I recently undertook cleaning up a local "session book," primarily because it was almost impossible to get a copy, nobody would admit to having made it, and additions in various formats had made a total mess of the indexes.

Two thousand hours, and about 10 "sales" later, I would observe:

Almost any program that does a decent job of printing a melody line makes it simple to put chords (and the little "standard chord fingering" diagrams, if you want) above the staff, and to put at least a verse and chorus underneath. If you're going to the trouble to put the melody in, there is certainly no good reason to omit the chords.

Almost any "scoring" program also permits "save as midi." For the session book, I bundled a floppy with all 600 or so tunes in midi for those who don't read music. They're not "pretty," but those who don't read music can get the tune.

Response is about equally divided between those who say the midis were a waste of time and those who use only the midis.

Those who don't read music are not likely to look for a book to learn your song (unless you mumble and they need them in print). They'll be more likely to get it from a CD.(?) Those who go to a book to get the words only - will probably "murder" you're melodies.

I'd vote for at least melody line for chorus and one verse, with chord names noted above the melody.

Personally, I find it a convenience when all of the verses are in text, together; although I wouldn't fault those who omit the verse that is shown in the "score," as is frequently done.

John