In Memoriam BookResearched by Emmalie Beaman

St. John’s Meadows

March 16 2015

Through my research of Memory Books I noticed a lot are meant to be made by the website and

bound, this would not be as easy to reuse and change out when needed, I decided to steer my research

toward 3 ring binder versions with high quality sleeves and covers. The “Blue Sky” website seemed to

be the most helpful with a fair price and customization options such as embossing the front cover. This

website had the most moderate starting price for embossing starting at “$12 and up”. Several other

sites mentioned their books “could” be embossed or were priced extravagantly ($20 and up). The “Blue

Sky” website also offers additional sleeves and pages to be bought for the books at reasonable prices as

the pages age and wear. This would help with any confusion when sleeves or pages need to be replaced.

Most websites offer the book and they do the personalization and customization based on a submitted

portfolio from the buyer, more meant for one person and to be permanent. The 3 ring binder style will

offer ease of adding and removing pages, be sturdy and have longevity, but have the polished outside

look of an antique leather bound book. I have researched this for several days and these are the two

best options. One is a leatherette book that would be more cost effective but may not last the second is

more money but leather is extremely resilient and timeless so we could be confident the book will last

and look sleek and beautiful. The warmth of leather and the look of a book will also look dignified and

match the current décor while being easily available to spot and stay out in the lobbies without

appearing harsh. I have discussed these two books with Kristin and Kim for a second opinion and they

are confident that they are strong contenders.

Leatherette Memory book

http://www.blueskypapers.com/leatherette-photo-album-with-clear-pocket-sleeves.html\

Pros: 3 sizes available, high quality leatherette, 3 ring binder for ease in adding/removing pages also good for longevity, crystal clear PVC –free pages, comes with 36 pages (18 leafs), easy to reuse, can slide in photos as well as biographies, etc., custom embossing of cover available (examples: In Memoriam, St. John’s Meadows In Memoriam, etc.) , sleeves of various sizes for the large album - 3.5 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11, panoramic, etc. My personal opinion, which Kim and Kristin share is that the 8.5x11 sleeves would be the best option and we can use a background of nice cardstock and insert pictures, biographies, artwork, etc. with no restrictions to size for maximum reusability.

Cons: Not real leather, but site promises it is “nearly indistinguishable from genuine leather” – might not last as long is a concern, will have to spend more to have a title on the cover. Only available in 2 colors, black or brown, can only pick one of the available sleeve sizes, cannot get a combination (some for photos, some for biographies, might have to get 8.5 x 11 and put photos on cardstock and slip in on one sheet)

Price: $48.00-$76.00 (Depending on size, I would suggest large so it can be easily distinguished in lobby and since it will be holding multiple biographies)

Embossed Personalization “$12.00 and up”

Small Clear Pocket Leatherette Photo Album (5-1/2" x 6-3/4")

4" x 6" pockets only Comes with 18 leaves hold 36, 4" x 6" prints (full capacity) Album sized closed:5 1/2" x 6 3/4"

Medium Clear Pocket Leatherette Photo Album (7 3/4" x 9 3/8")

Two 4" x 6" pockets only per side 18 leaves hold 72, 4" x 6" prints (36 leaf capacity) Album size closed: 7 3/4" x 9 3/8" Can be expanded

Large Clear Pocket Leatherette Photo Album (10.5" x 12")

18 leaves hold 108, 4" x 6" prints (54 leaf capacity) Leaves are also available to accommodate the following print sizes: 3-1/2" x 5", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", 4" x 10" panoramic

photos, and 8-1/2" x 11" sleeve Album size closed: 10.5" x 12" Can be expanded

Clear Pocket Leather Memory Book

http://www.blueskypapers.com/clear-pocket-leather-photo-album.html

Pros: Real leather, different sizes available (see below), nickel plated 3 ring binder mechanism for ease in adding/removing pages, “large size” provides choice of photo sleeve size (3 x 5, 4 x 6, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11), can include custom embossing to personalize the cover, 16 colors available including very sleek brown leather or black leather:

Color: Mocca Leather Color: Black Leather

Cons: As with the first one can only choose one size of sleeve for the whole book 3 x 5, 4 x 6, 8 x 10, 8.5 x 11, real leather is significantly more expensive (but leather is very lasting, sleek, and professional). Custom Embossing is extra; there is not a title already on the cover.

Small Clear Pocket Leather Photo Album (5-1/2" x 6-3/4")

4" x 6" pockets only Comes with 18 leaves hold 36, 4" x 6" prints (full capacity) Album sized closed:5 1/2" x 6 3/4"

Medium Clear Pocket Leather Photo Album (7 3/4" x 9 3/8")

Two 4" x 6" pockets only per side 18 leaves hold 72, 4" x 6" prints (36 leaf capacity) Album size closed: 7 3/4" x 9 3/8" Can be expanded

Large Clear Pocket Leather Photo Album (10.5" x 12")

18 leaves hold 108, 4" x 6" prints (54 leaf capacity) Leaves are also available to accommodate the following print sizes: 3-1/2" x 5", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", 4" x 10" panoramic

photos, and 8-1/2" x 11" sleeve Album size closed: 10.5" x 12" Can be expanded