Hagerstown won't be in coffee-table book

March 17, 2009|By DAN DEARTH

HAGERSTOWN -- The City of Hagerstown won't be mentioned in a proposed coffee-table book titled "Historic Washington County: The Story of Hagerstown and Washington County."

The City Council on Tuesday agreed to reject a proposal that would have cost the city up to $7,990 to be in the book, which is the creation of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Had the council agreed, the book deal would have cost the city $1,950 for one page of coverage, $3,490 for two pages, $4,990 for three pages and $6,390 for four pages.

Those charges were good only if the city agreed to participate before March 31. Thereafter, the price would have increased to $2,450 for one page, $4,390 for two pages, $6,190 for three pages and $7,990 for four pages.

According to city documents, the books would be completed in 2010 and would be sold by retail bookstores and online at www.amazon.com.

Councilwoman Kelly S. Cromer said it didn't make sense for the city to pay to be mentioned in a book that would benefit the Chamber of Commerce.

"I don't see the need," she said.

Councilman Lewis C. Metzner said he doubted whether the book would be an effective tool to market the city because it primarily would be read by local residents.

Metzner shook his head as he looked at a sample of a similar book, saying it was full of advertisements and resembled the Yellow Pages.

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