STRATEGY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Pittsburg State University Department of Business Administration Pittsburg, KS 66762 316/235-4588 FAX 316/232-7515 November 19, 1992 Dr. Lloyd Elgart, Editor Journal of Small Business Strategy Andreas Schoool of Business Barry University 11300 Northeast Second Avenue Miami Shores, FL 33161 Dear Dr. Elgart: While trying to convert my pig sty back to academic office, it occurred to me that I had collected a fairly large number of academics texts that I really didn't need. Out library tells me that annotated instructor's editions, instructor's manuals and software sets are something they really can't use to any large degree. Although some in the profession sell comp copies back to the used book companies, I'e always been bothered by that practice. It seems to me that if a way could be found to identify academic institutions (or faculty) in the LDCs and if there was a low-cost shipping method, it might be appropriate to send these texts to the LDCs. I checked with our local snail mail branch and found out that they have something called "M bags" for books. This is a low cost, surface mail shipment method that accepts boxes of books between 16 and 66 pounds. This shipping cost (to almost anywhere in the world) is $.72 per pound. Thus for $25 per year ($ .07 per day) anybody could send textbooks to our less fortunate peers. I wonder if anyone in the SBIDA would like to work with me in setting up some sort of central clearinghouse for shipping destinations and areas of need that could be publicized in the newsletters. or, perhaps, even the journal. Please let me.know what you think. Regards, Thomas B. Box, Ph.D. 89 RESPONSE FROM EDITOR December I I, 1992 Dr. Thomas B. Box Pittsburg State University Department of Business Administration Pittsburg, KS 66762 Dear Dr. Botp 1 have your letter dated November 19, 1992 containing the idea we discussed recently. We plan to publish it in the "Letters to the Editor" section with our editorial endorsement. Sincerely, Lloyd D. Elgdrt Editor 90