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printed in the Effingham Daily News
Wednesday, December 22, 1999
 CONVENIENT, easy to handle
New directory offers consumers
'smaller' choice
The old adages that good things come in small packages or that sometimes less is more - or at least more convenient - both apply to the new telephone directory published by Community Directories Inc.
The new directory debuted last month, offering Effingham surrounding area residents a second and sometimes a third alternative to their present directory or directories. For those living in Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co. areas, the new directory is a second choice to the one distributed by McLeodUSA. For those living in GTE territory, it serves as a third choice to the GTE and McLeod directories.
According to Bob Shelton, president of Community Directories Inc., which he co-owns with his wife, Mariann, it is unusual to find only one phone book in an area these day. In addition, Shelton said, he was aware that someone from the St. Louis area was looking into coming to the area to start up another directory service.
Having been a resident of the area for the past eight years and working in the industry for several years, Shelton decided to start up a business himself, but he wanted to offer consumers something a little different.
"I didn't want to do a book like we already had here," he said, although he acknowledged the quality of the books distributed by McLeod.
"Choices can be good," he explained. "It (the new directory) gives consumers a choice as to whether they want a larger or smaller book and it gives businesses another option for advertising."
The new directory, which is distributed free, covers a slightly different, smaller area than the McLeod book, which makes the Community directory smaller in size and easier to handle, Shelton said. Numbers included in the directory only span about a 6- to 8-miles radius of Effingham. In addition, the new directory has a numerical cross-section that lists numbers in numerical order. This added service can be helpful to those with Caller ID which lists the number but not necessarily the caller's name.
Shelton said Community Directories also has plans to distribute a directory for the Mattoon/Charleston area beginning in February.
However, Shelton was quick to point out that he has no plans to turn Community Directories into a large corporation. Instead, he said, the company will continue with independent books for the Effingham, Mattoon/Charleston area and only add two to three more over time.
In addition to Shelton and his wife, Community Directories has two additional staff-members, Laura Miller and Art Pruemer.
Community Directories Inc. is located at 505 S Maple, Suite C, in Effingham.
Mini book helps raise funds for local groups
In addition to offering area residents an alternative phone directory, Community Directories Inc. also has available an even smaller version called the "mini book," which is just the right size to carry around in you car or truck or even a briefcase.
The concept of a mini books is not new. Other directory companies have offered them for sale in the past. However, Community Directories decided to donate something back to the community by allowing local high schools and organizations to use the mini book as a fund-raising tool, letting the groups keep 100 percent of the profits.
Mini books are available for a $2 donation from the following entities: Effingham High School (Yearbook staff fund-raiser), Teutopolis Community High School (Student Volunteen fund-raiser), Dieterich Senior High School (Senior Class trip fund-raiser), Effingham Elks Lodge, Effingham Knights of Columbus, Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club, Effingham American Legion and the Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The mini books will be available through mid-January.
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