I'd also like to commend Pat on such a clear, concise explanation of
the type of letter that should be sent out. I spent 15 years as a librarian
with a number of those years as a genealogy librarian. The letters that were
clear and to the point certainly received the first attention. Those that
wandered, were very long, disjointed, etc. ended up on the bottom of the
pile. We eventually got around to tackling them but only after they were left
there alone and waiting!
Now, as a full-time genealogical publisher/book dealer, I still get
the same kinds of letters/e-mails from researchers. I always answer them but
the letters that are most clear still get the first attention.
Laura