>From its inception, Focus on Basics/NCSALL has worked in partnership with the states to distribute the publication. We send a pre-established number (based on federal allocation and what the states tell us they can absorb) to almost every state and the state distributes them as it sees fit (in total, 8,500 copies go to states and protectorates). Some states prefer to send their constituents to the web rather than pay for mailing. Some states mail their allocations out, some give them out at events, etc.


We sell subscriptions and also bulk subscriptions. Some community colleges, for example, buy a bulk number and distribute them to staff.
(We had hoped the subscription base would grow but it has remained pretty stable.)

We also provide "photocopiable masters" to those who want them and promise to distribute copies. THese aren't really needed now that we put the PDF up on the web.

Barb Garner
Editor, FOB

From: KC Andrew <kandrew at sbctc.ctc.edu>
Date: Wed Apr 12 14:27:28 CDT 2006
To: b.garner4 at verizon.net, 
	The Focus on Basics Discussion List <focusonbasics at nifl.gov>
Subject: RE: RE: [FocusOnBasics 215]  FOB Evaluation

The programs I've worked for have always provided copies for faculty and staff, so I never had a need to subscribe personally.  Do adult ed programs subscribe or are they just provided by FOB?  I also keep my copies - even if a topic is not immediately relevant to my program or my practice, it becomes relevant over time.
 
KC Andrew
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Adult Basic Education - Professional Development Services
360/485-2338 *NEW NUMBER*
kandrew at sbctc.ctc.edu <mailto:kandrew at sbctc.ctc.edu> 

________________________________

From: focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Barbara Garner
Sent: Wed 4/12/2006 11:15 AM
To: Miller, Jane; b.garner4 at verizon.net; The Focus on Basics Discussion List; Colletti, Cyndy
Subject: Re: RE: [FocusOnBasics 215]  FOB Evaluation



I too love the printed version, with the nice thick paper. I keep mine in two binders so I can always find them. But we never had overwhelming success with subscriptions. We priced them low: $8 for 4 issues, which barely covered printing and mailing, thinking that individuals---teachers, we hoped---would want their own copies rather than have to share them. But we never seem to have more than 500 individual subscribers.

List readers, what's your story? Why did or didn't you subscribe?
Barb Garner
Editor, FOB

From: "Miller, Jane" <Miller_J at cde.state.co.us>
Date: Wed Apr 12 10:48:09 CDT 2006
To: b.garner4 at verizon.net,
        The Focus on Basics Discussion List <focusonbasics at nifl.gov>,
        "Colletti, Cyndy" <CColletti at ILSOS.NET>
Subject: RE: [FocusOnBasics 215]  FOB Evaluation

I am the professional development coordinator for adult educators in Colorado. I enjoyed taking part in the recent FOB evaluation survey.

I read FOB for my own PD and always include FOB articles in PD events - study circles, conference workshops, and extended trainings. I reference the NCSALL website in general, provide direct links to specific articles, and include printed copies of articles in handouts.  I also facilitate several work groups - a state-wide PD advisory group, our state's CAELA capacity-building team, and various pilot projects.  Whenever our state office receives a box of hard-copy FOBs I always snatch a dozen or more to give to members of these work groups to show my appreciation for the work they do.  I think everyone appreciates having their own, personal, hard-bound, nicely illustrated copy.

Colorado's coordinator of our State Literacy Resource Centers always puts out an announcement on our state-wide adult ed listserv whenever a new issue of FOB comes out.  That spreads the word to adult ed program directors and teachers.

When I was in the classroom, our program director always circulated our one copy of FOB to all the teachers using a routing slip.

Hopefully FOB can continue to do its excellent work.  I would hate to have to choose among teachers, professional developers or program directors to be the focus of FOB's marketing efforts.  Based on what others and I have said, program directors and professional developers have the means to introduce FOB to teachers by incorporating FOB into the greater context of PD events.

Jane Miller
Professional Development Coordinator
Colorado Department of Education
Adult Education and Family Literacy
Miller_j at cde.state.co.us



-----Original Message-----
From: focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:focusonbasics-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Barbara Garner
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:53 PM
To: Colletti, Cyndy; The Focus on Basics Discussion List
Subject: Re: [FocusOnBasics 215]  FOB Evaluation

One of the themes that is emerging in this discussion is how professional development providers serve as a conduit, introducing teachers to the publication and to particular articles.

If you're a teacher, how did you find out about "Focus on Basics"?
If you're a professional development provider, does your experience bear this out: do you introduce teacher to FOB?

And if we are able to find additional funding and continue publishing beyond 8C, where should we put our dissemination energy? Into reaching professional development providers, assuming they will introduce teachers to FOB? Or should we focus marketing efforts on teachers? Thoughts?

Barb Garner
Editor
From: "Colletti, Cyndy" <CColletti at ILSOS.NET>
Date: Tue Apr 11 16:17:24 CDT 2006
To: The Focus on Basics Discussion List <focusonbasics at nifl.gov>
Subject: [FocusOnBasics 215]  FOB Evaluation

FOB has always intrigued me because it's on top of the challenges that teachers and tutors face in classrooms across the country.  Once we were discussing the reasons that students go on or do not go on to other educational pursuits.  Soon I saw that the next issue of FOB would cover "Transitions."  This field is widely diverse and often isolated from each other and from a sense of itself as a field.  FOB is a unifying force as it presents the latest research and relates that research right to the instructional setting. In my job as a state level coordinator, I publicize each and every issue so that practitioners can use the information presented in the articles.  When I survey practitioners about what they need, I always hear, "Something I can use tomorrow."  Well, FOB has always provided just that.

Cyndy Colletti
----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Focus on Basics mailing list
FocusOnBasics at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/focusonbasics

----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Focus on Basics mailing list
FocusOnBasics at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/focusonbasics

----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Focus on Basics mailing list
FocusOnBasics at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/focusonbasics