sorry, here's a copy of the message for anyone that hasn't received it via email:
Dear Mumsnet member,
We need your help!
We are close to reaching an agreement with a publisher that could help secure the future of Mumsnet. If it goes ahead we will begin work on a series of parenting books based around content on the site.
As most of you will know the economic climate on the net has been a little chillier than an arctic winter over the last year or so leading to the demise of at least four other parenting sites since we launched Mumsnet in March 2000.
Because the Mumsnet team has now worked for 18 months without earning a bean, we've been able to keep the site going using our initial investment sum and our small revenues from advertising to meet running costs. But sooner or later we would face a tough decision on whether we could continue.
Now we have a great opportunity. The money promised for these Mumsnet books isn't huge, but it will go some way to covering our production costs for the year, although sadly it still won't run to a salary for any of the team.
What's really important, though, is that the publisher's willingness to commission the books is a vote of confidence in what we have built, and we believe they will do much to spread the word about Mumsnet and guarantee the site's long term future.
So where do you come in? The truth is that, though we'll do the work editing and organising them, these books will be largely written by you. Mumsnet has always been about sharing the expertise of our members and the books will embody the same principle: most of their content will be edited versions of chat threads on the site.
So what is it that we want? Well, three things actually. The first is your permission to use and edit any comments you have posted on the site in our books. Though we have copyright, we feel it's only right to ask your permission and are keen not to compromise your anonymity. If you're happy for us to use your postings and your chat nickname, you don't have to do anything; if you're not, or you would like your postings to appear under a different chat name, you should click on the link at the bottom.
Next we need you to help us produce the books. We'd like your help in filling out the topics on talk which are a bit thin. From time to time we may start a thread specifically with the aim of getting your thoughts on a particular subject for the book (if we do we'll tell you). What's more if you think there's a subject that should be covered and hasn't so far on the site, please go ahead and start a discussion.
Finally we need you to recommend/ buy the books - preferably by the dozen! We'll make sure to negotiate a special discount for Mumsnet members and, just think, half your Christmas and new baby present dilemmas will be solved at a stroke.
We have tried to be as open as possible about the book deal and the economic circumstances of Mumsnet because the site is, in many ways, as much yours as ours. We'd welcome any ideas you have about the books - or any other ways that we can keep Mumsnet alive.
Thanks to all of you for the contributions, support and enthusiasm that have helped make Mumsnet the most vibrant, useful and warm parenting site on the net - and, in advance, for your help with the books.
If you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to write to us at [email protected]
Justine, Carrie, Rachel and Steven.
To respond to give your consent but change your chat nickname or to withdraw your consent for your postings to be used, please click here now. If you do not respond by Nov 23, we will assume that you are happy for your postings to be used under your current chat nickname.