In response to inquiries from the SSFP membership, the SSFP Executive Committee recently posed the following questions to the OSB Publications department. The responses, provided by Publications Manager, Linda Kruschke, follow each question.
1. What was the selection criteria for the 59 “new members” who received complimentary BarBooks subscriptions in 2009?
All new admittees receive a coupon that they can redeem for a complimentary 6-month subscription. The 59 new members who had complimentary subscriptions at the end of 2009 were those who returned the coupon. This offer was created as a marketing tool to help new members become acquainted with BarBooks. As of Dec. 31, 2009, there were 12 BarBooks paid subscribers who were renewals of previous complimentary subscriptions.
2. How many new members will receive complimentary subscriptions in 2010?
We have no way of knowing this. As stated above, all new admittees receive the coupon and we do not know how many will take advantage of it. We have set up 6 new member complimentary accounts already in January.
3. What is the selection criteria for granting complimentary BarBook licenses to Oregon non profit organizations?
The Legal Aid offices were all set up at the same time, and were granted the complimentary subscription because they were affiliated with Legal Aid Services of Oregon. The rationale behind the decision to grant these offices complimentary subscriptions was that it did not make sense for one department of the bar (Legal Services) to provide financial support to Legal Aid Services of Oregon in furtherance of providing legal services to the poor only to have another department (Legal Publications) take that money back to pay for BarBooks.
4. How many non profit organizations will receive complimentary BarBooks subscriptions in 2010?
The same as in 2009. There are no plans to add any new complimentary subscriptions for non profits.
5. Does a corporation receive a credit at the time its license fee is paid if a member of it’s corporate legal department has already paid for a BarBooks subscription?
No. The only time we give credit for an existing subscription is when a sole practitioner joins an Office Share Group. In this case, credit is given for the remaining months of the sole practitioner’s existing subscription.
