriptions. Sally also
uses magazine reviews and member suggestions to help her choose
new material. She keeps a list for when funds are available or a
subject needs updated information.
        For the MAS library, operation is simple. Members have access
during regularly scheduled member nights, public 'open houses' and
whenever a 'keyholder' is available. Because she is committed to
helping others use the facility, Sally is willing to accompany
members at other times. A notepad for sign-out is simple and
effective. The normal borrowing time is two months although
especially popular books carry a red dot meaning they should be
returned as soon as possible.
        The MAS card catalog is typed on 3x5 cards and is based on
Library of Congress classification. Individual cards are filed by title,
author and one or more subject categories. Books are shelved,
periodicals are in annual folders and loose articles are stored in a
steel file cabinet.
        Sally monitors library usage to request delinquent materials
and record the most borrowed materials. Books on astrophotography
and 'how-to' books are currently the most popular. Slides are always
popular in the MAS because they are used extensively at the club's
public open houses as well as during presentations to area schools.
        Once a library is a functioning entity of your club, the challenge
remains to keep interest high. Remember to use your Membership
Lifeline-your club newsletter. Sally has her own column in the MAS
newsletter, Focal Point, which includes general library news and
reviews of new material. The new material is temporarily placed in a
box labled 'What's New' to encourage members to look them over.
        Someday Sally hopes to create a special historical presentation
which would rely on and highlight the club library's many resources.
        With club support, a devoted member with good organization
skills can create and maintain a club library which will benefit its
members for many years to come.

        SIDEBAR: Top Twenty Books
        A library is only as good as its material. Wondering where to
begin? David Eicher, associate editor at ASTRONOMY offers this list of
the top twenty books that should be included in your club library.
        The Cambridge Atlas of Astronomy, Jean Audouze, and Guy
Israel, eds. A folio-sized survey of fundamentals for backyard
astronomers.
        The New Solar System, Kelly J. Beatty and Andrew Chaikin, eds.
The best overview of the solar system and what's known about it.
        Man Discovers the Galaxies, Richard Berendzen, Richard Hart
and Daniel Seeley. How early scientists demystified the Milky Way
Galaxy.
        Build Your Own Telescope, Richard Berry. Plans for six
telescopes you can build and information useful to commercial
telescope owners.
        The Milky Way, Bart J. and Priscilla F. Bok. Regarded as the
definitive book on our Galaxy for nontechnical readers.
        Burnham's Celestial Handbook Vol 1-3, Robert J. Burnham. A
voluminous compilation of deep-sky objects with photos, charts and
tables.
        Astrophotography for the Amateur, Michael Covington.
Chapters provide how-to advice for getting started in
astrophotography.
        The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, Terence Dickinson and Alan
Dyer. A luxuriously illustrated beginner's guide to amateur
astronomy.
        The Universe from Your Backyard, David J. Eicher. Republished
"Backyard Astronomer" articles from ASTRONOMY magazine.
        Sky Catalog 2000.0, Alan Hirshfeld and Roger W. Sinnott, eds.
Fundamental data on stars and deep-sky objects that every club
should have.
        Galaxies, Timothy Ferris. A folio-sized essay on galaxies with an
engaging narrative.
        Colours of the Stars, David and Paul Murdin. Professional
astronomers discuss color in astronomy and what it reveals. Many
photographs.
        The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy, Simon Mitton, ed.
Authoritative, fact filled reference covers all aspects of modern
astronomy.
        The Guide to Amateur Astronomy, Jack Newton and Philip
Teece. The best all-around introduction to what amateur astronomy
is all about.
        Starlight Nights, Leslie C. Peltier. One of the greatest amateur
astronomers of all time describes his experiences as a stargazer.
        Norton's 2000.0 Star Atlas and Reference Handbook, Ian
Ridpath, ed. A classic, showing stars to mag. 6 with an introduction
about observing.
        Cosmos, Carl Sagan. A superb narrative tour of the universe
and discoveries over time.
        Uranometria 2000.0, Vol 1 & 2, Wil Tirion, Barry Rappaport
and George Lovi. Minutely detailed, large-scale atlas shows 332,556
stars to mag. 9.5 and many thousands of deep-sky objects.
        Atlas of Deep-Sky Splendors, Hans Vehrenberg. Contains
hundreds of photographs of deep-sky objects at the same scale for
easy comparison.
        Comets; a Chronological History of Observation, Science, Myth
and Folklore, Donald K. Yeomans. The best introduction to the field of
comets.

