Google Book Scanning and Scholarship

A recent New York Times article describes the book scanning Google has undertaken with both copyrighted and out of copyright books. Litigation aside, I do think it’s interesting to note the concerns of some librarians who fear the way education will change if digital reading continues. A Yale librarian suggests:

I have to say that I think pedagogically and in terms of the advancement of scholarship, I have a concern that people will be encouraged to use books in this very fragmentary way…

 This is a sentiment I will likely pursue in my master’s thesis. I think we all read newspapers online quite differently than over coffee with a printed version. Fragmentation and mere sound bytes cannot accurately portray the sentiments intended by the authors.

In terms of access to rare books, I think digitization is a positive step. And I have to admit the convenience factor is a large benefit, since starting my master’s program I’ve done almost all of my research using online databases.

I for one, don’t think books are in danger of extinction, but I do know that their uses in varied forms will increase. Blogger and former book review editor for the Phili Enquirer, Frank Wilson, further demonstrates the possible forms of the Google Search project.

A Kindle Revolution?

Source: Amazon

E-readers are the platform mobilizing collections of e-books for consumers. Sony and Amazon’s Kindle readers are the most established devices, and although relatively a new innovation, adoption rates are high. For purpose of this paper, I will focus mainly on the Kindle reader. According to Milliot (2008) Amazon has struggled keeping up with the demand of the highly anticipated Kindle. Available titles rose to 115,000 compared to initial offerings at launch of 90,000.

A master’s student in library services Jeanne Kramer-Smyth (Higginbotham, 2008) points to another device, the Apple iPod to focus on a successfully designed innovation. She discusses the comfort level users of iPod’s have with the easy-to-use controls. However, she finds the intuitive design does not transfer to the current readers on the market. Kramer-Smyth also indicates the important connection with a printed book that does not transcend in an Amazon online account. She does assert the value of the Kindle is enticing, but a better business model with lower associated costs should be adapted before she would adopt. Because digital rights management encryption diminishes a user’s ability to effectively “own” the content they buy, Kramer-Smyth mentions a nominal fee for the borrowing of an e-book could work to curtail initial reservations. Similar to the model Netflix uses for video rentals, this way of content borrowing diminishes the worry Kramer-Smyth has that at some point Kindle will not support the same technologies associated with purchased titles. Partial interviews here and here.

Kindle user Brian Higginbotham (Higginbotham 2008) readily adapted the Kindle innovation after realizing his second graduate degree had him overflowing in books. He found the device easy to use and has even purchased newspaper subscriptions (Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post) that operate in conjunction with the reader’s WiFi functionality. He also worked as a change agent by discussing the benefits with his father and aunt instigating a Kindle purchase for each of them. Partial interview is located here.

DC gets literate?

So along with that free Express tabloid paper for the morning commute, we’ll start getting some Oprah-like book suggestions with a Bit o’ Lit. I like reading about reading.

Publishing Wars

Amazon’s recent decision to offer their own print on demand titles (from their acquired BookSurge Company) has caused quite a stir in the entire industry. In the past I’ve used Lightning Source for print on demand and they’ve done remarkable work. I’m sure their business will greatly suffer if the majority of publishers sign up for Amazon’s print on demand services.

Author James Grahame is finding this new arrangement troublesome as he too enjoyed the flexibility offered by his use of LightningSource:

I’m going to choose the “or else” option. I don’t much like being bullied, especially after years of directing the majority of my book’s sales to Amazon, who earned as much as 45% of the cover price for each book sold in the USA and UK. The “buy” button still appears on my book’s Amazon page, but I fear that will change once Amazon runs out of inventory.  

For some it Pays to blog

Now we should all find great sollace in a huge windfall Christian Lander’s widely read blog, Stuff White People Like, received. His insane amount of visitors and comments instigated a book deal with Random House. Amazing.

Wal-Mart’s Wrath

Looks like it’s not just the music industry calling fowl on Wal-Mart’s business practices. Border’s announced plans to sell because of diminished returns. It’s one thing when cherished mom-and-pop bookstores close, but what are we saying about our current economic market when these mega stores close? Are we to only buy from Amazon? Scary!

And now Barnes & Noble is looking into possible purchasing Borders.

Introduction

Technological enhancements have revolutionized how society acquires the majority of its media content. In this digital age, it is the desire of the masses to have access to large amounts of digital information. Electronic book (e-book) technology offers another platform for readers. Is digital literacy universally high enough to warrant an upcoming trend towards readers and do they, in the end, offer what the bound book cannot? 

Best-selling authors talk about the new platform (“storefront”) to sell their titles:

English Major curriculum: The Simpsons?

Came across a blog asking for more curriculum for English majors related to future career options. I think I would have definitely have taken a course on the History and the Future of the Book at UCLA had it been offered as Professor Jerz mentions he teaches. My “fun” class was the History of Hollywood Literature. There were lots of classes deconstructing past literature but nothing to really discuss the future of literature dissemination altogether. Even in my master’s program I would love more focus on actual book publishing. The digital specialization exposes me to lots of related material, but nothing on books. Guess I’ll have more fun for the thesis.

Side side note, do enjoy the Simpsons. Found a site that lists a plethora of academic papers written on them. Have to say this one is my favorite listing all the mathematical references in the show. Who knew The Simpsons were actually teaching the Pythagorean Theorem incorrectly? I thought they were quite the educational show.

What’s legit publishing?

It’s interesting how our techie age has transformed publishing of all kinds. I recently wondered how tenure-track positions at universities were being affected. I’ve talked to several professors who have had a hard time convincing others that online journals and books that are peer-reviewed have the same merit as their printed cousins. Are born digital works the step children to bound works?

Art Durkee makes a valid point for poetry. I can definitely understand why this form of publishing should have great validity in any form. I’m also not a poet, so I don’t understand the relationship between poets and their readers.

For some people who have worked hard to get published, I do understand their reluctance to give the same significance to self-published authors.

Shall see how these arguments work themselves out.

Paper technologies

So I’m going through thousands of author files taking out contracts and amendments so they can be scanned and OCR’d for the future owner of our company’s benefit. It’s amazing looking through some of these ancient files from the 60’s. I’ve been wearing jeans because I just feel ick with 60’s fifth when I’m through sifting over all this paper. There are contracts written on slick old fax paper, there are the (now hilarious) dot matrix printouts, there are the type written contracts, and the now over-templated versions.

One student blogger discusses the issues above and is similarly amazed these ancient pieces of paper can get OCR’d for preservation and search capabilities.

Mark Frauenfelder finds the advantages of the latest technology preserving great books from the turn of the century. I always put things into context of my Great Uncle Pat. He was born in 1907 and passed away just a couple years ago. He was an avid reader and likely read these series of books and I think it’s great that these now frail books can be preserved and enjoyed.

Just for fun I’ll attach a photo of my Uncle Pat using what in his view, was the greatest technology of his time, a glass eye washer.