How would you like to:

• ORGANIZE -> Put your hands on a specific photograph in minutes...without tearing apart your closet or attic.

• PRESERVE -> Extend the life of your treasured family photographs, books, letters and other heirlooms (gowns, quilts, paintings)...and stop worrying about whether you're taking proper care of them or not.


• WRITE -> Add real value to the historical materials you donate to future generations by writing down the stories behind your photos. I teach a simple writing method specifically designed for people who think they can't write. If that sounds like you, I'm here to tell you it's easier and more enjoyable than you might imagine. This is not about winning writing awards. This is about using your natural storytelling voice to...well, to tell the stories of your life. Nobody else can do this for you.
  


• SCAN -> Create a digital archive of your most treasured prints, slides and film. Bring those vintage beauties into the 21st Century where it's easy-peasy to share them with family and friends. Best of all, I'm going to steer you away from the common mistakes people make when they scan photos. 

So if you've been struggling with how to preserve your family treasures, and the stories behind them, and you're ready to transform your photo chaos into a collection you will be proud to show off, then keep reading, because I have just the solution you need.

Let me say that a little louder because it's super. duper. important:

I have the solution you need.

And it just so happens that now is the perfect time...

Special Launch Price, plus
Free Charter Membership
200 Available - 1st Come 1st Serve

Hiya! I'm Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist.

Ever since I began my training as an archivist, I've been giving friends and family advice on how to organize and preserve photographs and other treasures like letters, family bibles and wedding gowns.

I'm pretty much a hopeless geek on the topic, as anyone who knows me will tell you. Especially the photographs. I joke that I've never met an antique photo I didn't like, but it's not actually a joke.

In addition to my Master's in Library Science with a Specialization in Archives Management I've also worked as an archivist for over 15 years, including stints at the Library of Congress Prints and Photos Division, the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, and American Girl.

For seven years I've been teaching in-person workshops at genealogical societies, DAR luncheons, public libraries and one tractor collector convention. I've taught folks how to preserve and purge their photographs, how to scan them properly and how to write the stories behind them. The one thing in common about all of those classes was how much I loved doing it. This is an amusing turn of events considering that I went to library school because I didn't want to use my History BA to teach history. But before we get into that, I should tell you more about my Joy of Organizing Photos program.

Program Details
(Here's What You Get)

My Joy of Organizing Photos program is divided into four modules: ORGANIZE, PRESERVE, WRITE, SCAN.

For each modules, the following is ready for immediate download on the Members Only website: 

• MP3 recording of telephone class, 60 minutes of me teaching plus 30 minutes of Q&A.
• Transcript of follow-up 60 minute web chat transcript, all Q&A.
• Also waiting for you are several Fabulous! Bonus! Gifts! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

What's in the four modules:

1. Preservation 101: All the basics of how to handle and store your family treasures so they last as long as possible. You'll learn the best room to store your treasures and the best boxes to use for housing. Lower budget options are outlined, too.


2. Organizing, or How to De-Clutter, Re-House and Arrange Photos: We'll go into detail about various arrangement methods as well as the traps to avoid. My philosophy is KISS (keep it simple, silly). This is also the class where I'll share tips for how to succeed when tackling a large project. I'll also give you the neat-o coolio matrix tool I created to help you visualize the best place for you to start.
   


3. Writing Down the Stories Behind Your Photos: The motto for this class is "The Shortest Pencil Is Better Than The Longest Memory." It's based on Denis Ledoux's PhotoScribe method, which is the easiest -- and funnest! -- way to get your story written down. Even if you're convinced no one will want to read what you write. This class includes live writing time, so you'll need to have some photographs as well as something to write with.


4. How to Scan Photos Correctly: Scanning is great because it allows us to share photographs and repair damage digitally. I encourage you to scan your most precious images. However, there are some risks involved as well as some common missteps you really should avoid. You'll thank me, I promise.

