Norman Lathrop Enterprises  
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Index To How To Do It Information
Lathrop Report On Newspaper Indexes
A profile of Norman Lathrop Enterprises
 
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Last Updated
03/31/2019
 
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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).