On Line Library

[portagepan]

Gee, I didn't know that expressing one's concerns and ideas automatically becomes bitching and moaning. I am beginning to get the feeling that it does on this forum. It is a good thing that most of us get along better in person than on this forum. I still wonder what happened to my post of the other day where I wondered aloud if the AMCA was becoming a vendor organization. I am NOT saying it is, just getting that strange feeling we get sometimes, you know? No offense meant.
Mike

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear All, try downloading the ACE document from the Virtual Library - it's free. I've just done it and, even without having a 1927 Ace, it's a thrill to see this brochure printing off my computer from thousands of miles away. There are still technical difficulties with entering your membership number, so ask the administrator/librarian if you have problems. Good luck and best regards.

[exeric]

That was a joke Mike. Not meant to offend.

[schmittm]

Thank You Pete and Steve for voicing my opinion on this topic, and saving me the trouble of typing all the same things myself.

As Steve hinted, there is a very big difference between someone who is collecting original literature for a personal library and someone who only needs technical or reference information to complete a specific restoration project.

The convenience of having all that information in one location as well as the added benefit of instant obtainability far outweighs many of the negatives I have seen posted above.

jmho

Mike Schmitt

[Baytown]

Still not working.

Dear Ken, keep trying, and contact Larry Barnes through the help address if you need assistance. We are having teething problems where you put in your membership number, but want to see the info out to our members as soon as possible.

Hi Steve. So the membership number is the discount coupon code then???
I tried again, and received the following: 'Invalid Coupon Code'.
I won't proceed with the order because I will be charged the full price.
I'll forward this info to Larry Barnes as advised. Is he the 'Library Owner'? as I e-mailed that person close to a week ago, but still have not received a reply.

Ken.

[Chris Haynes]

There was a narrative highlighted in red on my download page advising that they club doesn't

Thanks.

Ken.

Huh?..........

[Baytown]

Very Disapointed with the Library Service Documents.

G'day everyone. Well, I should have waited for some one else to use the service, but I'm on leave, and am spending too much time in front of the computer. I purchased 4 documents, and was VERY disapointed with the downloads. Read the letter below to the Library Owner to get an idea of the quality of the documents I purchased. Not worth $50, let alone $100.
Before any one comments on my complaining, this is a genuine, reasoned response to the service as it stands. I realize there will be teething problems.
Best wishes fellas.

Ken.


Hi from Ken Kemp in Australia, AMCA member # 8756.
I’ve been having difficulties in using the new AMCA Library and the member discount (50%) function, to which I asked for support earlier this week, with no reply.
In frustration, I sent the order for 4 documents through today, with a request to only charge half price as per member entitlements. (A $100 US order, which should have been charged as $50 with the member discount.)
I wish to offer the following constructive criticism re the service and quality of the documents as it currently stands.

1. The major concern I have is the quality of the scans relevant to the 3 1920-1923 Indian documents I purchased, these being the following documents:
a. 1920IndianJudgingReference0001;
b. 1921IndianJudgingReference0001; and
c. 1923IndianJudgingReference0001.
2. They documents I purchased are in effect ‘very disappointing’ with the reference for each document covering both the titles on the page and text in many instances. The paper has not been aligned correctly on the scanner, resulting in much text being cut off. The brochures seem to be incomplete. i.e. only four pages delivered in 3 of my downloads, yet the pages are numbered up to 16 and 20 in 2 of my documents. One document in particular (1923IndianJudgingReference0001) is very under exposed, and difficult to read.
3. I paid for, and downloaded what was advertised as a 1921 Indian Military manual (120-1921IndianMilitaryMechanicsQUESTIONSANSWERS120) , which turned out to be a 1941 340B manual, useless to me. This 80MB download also stopped twice during the download process, which meant that I only have 2 more downloads left (if it were any use to me)
4. I feel that the prices being charged for these documents, which the purchaser cannot view prior to purchase, is not in line with the content or quality (I can only comment for the documents I have purchased).
5. I ask that I be only charged for the half price of my purchases, as per members entitlements. I also ask that I not be charged for the incorrectly labeled 1921 Indian Military manual, which was of no use nor interest to me.
6. It would be very beneficial for prospective customers to be able to view the entire document (place a watermark over it to make copying it pointless if needed) so they can see the quality and content, # of pages of the document, and make an informed purchase decision. At the very least, have the page count supplied in the information on the document. This is only available on some documents, and none that I purchased.

