USSCF

[Hopechess]

This is a concern that has been addressed many times on these forums.
There have been many ideas put forth but all they become is discussion.
Clues as to what the problems are lie in the magazine and online content.
The solutions are obvious but not currently in vogue.
Adult chess will live or die with the USCF.

[LaughingVulcan]

@artichoke

@LaughingVulcan

… Not to mention that when I think of ‘chess library,’ the public library here is not the first choice I think of… )

I think of 794.1 , a number that’s burned into my memory. Lots of libraries have enough chess books to be useful for a young player, although they probably won’t have exactly the chess book you are thinking of.

True enough. And Inter-Library Loan can work wonders, also, for those smart enough to inquire about it and get assistance.

In our case, though, if I’m looking for a book on chess I first hit up Colley Kitson to see if he has it, and if so if I can borrow it. That’s never failed me, but if so I there are about five other players I would ask if they happen to have a copy of whatever I’m looking for. Failing all that… I might just purchase it myself if I can find it. (And seriously, if I want it for my library I do that first.)

@Hopechess

This is a concern that has been addressed many times on these forums.
There have been many ideas put forth but all they become is discussion.
Clues as to what the problems are lie in the magazine and online content.
The solutions are obvious but not currently in vogue.
Adult chess will live or die with the USCF.

Ah, but words can be mightier than anything. Aside from proposing solutions that USCF can directly support in some fashion, raising the discussion here can cause discussion at the grass root level. For example, our local club might also start discussing and see if we can find ways to keep scholastic players progressing and see a few of them grow up / into / through adult play. All thanks to a perennial little repeating meme discussion on the USCF Forum.

I also have to respectfully disagree that, “Adult chess will live or die with the USCF.” Adults will be playing OTB chess long after I am dust, and I dare say long after my brand-new great-niece is dust. Whether USCF is a part of that, or the current system of adult tournament play is still around might be in question. But I’ll bet that way.

If anything, the biggest challenge will be places where a volunteer club without much-if-any budget can continue to meet. But there is hope that way, also, IMVHO.

[KeithAmmann]

@nolan

Naah, the scout from the Braves told me I was too short to be a pitcher and not fast enough to be a shortstop.

I guess the other half of “Nolan” isn’t “Ryan.”

My local library belongs to an excellent interlibrary loan network – something that, frankly, has saved my sanity since I came here. But even though this network seems to cover half the state of Illinois, it’s still woefully lacking in chess books. If I had the money to spare, I’d have half a mind to buy a couple dozen and donate them for the good of the whole network.