Why settle for mere digital copies of books (a la the Google Book Search project and the Open Content Alliance) when you can have an edition printed, bound and sent to you in the mail? That’s the twist behind a recent partnership announced by Amazon.com, Kirtas Technologies, Emory University, University of Maine, Toronto Public Library, and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
More information via C|Net News, The Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required), and Inside Higher Ed. I’m putting this in the “Disruption in Libraries” category because it is an example of using a technical innovation to serve an un-served or under-served population — not only the digitization of books but also the ability to deliver a physical reproduction to the user. That aspect makes this program distinct from the others, and it is the first time that we’ve seen a glimpse of a reasonable business model: costs recovered and profits made that go back into the digitization program for new books. Since this is a non-exclusive agreement that puts the libraries in control, the texts can be made available freely online or available at a nominal cost to the user in a physical form.
[Update 20070704T0904 : Ack! I linked to the wrong Chronicle of Higher Ed article. Fixed now -- thanks Jodi.]
(This post was updated on 04-Jul-2007.)
6 Comments
Could you possibly get a printed copy of a book called “To Drop a Dime” author Paul Hoffman. Let me know what the cost would be. I don’t need the book just photo copies of it.
That book is still in copyright, so you are unlikely to find a complete open scan on the internet. You might try looking to your local library for a copy if you would like to read it. Good luck.
I am looking for Through the Flames:the Willis Family Story by Duane Scott and Janet Willis
Marlyn — that book has a very recent publication date (2000) so the text of it is not in the public domain. I was unable to find a record of it in the Worldcat world-wide library database. Good luck with your search.
Looking for “Somebody Else’s Shoes” by Frances Lowe, Rinehart, 1948.
Thank you
Ann Marie — That book is out-of-print, but not out-of-copyright. It is held by several libraries in the United States; you might try borrowing a copy from one of them.
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