I've been thinking about joining the ANA recently. I'm not sure that it's really worth the money for me right now, as they really do not seem to have that much to offer that I'll actually use. I do know that they have a lending library that I would love to look at. There are many books that I would love to read, let alone own, that I could get from them. But is a library card really worth $36 a year? Someone mentioned that they have home study courses avalible, but I cannot find any information on those. Do you have to pay extra for them? Do you get any sort of certificate if you complete them? What's the deal? Thanks, David
They are expensive the whole certification course is $400 for members, $500 for non-members. Really an ANA membership is...I honestly can't say its worth it except maybe as a $36 yearly magazine subscription.
It's worth the subscription, but I haven't really used it for much else. I do get treated a little less like dirt when I go shopping.
Those books that that library card will give you access to - some of them cost over $1,000 each. If you can even find one for sale. Never underestimate the power of books - books equal knowledge and in this hobby knowledge is priceless. And you get priceless for $36 a year. What exactly is not to like about that ?
As a professional dealer who travels the national show circuit my ANA membership is essential to my business, as it is required to deal at the 2 ANA shows each year. The thing about the ANA is that members have the right to vote in association leadership and the ANA is the most influential coin club when it comes to numismatic issues on capitol hill, so having a say there matters. As for the home course, I wouldn't recommend it. The same courses are offered during the summer seminar at ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs and many of them are offered prior to the two annual ANA conventions. The hands on feedback is way more instructive than any home course could ever be. The drawback is that the seminar courses cost $600 each as opposed to $450 for the entire home study series. Bottom line, I recommend membership.
Ana Howdy, I recently joined the ANA after some 50 odd years of collecting. It's been a good move so far, as the monthly magazine is worth the price of admission. I bought a couple of books from them, but the process was tedious - I used the phone and it was very, very hard to spend my money with them. Next time, I'll go back to amazon. However, I don't regret joining. Once I retire, I'd love to go to the summer seminar in colorado. peace, rono
You won't regret it. There are a fairly large number of collectors there who have done just that. You will feel right at home.