Here's Why I'm Offering (over) 
200 Free Charter Memberships 

I'm actually offering more than 200 free memberships, it's just that only the first 200 will sell for the special launch price of $75. The rest will cost $150. Back to the explanation...

What I teach is not rocket science, it's just that nobody has ever brought it all together into a single plan that's designed specifically for non-archivists. Until now. I had no idea I would be the person to do this, or how much I would enjoy it. Unfortunately, there are only so many people I can reach live in person -- even when you include telephone consultations.And I want to spread this program to as many people as possible.

Inevitable Growing Pains Discount: Distance education means I have to move beyond my teaching comfort zone and learn a new set of skills. (Bridge lines, Cpanel, WordPress, oh my!) There are bound to be hiccups. And since I'm a company of one with a full time day job and two young kids...it might take a while to fix things.Once the first set of Charter Memberships are sold out, I'll be able to hire people to help me and the hiccups will be fixed quicker.Until that time, you're getting an awesome price as a thank-you for your patience.

Beta Testers Discount: You -- because you're here right now for the maiden voyage -- get to join me as I figure out the best possible way to teach what I know to lots of people at one time. In a way that's informative and fun, with opportunities for you to ask me questions on live calls/chats every month. There might be things I think are a great idea and you, bless you, will tell me if they aren't helpful, or suggest ways I can make them better. For example, there are already simple ways for you to interact with each other on the Members Only website. Nothing beyond comments (like a blog) although with your help and feedback I'd love to build a forum area.If that's what ya'll want. We're going to build something awesome together.

Charter Membership Means
No Subscription Fees, Ever

First of all, I don't want to overstate the offer, here. I can only guarantee that the program (with live phone calls and web chats each month) will continue through the end of 2010. I can also promise to keep all the website content up and available to you through the entire year of 2011. 

If I do this right and find my right people, there will be enough newcomers to keep the whole program running beyond 2010.But since I've never done this before it would be foolish to make big promises. Instead I'm offering pragmatic promises, as is my way.

Here's my plan for the Joy of Family Photos program: Pre-recorded class content (this time with studio quality rather than telephone call quality) plus a membership site that runs on semesters. Everyone who purchases a recording of my Joy of Photos Class can upgrade to membership in Members Only. If they want to continue for longer, they can purchase extensions. 

Membership includes not only access to the content of the website but also call in number for the monthly live Q&A call and live web chat. Support, encouragement, the whole deal.

You get on a special list just for Charter Members, which means you will always receive the monthly login/pass for the site.

Calls cost $$ (your regular long distance charges apply) and each recording will be posted. 

Did I Mention That This Is Going To Be Fun?
Because I Wasn't Kidding About The "Joy" Part

Everybody knows the more enjoyable you can make a task -- especially a repetitive task -- the more likely it is to be completed. Spoonful of sugar and all that. Tut-tut.

Here are just a few of the joys you will encounter as you sort and select photos, place them in envelopes, write down the stories behind them, etc: 

• The Joy of De-cluttering
• The Joy of Order from Chaos
• The Joy of Preserving
• The Joy of Scanning
• The Joy of Reminiscing
• The Joy of Reflecting

Listen, I know you probably dread big organizing projects.

How do I know?

Am I psychic or something?

Er, no. It's just that everyone feels this way. Unless they have a plan, a  map of where they're going, a guide and a posse of other folks in the exact same position. Which is precisely what I'm offering you.

OK, I'm In!

P.S. I want you to think of all your pre-digital photographs as what we archivists call a "closed collection" -- meaning it isn't being added to anymore. Organize it once and you are done. Listen, if you're an empty nester who also happens to be retired, you could use the method I teach you to get it done... forever.  

P.P.S. I keep forgetting to tell you that the Members Only download page also has Fabulous! Bonus! Gifts! Including a 64-page Guide to Collections Care from archival supplier Gaylord, plus two Practical Archivist radio shows I did on WORT-FM, plus two PDF booklets; one with tips on beating procrastination and the other with ideas for how to combine photos and text in a visually appealing way.