        Reaching Out
        As a follow-up to the newsletter article in issue #1 of the
Network News, consider these additional projects as a way to reach
out to your members and increase their involvement in the club:
        Annual membership survey.  Gather feedback via a mailed
survey. Topics can range from your observatory and equipment to
the club's direction and future. And be sure to include questions on
newsletter content and format. Publish findings or discuss in a
membership meeting.
        New member packet. Include club by-laws, benefits, maps to
meeting and dark sky sites, officer information, subcommittees,
publication discounts, etc.
        Annual calendar. List dates of star parties, banquets, meetings,
public observing sessions, field trips, conventions, etc. Many of these
dates are set early in the year and having them all in one place
makes advance planning much easier for members.

        The Member Who Never Came Back
        "It amuses me to think that your organization spends so much
time looking for new members when I was there all the time. Do you
remember me?
        "I'm the fellow who was asked to join. I paid my dues, and then
I was asked to be a loyal and faithful member. I came to every
meeting, but nobody paid attention to me. I tried several times to be
friendly, but everyone seemed to have his own friends to talk to and
be with. I sat down among some unfamiliar faces several times, but
they didn't pay much attention to me. I hoped somebody would ask
me to join one of the committees or to somehow participate and
contribute-but no one did. Finally, because of an illness, I missed a
meeting. The next month no one asked me where I had been. I guess
it didn't matter much whether I was there or not. On the next
meeting date, I decided to stay home and watch a good television
program. When I attended the next meeting, no one asked me where
I was the month before.
        "You might say that I'm a good guy, a good family man, that I
hold a responsible job and love my community. You know who else I
am? I'm the MEMBER WHO NEVER CAME BACK.
         "New members are needed in all organization-but not just as
statistics. Everyone wants to feel welcome and needed."
        From the Shallow Sky Bulletin, Stephen Smith Editor, Cleveland,
OH

        Club Profile
        Orange County Astronomers , 2195 Raleigh Avenue, Costa Mesa,
CA 92627
        Founded:  1957   Members: 560
        Dues: $35 regular, $20 retired, includes all functions and
newsletter. Magazine subscriptions offered at club discounts.
        Contact: John Sanford, Editor of Newsletter, the Sirius
Astronomer.
        The Orange County Astronomers are dedicated to public
education enlightenment-this year alone, members have helped over
18,000 people look through a telescope.
        A typical meeting will draw over 200-250 members and guests
and includes a speaker, a "What's Up" segment, open time for
member slide talks, a raffle and dougnuts.
        The club has a 20-acre dark sky site 15 miles north of Mt.
Palomar (a hundred-mile commute for members) with a 20' x 30'
roll-off-roof observatory housing a 22-inch Cassegrain and a 11-inch
Celestron. 40 telescope pads with power are also on the grounds. A
second observing area-the Near Site-is not as dark but is much
closer.
        Members enjoy use of the club's six 'loaner scopes' ranging in
size from 80mm to 13".
        Club sponsored field trips have included visits to every major
observatory in the area. Money for the active club is raised with
clothing and pamphlet sales. They also publish a booklet for the
Riverside Telescope Maker's Conference.
        Within the club, a group of 75-100 members interested in
electronics calls itself the Electronic Oriented Astronomers (EOA).
Projects include building a radio telescope and computerizing control
of the 22-inch.
        Each issue focuses on a club in the U.S. or Canada. If your club
would like a plug, keep us on your mailing list.-TG