John Armstrong Library

[Anonymous]

Hello
The main focus needs to be the NMRA Library. The time has come to break away from Kalmbach.
The NMRA needs to get away from model railroading. Look at the long term goal for everyone.
The library will be known as the "THE JOHN ARMSTRONG LIBRARY."
NMRA President John Roberts stated in Scale Rails, Oct 2004: "I don't know of
anyone else who has earned such a sterling reputation in both the model railroad and prototype railroading worlds. John set the standard. I'm sure will
last into the foreseeable future."
Do you agree?
Timothy NMRA Life #00544

[jrbernier]

I cannot see the NMRA ever 'breaking away' from Kalmbach. Al Kalmbach helped form the NMRA, and there is a A C Kalmbach Library in the building right? Whatever you may feel about Kalmbach being too big in the hobby; just remember all of the donations and sponsorship of NMRA activities the Kalmbach line of publications has done over the years. Do not bite the hand that feeds you!

Jim Bernier - NMRA Life Member L05817

[Anonymous]

Hello
Thanks for your last reply. I am not out to get Kalmbach or anyone. I see the need
for the NMRA to realize that model railroading is very limited. It remains to be seen if the hobby of model railroading grows.
The library needs recognition on a national basis. It needs to grow and provide the reference material everyone will need in this century. Do you agree?

[jrbernier]

I have used the library; both via email for research, and once I stopped in while driving to Atlanta. Very impressive, climate controlled, and a great 'tracked' shelf system. In spite of any cut-backs in the NMRA budget, the library has been able to aquire books via donations and outright grants.
I was sort of amazed that they want a John Armstrong Library(great respect for the man, and I even met him once years ago). Since Kalmbach donated the seed money for the 'A C Kalmbach Memorial Library', where does that leave the existing library right now?

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

I see no problem with the way things are. Kalmbach Publishing has given so much to the hobby.

NMRA can benefit from allowing us to access the library from the internet. Not all of us can travel to the place.

[Anonymous]

What would happen if some corp. buys Kalmbach. Would this new corp. have access to the NMRA library through Kalmbach? I want the NMRA library to remain under the control of the NMRA. I don't want all the hard work, donated and seed money that everyone has provide become someone else benefit. We all live in the always changing world of today. Let us honor Kalmbach, NMRA, and all those who worked hard to preserve and protect our railroad heritage. Do you agree?

[rogerhensley]

I'm pretty well plugged into the NMRA library status and I know of no movement to create another library or to rename this one. As for only haveing model railroad topics, you'll find that the Kalmbach Library has far more prototype info than modeling. It is a research center for railroad topics and not just model railroad topics.There is a fantastic amount of prototype photos and information available to those who need it.

Kalmbach gave seed money as well as books and magazines and more to start the library. There is no reason to make a change in the name as it was named in honor or a gentleman who did much for the hobby and recording it in books, magazines, and articles. A pioneer in railfanning and modeling.

[CNJ831]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kineo

Hello
The main focus needs to be the NMRA Library. The time has come to break away from Kalmbach.
The NMRA needs to get away from model railroading. Look at the long term goal for everyone.
Do you agree?
Timothy NMRA Life #00544

Tim - I think you are arguing a point that very few here understand or a situation that few are even aware of! You really need to explain what is going on with regard to the NMRA library and what part it is to play in the NMRA's long term plan. Are they planning to spin it off now? And what do you mean, "The NMRA needs to get away from model railroading"? The NMRA has no other useful purpose than model railroading!!!

I'm a former longtime NMRA'er that left the organization a few years back. At that time it was clear that the library was being used by only a tiny fraction of the membership and some outsiders, which hardly ever justified its existance and expense. While it certainly is a great resource for the researcher, can it be financially justified nowadays, and has the situation with regard to general membership use changed at all?

I don't understand the implied tight relationship of the library to the Kalmbach organization either. In my years the library was absolutely under the control of the NMRA, the naming of it the Kalmbach Memorial Library simply acknowledging the long association and help recieved from the man and his company. As far as I know, the library was never a part of or under the control of A.C.Kalmbach.

What gives?

CNJ831

[cjcrescent]

CNJ831;
Guess I need glasses, oops, wait a minute, been there, got that, as until your post I didn't even see that Tim had typed "the NMRA needs to get away from..." . It doesn't make sense. I am trying to locate my Scale Rails to see exactly what was said. I hate it when things are taken out of context. You never get the true story. Could it have been a typo/misunderstanding?