I hope you do not take this as baseless complaining, as it is not. This is genuine member and customer feedback on the quality of the documents I have purchased, and errors, faults in the system which need correcting if this new service is to be supported by the members.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns/ comments, and please contact me to advise what corrective action will be offered re my concerns.

Best wishes.

Ken Kemp
AMCA member # 8756

[portagepan]

I hope the library works out. But I must just be a dumb hick or something, because the last time I had a document someone could use, I was happy to email it to them for free. There is getting to be more talk about money on this site than the bikes. Hopefully it will all work out, and not drive too many of us off. It is obvious that we are a very diverse group of people, with different ideas, and goals for the club, and as individuals of said club. My budget is already strained with my obsession with bikes, so if everything is going to cost more money, well..................... I guess we each have to make our own decisions, and not blame others in the club.
Mike

[George Greer]

I haven't used the virtual library. So I can't comment on it.

I have also been looking at expanding my library of manuals on my computer, and when I find them... I download and save them in a folder.

I looked....and looked for a knuckle manual....just so I could get a little familiar with the workings of it, took what seems like a loooong time, but I did find one.

Most of the information that I have for my WLA, came from JW Boon in Holland. www.jwboon.com

Some members on this board, and quite a few at FHP and Knucklenutz have helped me quite a bit, and I would like to thank Chris Haynes for the information about my WLA and the cable oiler...

I would like to see the club produce 6 issues of the magazine a year.....AND ... I would also like to receive it in a more timely manner.....not a month after print.

George Greer

[Steve Slocombe]

Dear Ken, thanks for your constructive comments and Larry Barnes and I won't quit until you're happy with what you have. If there are errors in digitising or labelling then these will be corrected, and you will pay only for the right documents of good quality. The digital watermarking idea was proposed at the start of the project and is still being investigated.

Dear George, going for six magazines a year has been considered over the last couple of years, but the recent change in editors has once more put it on the back burner. It would of course cost more and, even though the AMCA dues are the lowest of the Clubs I belong to, there is no great enthusiasm for increasing them at the moment.

Best regards.

[INLINE4NUT]

Steve thankyou for answering my question! (That I didnt ask!) Glad to see people will get what they PAY for ! I also will say again I think its a wondeful service and the benifits far put weight the cost!! Also glad to see the dues will not be going up!

[jurassic]

pics

i think the virtual library is a good thing .at least the club is willing to embrace this new fangled computer/internet thingy.i also think that if we were able to post pictures on this site like we use to before the change over,then the members would gladly share much more info.the members could make this forum into their own little library of info.much like it use to be.i for one am sick of using hosting sites to post pics.how much would it cost to get this option returned? i'll pay for it. lonnie

[Larry Barnes]

Our Virtual Library

Dear friends,

I've been scanning antique motorcycle documents and building the club's virtual library for over a year now at a considerable cost to me and the club. This has included computer equipment, software programs, travel, and a lot of time. Still to be added are hundreds more documents we've already scanned, and other donors' collections, so these are only the beginning.

Your AMCA board of directors recognized the need and value of saving antique motorcycle documents and making them available to present and future generations of enthusiasts at a common location. And what better location than the club's website on the Internet?

The long-term goal is to make the library self-supporting by charging a reasonable amount. And I really don't think that $10-$50 is too much to pay for a copy of such useful and needed information about our very valuable machines, do you? And since your membership dues have funded the library construction to date, it's only fair that you receive a considerable discount. Just know that the membership discount is taking some additional steps to implement, so please be patient as we work out the kinks.

We also hope that our library will help build AMCA membership in the years to come. What better incentive can there be than to become a leading source of information for present and future generations of people like us?

Larry Barnes

[23JDCA 808]

The info brochures you've done for 1923 HD are appreciated.

[Chris Haynes]

The long-term goal is to make the library self-supporting by charging a reasonable amount. And I really don't think that $10-$50 is too much to pay for a copy of such useful and needed information about our very valuable machines, do you? Larry Barnes

I think that charging 50 bucks for a scan is an absolute rip off.