Take Inventory: Back-to-School Sales are ... Restock Your Genealogy Supply Sales!

 It's time for our annual reminder ...
Back-to-School Sales on school supplies are not just for kids! These sales are for genealogists too! 

Just a few of the many supplies a genealogist would use.

"School" may have changed a bit due to the pandemic but back-to-school sales are still happening for whatever form your area's schools take on this year.

Anyone who uses a lot of common office supplies should keep their eyes and ears open for some extreme savings that are only around this time year for certain supplies. So be smart and pay attention to those Back-to-School Sales going on for the next couple months so you can partake in the savings too. 

What would interest a genealogist? The first things that come to mind are USB drives (large sizes at great prices and small sizes at even better prices); printer/copier paper; pens and pencils; pencil lead (for those mechanical pencils); highlighters; file folders or pocket folders; paper and binder clips; index cards for those that like old school ways; plastic file boxes (keep that water damage away); sticky notes; binders; paper; computer accessories (like mice, computer bags, external hard drives, printers, software, large monitors, and more); etc. Even office desks and chairs can be found on sale. 

Yes, for some things it is best to make sure you get acid-free versions, but that can get expensive and sometimes compromises must be made. Note acid-free copier/printer paper is easier to find nowadays. 

Also, at about this time of year (July/August/September) computer manufacturers are about to release their new models so good to great prices can often be found on this past year's models. (If your computer is really old and can not upgrade to Windows 10 because of old hardware or low-memory issues consider these sales. Also if your computer is more than five years old consider the changes currently taking place in Windows 10 updates that will not account for older hardware.) Just remember to get as large of hard drive and as much memory as you are able to afford, and keep an eye on processor speed/power. There are other factors to consider when buying a computer -- these are three key ones. While desktop computers are a little less expensive, laptops have the advantage of portability meaning you can take them with you to the library or researching. Laptops with DVD/CD readers/burners are getting harder to find but you can find them though it may mean a larger laptop. Chrome books and tablet/laptop conversions can be cheaper but may not run your programs/applications. Make sure the device you are considering can handle your must-have program/applications. And, lastly do not forget about those external hard drives for additional storage space AND for backing up all your data.

And for those who shop Amazon. Amazon Prime Day has not been announced yet though the 4th Quarter (possibly early October) has been seen so keep your eyes and ears tuned in for the announcement of an actual date.  Great deals can be found so keep an eye out for those short term deals but remember to do your due diligence and make sure your sale price is indeed a good one. If you are not an Amazon Prime member you can start a free month trial (yes, even on Prime Day) to take advantage of the benefits but remember to cancel before the renew date if you do not want to continue the membership.

May you find the deals on what you need, not on what you don't need. 

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! 
LE