But as to renaming the library the JA library, if a real change is being contemplated, I would disagree as well. Name something else at the HQ after him. We have the EP Alexander museum there that has many pioneering models/artifacts from the earlier days as part of the collection. Name a wing of that after him, devoting that wing to layouts/operations/signaling and such. There are several portions of very well known layouts there waiting to be displayed somewhere. (I understand that space prevents this as well as in the Alexandermuseum for now, but it is just a suggestion.) John was, in my opinion, a very humble, giving, friendly and knowledgable individual, who contributed much to this hobby and to the world of real railroading. But outside of the hobby and prototype railroading, I don't think John Armstrong's name is any more recognizable to the public at large, than Al Kalmbach's is.

But to take a memorial, remember it is the A C Kalmbach Memorial Library, away from another who did so much to get the hobby started into what we know today, and who was probably the driving force to start, even with its shortcomings, what is the flagship organization of the hobby, I believe is just not right.

There, now I'm off my soapbox!
If I'm wrong, won't be the first or last time!
NMRA life #5798

[Anonymous]

Stp! Don't take this posting off into the siding. How many schools are aware of the NMRA library? If your town was to pursue information about railroads in your community, would they go to a model railroad library? How many people outside the hobby of model railroading use the NMRA library for reference?
The NMRA library needs to get out from under the model railroad umbrella and become a national resource. The library is excellent for those who know that it exists.
There is no reason to eliminate Kalmach or NMRA members. The library needs money to expand. However, the library needs to become one of the leading outlets for future generations, not just for model trains. Besides you.....Does your town and school library know that the NMRA Library even exists? Do they use the NMRA library? Do you care?

[rogerhensley]

If you wish do make a sizeable donation to the library, I'm sure they would be pleased to have it. In the meantime, as I recall, the majority of users are not modelers at all, but serious railroad researchers who PAY a fee for their research.

The second largest group is model railroad manufacters and then come modelers.

I can't speak to librarys knowing about the NMRA resource. My experience with local librarys is that railroad topics don't see to be included much. Even many local historical societies seem to have a blind eye for railroads.

We as a group would probably be inteested in methods to see that the word got to those who should know. What are your suggestions? How should we go about it and I don't mean the NMRA, I mean us as readers of this forum.

[Anonymous]

Do any NMRA members recall that several years ago one of the "perks" of being a member was that each one was given four "free" hours of research at the Kalmbach library per year? I think that perk was quietly withdrawn without much discussion a while ago.

I did make use of the offer at least twice. My first query came up with nothing (they couldn't find anything), but for the second they did send me some photocopies illustrating railway pile drivers, which was a help to me.

I haven't been getting Scale Rails/NMRA Bulletin for several years, as I changed my membership to not get it and save some money. There wasn't very much in it that interested me, just a slim version of commercial magazines.

I will be getting the March issue, though, as they are going to use one of my photos on the cover. I submitted some vertical photos several years ago and they are slowly being used. And they pay ME for their use!

Bob Boudreau

[CBQ_Guy]

Huh?

"The NMRA needs to get away from model railroading." [banghead]

Whaz wi dat?! [%-)]

[Bikerdad]

yeah, I agree. The National Model Railroad Association does need to get away from model railroading. I think maybe skydiving or undersea geology should be their focus.

[:p]

[gvdobler]

I think because he did not capitalize Model Railroading, people thought he meant get out of model railroading the hobby and he meant to say get out from under Model Railroading the magazine.

Either way MR the magazine and the NMRA is about all of the glue there is holding it together. We are on their forum. What's the name of the other one??

Jon - Las Vegas

[IRONROOSTER]

I must confess that I am somewhat confused by this thread. The NMRA library is named after A.C. Kalmbach. So as far as I know it is the NMRA's library not Kalmbach Publishing's (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). Therefore what change is desired here and for what purpose. If we're trying to honor John Armstrongs's contributions to the hobby, I'm all for that but not by unhonoring A.C. Kalmbach. What am I missing here?
Thanks
Paul

[CNJ831]

You're right, Paul, the entire original post sounds very confused and some of it doesn't even seem to make any sense. I've been waiting for Kineo to post again with some sort of clarification but nothing has been forthcoming.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

Rodger, Everyone in the hobby of model railroading should tell their schools, local library about the NMRA and how to contact the library. Rodger pointed out and the emphasis should be that people outside the hobby use the library.
Donate books, money, and material you have collected and get a tax write-off instead of selling on Ebay. The baby boomers are retiring and realize that their needs are different now. The material and books can be used to help the library. Like now, the library can sell duplicate material and become more efficient and self supporting.
Everyone should pomote the libray through All model railroad shows. They don't have to be just limited to NMRA events. Use handouts.
Promote the NMRA library and ALL will benefit.

[rogerhensley]

Ok...
Good thoughts. If we promote the library, we all win. I like your outline. In fact, I am supposed to help setup at a train show tomorrow where I can lay out some literature and I will. Good idea.

We (our local division) does put out library literature, but I hadn't thought about the independent show tomorrow.