I was VERY bad and didn't ask for permission......(stop throwing tomatoes!)

Music Woman


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

As this was a detailed question, I thought some of the information
might be helpful to the entire letterboxing community. Asking
"permission" is a sticky issue and something that shows thought and
consideration on the part of the placer if you take the time to
research the location and find that it comes to a placement inside.


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "azobox" wrote:
> I am considering placing a letterbox in a library.
> My questions:
> If you have done this, have you sought permission before you planted?

yes


>
> If you DID seek permission, did you provide the authorities with
> examples of other libraries that have knowingly accepted letterboxes?

yes


> Did they ASK for names of libraries or librarians who have allowed
> letterboxes in their libraries? If so, do you have suggestions?

No they didn't but you may see
Kimball Library Letterbox (Tom Cooch)
RUPERT the Bear (Phyto)



> Did you place the box in the stacks where that book would normally
> have been shelved (i.e alpha order by author)? Or did you hide the
> letterbox-book behind the shelved books? Maybe you used a micro-box?

nope regular box
special placement with consideration for particular audience



> Did you choose a book to adapt that would be less likely to be
> examined (i.e. an older reference-type book vs. a best-seller so it
> could hide in a less traveled part of a library?


Generally speaking it would not have been an older reference (ie: more
delicate book) that was avoided. I actually donated a book to this
section of the library that went with the theme of the box!


> If the library director/administrator granted permission, did he/she
> inform other staff about the letterbox-book?


Yes, and I was happy to provide information sheets from the maine lbna
facts page that could be given to the staff members. I made sure to
emphasize that the staff would not have to do anything to maintain
this box...


> Among my concerns is that the library will see this as a PR
> opportunity and make the whole thing a lot more public than I would
> wish.


nope, generally the library can't be bothered as it would require
staff time/hours and additionally a good amount of time on your part
too. I did offer to hold a class/workshop and/or a story time relating
to the book in the library for free.


> I'm also considering a museum as a repository for a letterbox. Do you
> have any experience with this?

Yup, decided against it primarily as it was not as much of a public
access spot -ie: you would pay to have access to the museum...



> Thanks for sharing your experience (either to the list or off-line).


No problem, hope it helped. If you're ever in the area, let me know
and I'd be happy to meet up at the library in Bangor! :-)
Happy Boxing,
Phyto

Hi--although we haven't placed a letterbox in a library per se, we
have placed a handful of letterboxes in similar establishments--
including a museum, an historic conservatory and a bookstore.
Initially, we were quite apprehensive about 'approaching the
authorities' but were rather surprised and somewhat invigorated
after we were welcomed with enthusiastic responses.

For example--we first approached the curator of a museum in our
neighborhood about placing a letterbox within the museum. Not only
were we welcomed with open arms but the curator begged us for extra
copies of the clues to hand out to future visitors. She even
encouraged us to meet with the principal of the local elementary
school because she wanted us to 'get the word out' about
letterboxing. This dear lady (in her mid 80s!!!) now tells
everybody who visits the museum about letterboxing and is quite
convinced that it is an excellent way to encourage children to
explore their surroundings and to learn something about the history
of their area.

**From a security standpoint, it's also nice to let the owner of the
facility know about an 'abandoned' package on their property so they
are aware that it doesn't bear a more sinister intent with our
heightened security concerns these days.**

One thing I've found that helps tremendously in proselytizing the
merits of letterboxing is if I discuss its 150 year history in one
of England's National Parks and how enthusiastically it is supported
in Connecticut's parks, too. Believe me, the fact that letterboxing
is a Victorian era hobby is truly what helped me gain permission to
hide a letterbox in a Victorian conservatory!!! You never know what
the response will be until you try. Who knows? You may gain some
new area letterboxers in the process, too...

Have a wonderful letterboxing day!

dvn2r ckr

I placed a letterbox book in a library with the help of a staff
person and permission of the librarian. Staff changed. Librarian
changed. The letterbox disappeared.

There was a beautiful letterbox here in Nern VA for a while, probably
without permission, before it disappeared.

The staff person I knew had also placed three hollowed out book
letterboxes in the library herself. Her problem was people kept
bringing them to the check out to "check them out". Sometimes not
even knowing they were hollowed out.

The library problem is that the staff constantly moves the collection
around and straightens and checks the shelves. Something that
doesn't belong won't last long. However. If you choose a book
that "belongs", label it well, just like the surrounding books, it
might last longer. Also the higher numbers, 700 to 900 I think, get
less traffic which will help.

I have a new idea to tempt librarians. Now that there is a
commercially printer letterbox book, "The Letterboxers Companion" by
Randy Hall, I am going to offer to donate that book and ask if I can
also place my book letterbox somewhere too. I'll let y'all know how
I do.

Another idea I have is to take the "Companion" book and take it
apart. I would take 100 pages or so and cut out the space for the
stamp, then rebind the whole thing together. The blank part of the
cut out pages would be the log.

