Because of a couple of recent contributions I received an update to  
the Mann Library digitization project for the first volumes of ABJ  
1861-1900 from the Director of the LIbrary.

Because of Beekeeper contributions we are at 3/4 of the way to the  
$3000 mark needed to cover the full cost of this scanning/preservation  
effort.  The time consuming process of prepping the first 40 volumes  
of ABJ is complete (because of the efficiency of bundling more for a  
single shipment they added an extra 20 volumes).  They are shipping  
all forty volumes after completing the contract with the vendor.  This  
means that we (beek's) get double for half the cost.

Once the files are returned, scanned & in digital format, to the  
library in June (hopefully).  It will take the library a month or two  
to get the materials reworked for viewing.  They also plan on  
reworking the layout of "The Hive and the Honey Bee"  for improved   
navigation of the site to accommodate a user friendly search of  
volumes,  the journals & monographs.     So by summers end there  
should be a great increase in the amount & availability of these  
materials to beekeepers worldwide.

The library staff has been wonderful at accommodating our efforts and  
beekeepers have been very generous.  The outcome has been the largest  
digitization project of beekeeping literature on the WWW.

Your contributions toward this effort are greatly appreciated by all  
beekeepers present and future.

Mike Griggs
President Finger Lakes Beekeepers

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