Don't underestimate the number of photographs and stories that will emerge from your community. It is best to overestimate the number of pages you will publish. Also, it is very important to define the scope of the project from the beginning. Limit the types of stories you wish to collect to specific topics, geographical location, or era (the 1940's, for example). Formulate workbook questions which will guide participates to specific topics.

Include photographs and other images in your workbook. This makes it more inviting and encourages more stories.

Things to remember when working with project contributors:

• Hold regular project meetings which include contributors. Meet at the same day and time each month.
• Send them monthly updates. Include the agenda for the next meeting. Remind them of what to bring.
• Keep them informed of deadlines.
• Encourage them to bring artifacts, scrapbooks, photos, etc. to the meetings.
• Early in the project, conduct a mini-workshop on memoir writing to show them how easy it is to write their stories as vignettes.
• As you acquire them, pass out samples of stories, photos, and tentative page layouts. This will keep everyone inspired.
• Promise to return their workbooks after you have copied the pages.

You may wish to include oral histories transcripts from your archives, or even plan an oral history project which will collect stories from those who are unable or unwilling to write them down.

Much of the project can be done by volunteers in your organization. However, to ensure a smooth schedule and follow-through, it is strongly recommended that you pay your project director. Your museum director is a strong candidate, but remember that the final stages of the project require many hours of coordination efforts, which may take away from his/her other duties.

The project director should be acquainted with the local history and many of the people from whom you are collecting stories.

Use as large a type as possible in the books. Many elderly people will be reading the book, and they will appreciate it.

Final story selection should be made by the project director. Make every attempt to use at least one entry from each contributor. This encourages more participation in future projects.

Get signed releases from participants to use their stories, photos, and other images, not only in the memory book, but also in future research, exhibits, broadcast, publication, or museum publicity.

Suggestions for "scanning days":

• Use a professional scanning technician to ensure that the digitized images are of good quality. This may be your only chance to acquire these images.
• Your photo archivist or a member of your collections team should be involved in the scanning process so that all images are properly catalogued.
• Ask the scanning technician for a thumbnail directory printout of all images processed.
• Oral historians should be available to go through items with participants before handing them over for scanning. Keep a tape recorder running as they work, to capture even more stories.

Don't forget your audience of children. Include stories, mementos, and images they can enjoy. Prepare a small version of the book for children which also includes instructions on how they can begin collecting their community history. This contributes to your heritage education program.

After completion of your memory book, you may want to create an exhibit which features and celebrates its publication. Here are some ideas:

• Create a large version of the book (11" x 17"). Laminate the pages with 10 mil lamination.
• Make the exhibit interactive by providing notebooks at "memory-sparking" stations throughout the exhibit. At each station, ask a question and invite visitors to record their memories in the notebook.
• We found that even after the book was published, people wanted to purchase workbooks so they could write their memories as well.
• Create a brochure for visitors that shows how they can collect their own memories of the neighborhood. Encourage them to share their stories by donating them to their local historical society archives.
• Visitors to our exhibit have told us that they have stories, too. So, we created a self-addressed mailer for them to record their stories on and return to us.