Incidently I still have a Word file that is a Letterbox Book. It
contains a brief description of letterboxing followed by a bunch of
letterbox clues from the area. At the end are a hundred pages or so
to cut out for the stamp with plenty of space for stamping in on
those pages. The idea is to strip my clues and replace with your own
local clues, print it out and assemble it. Then carve a stamp and
tie it into the binding. My books are velobound. I'll send the file
to anyone who wants it.

Below I'll try to answer the questions.

Scarab of the Doubtful Guests

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "azobox" wrote:
> I am considering placing a letterbox in a library.
> My questions:
> If you have done this, have you sought permission before you
planted?
>
> If you DID seek permission, did you provide the authorities with
> examples of other libraries that have knowingly accepted
letterboxes?
No.
> Did they ASK for names of libraries or librarians who have allowed
> letterboxes in their libraries? If so, do you have suggestions?
No.
>
> Did you place the box in the stacks where that book would normally
> have been shelved (i.e alpha order by author)? Or did you hide the
> letterbox-book behind the shelved books? Maybe you used a micro-
box?
The "box" was a hollowed out book in the shelves complete with filing
numbers on the spine. A book that "doesn't belong" where it is is
more likely to disappear. My book was called "The Letterbox Book"
and was placed in the local area hiking section.
>
> Did you choose a book to adapt that would be less likely to be
> examined (i.e. an older reference-type book vs. a best-seller so it
> could hide in a less traveled part of a library?
No, but good idea. Note I talked about identifying less travled
areas of the shelves.
>
> If the library director/administrator granted permission, did
he/she
> inform other staff about the letterbox-book?
Staff person informed everyone.
>
> Among my concerns is that the library will see this as a PR
> opportunity and make the whole thing a lot more public than I would
> wish.
Ask for discretion. Publicity where there is a lot of public can
lead to vandalism.
>
> I'm also considering a museum as a repository for a letterbox. Do
you
> have any experience with this?
Museums that I know of that were asked said that they would only
consider a box at the information desk that someone could ask for.
The National Postal Museum did a family "seminar" on letterboxing and
hid several boxes around the museum on a Sunday afternoon. It was
great fun but the boxes would never have lasted for long in public
the way they were hid.
A classic way of doing letterboxes involving a place where you can't
hide them is to have the clues require information from that place
but hide it somewhere else. Still it's fun to be in there.

>
> Thanks for sharing your experience (either to the list or off-line).
>
> azobox

We're placing a few boxes in "official places", I've contacted 2 of the 6 and they have both welcomed the idea.

The first is in a historic church. I'm waiting for the final OK, but the pastor loved the idea.

The other is at an historic homestead. After speaking with the resident manager, I got the go-ahead with no problem.

Talking Turtle


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There's a very clever microbox in a library near me that sticks to the
underside of a bottom shelf using a glued-on magnet. It's absolutely
invisible unless you are laying on the floor.

In a message dated 12/10/2003 10:52:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,
drlith@hotmail.com writes:
There's a very clever microbox in a library near me that sticks to the
underside of a bottom shelf using a glued-on magnet. It's absolutely
invisible unless you are laying on the floor.
THat tells me that you either live in CT or MD... unless someone else has
gotten the hint of using Car Key Hiders for their boxes.....

:-)
Music Woman


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

HI, I brought the CMPL letterbox to the library after having placed the
correct Dewey Decimal system code on it (and in the way that the library has it
displayed) for the reference section. THat way no one would be able to check
it out. There was no problem and it went on the shelf that day. The Library
wasn't interested in publicity based on the one letterboxing "book".

Mohmers


In a message dated 12/10/2003 2:24:16 PM Central Standard Time,
jparkerg@yahoo.com writes:

>
> I am considering placing a letterbox in a library.
> My questions:
> If you have done this, have you sought permission before you planted?
>
> If you DID seek permission, did you provide the authorities with
> examples of other libraries that have knowingly accepted letterboxes?
> Did they ASK for names of libraries or librarians who have allowed
> letterboxes in their libraries? If so, do you have suggestions?
>
> Did you place the box in the stacks where that book would normally
> have been shelved (i.e alpha order by author)? Or did you hide the
> letterbox-book behind the shelved books? Maybe you used a micro-box?
>
> Did you choose a book to adapt that would be less likely to be
> examined (i.e. an older reference-type book vs. a best-seller so it
> could hide in a less traveled part of a library?
>
> If the library director/administrator granted permission, did he/she
> inform other staff about the letterbox-book?
>
> Among my concerns is that the library will see this as a PR
> opportunity and make the whole thing a lot more public than I would
> wish.
>
> I'm also considering a museum as a repository for a letterbox. Do you
> have any experience with this?
>
> Thanks for sharing your experience (either to the list or off-line).
>
> azobox
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Librarys = Shhhh!

> In a message dated 12/10/2003 2:24:16 PM Central Standard Time,
> jparkerg@y... writes:
> > I am considering placing a letterbox in a library.

Museums = Legerdemaine

>> > I'm also considering a museum as a repository for a letterbox.
Do you
> > have any experience with this?
> > azobox