PAST and FUTURE of the Index To How To Do It Information
Norman and Mary Lou Lathrop started the HTDI Index in 1963 because they
could not find an article in their collection of how-to magazines. That first
mimeographed copy covered just 9 magazine titles and sold to interested
libraries for $2.50. It was a beginning of a long relationship with libraries
and indexing.
In turn, libraries have supported Norman Lathrop Enterprises
through their purchases of the printed annuals and
accumulations which made up the HTDI Index from 1963-1999. The existence of the HTDI
Index and most other reference materials is directly tied
to the financial support of public libraries and the communities they serve.
Additional support has been provided by many
magazine publishers in the form of complimentary subscriptions.
So where does the HTDI Index go from here?
If you check the
UNION LIST, you will see the magazine issues which
have been reviewed for articles to cite in the HTDI Index (identified by
“HTDI” on a yellow background in the
column labeled “Indexed”). You
will also see that we have a large number of backfile issues waiting to be
indexed. The reality is that the World Wide Web has become the dominant information
source
going forward into the 21st Century. However, some of us will continue to
fill in the gaps from the past century.
We will be doing this as part of our retirement and don’t
plan to work too hard. So, the HTDI Index will be updated
only on an irregular basis
as we have enough new material prepared.
In November 2012, the magazine collection accumulated by Norman Lathrop Enterprises and itemized in the UNION LIST was donated to the Akron-Summit County Public Library (60 S.High St., Akron OH 44326).
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