DRAFT LETTER TO KEN:Dear Ken,
First, we want to thank you for the tremendous work you’ve put into collecting, scanning, and preserving hang gliding history. Many of us have donated to support your effort because we value having a centralized archive and recognize the hours of dedication it represents.
At the same time, several of us are concerned about how the archive is currently presented. Specifically:
Each page and image carries your imprint, even when the original works were created by others. While we understand the intent may be to mark the collection as part of your effort, it can give the unintended impression that authorship or ownership is being claimed over work that belongs to others in the community.
The restrictions on copying, printing, and downloading limit our ability to use the materials for personal study, community discussions, and historical writing. Many contributors to the archive believed their donations would help make this history more open and shareable
, not less.We recognize that you have the right to manage the collection as you see fit. Still, because the project was built with support from the wider hang gliding community, we hope you will consider adjusting the approach to align with archival best practices:
Preserve the originals without added branding.
Allow reasonable personal copying and printing for educational and historical purposes.Keep the focus on honoring the original creators, while also acknowledging your role as collector and archivist.
We are grateful for what you have done, and we believe that making these changes would help the archive truly serve as the open community resource that so many of us envisioned when we supported it.
With appreciation and respect,
Hang Gliding Community Members
Putting it up as a draft lets others shape it with their own voices, which helps it feel more like a community statement rather than just one person speaking out.
If you get feedback, you might find people want:
Softer tone (more gratitude up front, less emphasis on “concern”).
Or sharper tone (more direct about the frustration with imprints and restrictions).
Some might also suggest compromise wording like: “A small acknowledgement page in each PDF would be enough credit, without imprinting every page.”
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