"Why Des Moines?" (a special video)
Our periodicals—The Christian Science Journal, Christian Science Sentinel, The Herald of Christian Science, Christian Science Quarterly, and The Christian Science Monitor—are published by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts. But when you subscribe or have a subscription question, you call Des Moines, Iowa. This may lead some to ask "Why Des Moines?"
Visitors to the Publishing House Lobby during this year's Annual Meeting saw a nine-minute video produced by the Publishing Society entitled "Why Des Moines?" which answers just that question. Viewers had the opportunity to meet some managers from Publishing Society departments as well as have a look inside Communications Data Services (CDS) and meet some of the dedicated employees who work there. For those not able to see the video, we wanted to share a few very brief excerpts here in the Journal.
Miles Harbur, Chief Operating Officer of Print Publishing: "[Almost all of] the periodicals are printed right here on our own presses because that's what makes sense from an economic, quality, and technological standpoint. In the case of subscription service ...major computer technology has been developed that handles that very efficiently. For us to do it ourselves would've required reinvention of what already exists in abundance elsewhere. So, like almost every other publisher...we decided that to use a specialist was the most sensible...
The most qualified subscription company turned out to be in Des Moines, Iowa, a cost-effective location in the United States for receiving 800-number calls. That company was Communications Data Services. Adapting the CDS system to the unique needs of the Publishing Society was not accomplished overnight, however. The circulation staff in Boston came to realize that the telephone operators were not familiar with our products because they were handling calls from over fifty other magazines. The solution was to train a group of operators who specialize in calls only from subscribers to Christian Science periodicals. A CDS operator commented, "Before I was in the group, I remember when people would call in and say that they didn't receive their Quarterly.... Now, you realize that it's a priority to have it re-sent—that it's something that they do need to have and it's a must. You realize that it's important to them."
Pamela Lishin, Publishing Director of the Journal, Sentinel, Herald and Quarterly, comments, "The fact that CDS is focusing on performing this complex part of the publishing process allows us to focus on the quality of the content, on the needs of the world, on where Christian Science is expanding, where the products need to go — what the quality issues are in regard to the products."
If you'd be interested in seeing this nine-minute video, please drop us a postcard. If we receive enough inquiries, we'll make the tape available to branch churches and individuals.
We want to thank everyone who has been writing to our Suggestion Box. We hope you'll keep writing. When you have ideas to share, please drop us a postcard at:
Suggestion Box, P-980
The Christian Science Publishing Society
One Norway Street
Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02115-3122
We know you'll understand that we can't answer everyone personally, but we sincerely appreciate your ideas. Please be assured that your comments are reaching the appropriate individuals.
