This is Stacy Julian for Big Picture Scrapbooking and I want to thank you for considering a BIG decision-a decision to join me in the 2009 session of A Library of Memories. This 2009 session will be my fourth time teaching LOM and I want you to know that I still consider it to be the most rewarding thing I do professionally. I LOVE teaching this class --- still. You may not know that this website, Big Picture Scrapbooking came into being primarily because I wanted a way to share my system, my Library of Memories with scrapbookers. During the years that I worked full time as editor of Simple Scrapbooks magazine I became acutely aware of the limitations and frustrations that certain paradigms or widely held beliefs about taking, storing, documenting and creatively displaying pictures were creating for MOST people. During these same years, as my life grew busier and busier - I was, out of necessity (and almost unknowingly) fine-tuning my approach to "keeping up" and the more I traveled and taught around the country, the more I wanted to share these basic ideas that have been so beneficial for me.

So, let's cut to the chase -- is this class really "all that?" I mean $95.00!! I believe it is, but I'll be honest with you, beyond the money, this course requires a significant investment of time. It will be a major commitment on your part- but it will absolutely enhancing your life and your scrapbooking. Library of Memories is the secret to sustaining your enthusiasm for this great and important hobby - it is the secret to authenticity and productivity. That's a pretty BIG promise. I will do everything in my power to fulfill it for you, but you have to do your part too.

Now, as exciting as it is for me to teach this class every year, I have learned that I am only willing to teach this class once a year to a limited number of students online. To make the Library of Memories system more readily available to more people I have put the basic concepts and processes in the context of a book, titled Photo Freedom, A Big Picture Approach to Organizing and Scrapbooking Your Pictures. So before I let you go to make your decision regarding the Library of Memories class, I want you to know how the class and the book are the same and how they are different.

Let's start with content. The content of the book and the class is pretty much the same. The way the content is delivered is quite different. Both book and class share the information you need to implement and adapt my system. Content in the book is organized so that it reads well - straightforward and concise. Content in the class is more in depth and presented in a way that is measured and controlled. It's like giving a baby a jar of baby food and saying to her "here, eat this" as opposed to sitting down in front of baby and spoon-feeding the contents of the jar to her. If you can open the jar and dive in on your own - then the book is all you need. If you would benefit from "spoon-feeding" then you will LOVE the class. Content in the book is the nuts and bolts, content in the class is that, plus additional delivery tools (like printable worksheets and audio/video presentations) that provide inspiration and encouragement you need to make it all happen.

Ok now let's talk interaction. I encourage anyone embarking on this adventure to find a supportive friend or family member that can help you through the process. Having said that, interaction available through the book is limited. Naturally, you can talk about the book with other people - always a good idea. In my opinion, it is the interaction inside the classroom that makes the monetary investment of the class worth it. Simply put, interaction in the class is nothing short of phenomenal, as you will be joined by hundreds of other scrapbookers working through the process together. You will be able to ask questions and find solutions together. You can share frustrations, roadblocks, "Aha" moments and ultimate success with participants from all over the world. The class also comes with open online chats and access to my inbox! I sincerely try to respond to individual questions with individual answers.

Content and interaction brings me to price. Obviously the class costs more than the book. If you purchase just the book, you'll save roughly $75 dollars that you could spend on purchasing organizational products for your system. Since the ideas (in the form of pages and projects) shared in the book are different than those shared in the class - both augment each other nicely. In fact I will encourage those who have taken the class and those who choose to take it this year to purchase the book if they can, as I will refer to it often. I realize that both the $95 price tag and the limited enrollment of the class are prohibitive to many people and in those cases I hopeful that the book will make available the inspiration and information you need.

Again, I am so appreciative of your time and consideration and want you to know that whether your decision is book, class or both that I'm signing off with a definitive "This is BIG!"