Merit Badge Books Avialable Online

[mrsrayzor]

After all the new updates for 2005 I just had a thought about this I think it would be great if a scout was able to purchase a downloadable Merit Badge Book online. We already have a resource for the requirements, why not be able to purchase the book online without a trip to the Scout Store? Naturally I'm not talking about anything illigitimate or illegal. It would need to be available through the official source.

With technology and online access what it is today, it makes sense! My son was working on his Literature reading one day and needed a Cliffs Notes on the material. After searching the internet, whamo, he's buying it online and able to use it NOW without leaving the comforts of home!

What do you all think?

D Ray
Committee Chair

[BM_Crawford]

What a great idea, I think that would be VERY productive! Great thinking!

[t305spl]

Yes this way I dont have to make a trip to the Scout shop everytime I want to read another merit badge book. Great Idea more of the BSA publications should be online to purchase as a printable copy.

[West]

It would be handy. But since they still havn't been able to make an on-line version of their catalog I fear it may be awhile before they get to this part.

[hops_scout]

I think they may have online sales VERY soon......


The Jamboree participants and staff can order Jambo stuff off of the website. Sounds like they have a new online system in the works.

We shall see

[ynotquilt]

I would think that an online version could be even less expensive since actual printing costs would not exist for this and therefore not mearly as many copies would need to be printed for sale at scout shops. This would be a wonderful resource for those whose council store is quite far away

[JazerNorth]

The BSA uses the sales from the MB books for part of their funding.

I can't remember where I read that, so if anyone knows, let me know.

Hey, maybe it is hearsay, but I think I read it on a reputable site like meritbadge.com or usscouts.org.

Enjoy.

JazerNorth

[ynotquilt]

I realize that they get part of funding from sale of these, but they would be able to get "pure" profit if they did not have to pay for physical printing of the pamphlets.

[PaulSWolf]

They have absolutely no intent in putting them on the web. As for being "cost effective", it actually would NOT be. The cost of printing the pamphlets professionally is much less than the cost of printing 100 pages or more on your local computer printer. The booklets are much more "camp friendly" than trying to read the booklets online, or even than printouts on reams of paper. The ink doesn't run if they get wet.

On a few occassions, someone has scanned in and converted individual booklets to pdf format and posted them on the web, including a couple of council eb sites. As soon as BSA was made aware, the files were quickly removed.

[evmori]

Paul,
While I agree with your printing statement, the BSA would not be the ones doing the printing. The purchaser of the MB pamphlet would be. And the cost for placing the MB pamphlets on the web is minimal & would make the pamphlets available 24/7!

[PaulSWolf]

Paul,
While I agree with your printing statement, the BSA would not be the ones doing the printing. The purchaser of the MB pamphlet would be. And the cost for placing the MB pamphlets on the web is minimal & would make the pamphlets available 24/7!

My point is that the cost of paper and ink for the "purchaser" would be more than the $3.25 BSA charges for the booklet, and it would be much less durable. A poor use of materials and resources.

[JazerNorth]

I think what happens is that internet users begin to think that everything is cheaper on the web. This is false thinking as many services and items are still much cheaper printed. My company tried sending spec booklets for programming applications to their clients and failed. The clients ended up printing the booklets and putting them in binders. Requests came from almost all of the clients requesting they be printed.

Somethings just are not meant to be on the internet, as the ease of use will actually become difficult of use. Merit Badge books fall into that category.

Also, the license agreements with PDF (Adobe) require purchase of their software in order to commercially distribute PDF files. The cost would become a wash to the BSA and would increase for the Scouts.

Enjoy.

JazerNorth

[Tor-Da Colas]

My point is that the cost of paper and ink for the "purchaser" would be more than the $3.25 BSA charges for the booklet, and it would be much less durable. A poor use of materials and resources.

Online merit badge books would be available for scouts completing a merit badge within thier troop or on thier own. This convienience would not be meant for camp use. That is where the merit badge booklets come into play.

[evmori]

My point is that the cost of paper and ink for the "purchaser" would be more than the $3.25 BSA charges for the booklet, and it would be much less durable. A poor use of materials and resources.

Not sure about the cost being more the $3.25 per booklet. The durability wouldn't be as good but the convenience to having them 24/7 should make up for it.

[scoutchallenge]

I am sure that it would cost me less to buy and print each book.

1st off i can never enter the council store and buy only one thing
2nd the cost of driving 50 miles is more than the book
3rd does the book need to be printed - most of my tax form instructions i read from the IRS web site with out printing - and i can access them from any computer

buy and print sounds very good to me -

[cballman]

ahh yes the new age old problem to download and print or buy? IMHO i would still buy them from the scout shop because for the most part I still have the ones I bought about 30 years ago and they are still in good shape. I still use some of them for my son now. they might be expensive but they wear very well. If you want paper then print out the worksheets and then when you teach the merit badge then you will see how well both of them work together. just my humble opinion from someone who has used them for over 30 years.

[Lynda J]

Our troop still has books that are 20 + years old. When they print new requirements I get one of the books then go through it and adjust the books we already have. I simply make the necessary changes and staple them inside the book cover. For badges that have really major changes we buy a new book.

[diamondbackAPL]

that's what my brother does with the troop library (he's the librarian). Just about all our books are outdated, so were going to start buying new ones and asking for donations.

[Rick Tyler]

Our troop still has books that are 20 + years old. When they print new requirements I get one of the books then go through it and adjust the books we already have. I simply make the necessary changes and staple them inside the book cover. For badges that have really major changes we buy a new book.

I don't mean to sound like a grumpy old guy or anything, but isn't this your Troop Librarian's job?

[tlocklear]

Hi,
One important point that needs to be made about providing Merit Badge Booklets in electronic format is this is the ONLY way that some kids with disablities can read these books. My son is severely dyslexic and totally into scouting. With the books in electronic format for purchase, we could buy them and have them available to read on the computer, where he use a screen reader to help him.
This service is also truly beneficial for the blind and vision impaired.
I have been in communication with someone at the BSA and she indicated that there should be some electronic format books to purchase soon, hopefully January, 06.
I agree that electronic format books are not a great substitute for the nice pamphlets. But if both were available, then those who needed to print them out immediately could do that, and those who wanted to either drive to get the pamphlets, or order them online, could do so. Electronic format books are only meant to compliment the printed format books.. not replace them.
Thanks!
Theresa Locklear
http://www.troop1548.net