I find editorials about library building projects very interesting. Here is one from Chester, CT.
Chester really, really needs a new library, kind of
We live in a very special place. Many of us would love a new library. But, we need to be careful not to become a place that defines itself by what it doesn’t have. A few years ago, as a member of our Planning and Zoning Commission, I participated in a “Charette,” a fancy name for public meetings held in advance of preparing the Plan of Conservation and Development. I remember one resident commented that she loved our little downtown. But, she added, when she brought her friends from (insert name of Fairfield County town here……..) to Chester, they always seemed disappointed that there wasn’t “more.” Somehow, I was able to keep my mouth shut, but I thought about proposing new signage at either side of downtown: “There is no more. Deal with it.”
Full editorial here: Chester really, really needs a new library, kind of
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
On the weight of books
In the L.A. Times there was an article in the book section called The Weight of Books. One thing the article discusses is the shear amount of room that a personal book collection can consume in a house.
This article reminded me of a discussion I had with a librarian where I had asked if the person was going to buy a copy of a particular book for themselves. In a rather hostile tone they responded that they were a librarian and they did not buy books. If they wanted to read a book they would get the book at the library.
I was a little put off by the forcefulness of their response. How was I to know that they did not buy books and I should not suggest a book purchase to them? After I got over my initial reaction to the forceful response I started to think about the logic of the response and I did think this philosophy did have several advantages.
I spoke to another librarian that was friends with the "I don't have books in my house" librarian and they verified that the person had maybe three books in their house. If they did read anything else they obtained it at the library. From what I could gather the person did not want to be encumbered with a large number of books if they moved and they also did not want their house cluttered with books. They figured they worked in a book warehouse so if they needed a book they would get it there and then return it.
As I thought about the persons philosophy on purchasing books I did think that it was a good way to support libraries. I think there is an odd paradox that many book lovers are relatively low users of libraries because they purchase many of their books and then do not use the library.
I think especially in large cities (50 largest U.S. cities) the libraries should have extremely extensive collections so that people can feel comfortable getting rid of a book because they know it is available at their library. Since the libraries would be providing these extensive collections they would need to be properly supported by the community. I can hear librarians saying, "But we do not have the space for all these books." The libraries could have room if the community provided the proper resources. Many people use the term "book warehouse" as a derogatory term for libraries. I definitely think that libraries are more than book warehouses but maybe there is something to be gained by owning this term.
This article reminded me of a discussion I had with a librarian where I had asked if the person was going to buy a copy of a particular book for themselves. In a rather hostile tone they responded that they were a librarian and they did not buy books. If they wanted to read a book they would get the book at the library.
I was a little put off by the forcefulness of their response. How was I to know that they did not buy books and I should not suggest a book purchase to them? After I got over my initial reaction to the forceful response I started to think about the logic of the response and I did think this philosophy did have several advantages.
I spoke to another librarian that was friends with the "I don't have books in my house" librarian and they verified that the person had maybe three books in their house. If they did read anything else they obtained it at the library. From what I could gather the person did not want to be encumbered with a large number of books if they moved and they also did not want their house cluttered with books. They figured they worked in a book warehouse so if they needed a book they would get it there and then return it.
As I thought about the persons philosophy on purchasing books I did think that it was a good way to support libraries. I think there is an odd paradox that many book lovers are relatively low users of libraries because they purchase many of their books and then do not use the library.
I think especially in large cities (50 largest U.S. cities) the libraries should have extremely extensive collections so that people can feel comfortable getting rid of a book because they know it is available at their library. Since the libraries would be providing these extensive collections they would need to be properly supported by the community. I can hear librarians saying, "But we do not have the space for all these books." The libraries could have room if the community provided the proper resources. Many people use the term "book warehouse" as a derogatory term for libraries. I definitely think that libraries are more than book warehouses but maybe there is something to be gained by owning this term.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
House of Cards
Netflix purchases the rights to stream movies and television shows. If the owners of the rights decide to significantly raise prices or to not do business with Netflix the existence of Netflix streaming is in jeopardy One strategy that Netflix is employing to address this problem is to create their own content. They spent $100 million to fund the series "House of Cards."
By owning the content Netflix can protect itself in different ways. The price cannot be raised for content they own and they can also keep content away from their competitors. Netflix is a subscription service and unique content can be used to draw new customers to the service.
In regards to ebooks libraries have similar problems to Netflix. Some publishers refuse to make ebooks available to libraries while others have significantly raised cost of accessing ebooks by libraries.
What if libraries had a "House of Cards?" If a consortium of libraries purchased the exclusive rights to a book they could draw users with this content. The book would not have to be restricted to the ebook format. Libraries could also have the book in print as part of library collections.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
After Long Resistance, Pynchon Allows Novels to Be Sold as E-Books
Thomas Pynchon, author of “Gravity’s Rainbow” and “The Crying of Lot 49,” characteristically declined to speak about his decision.
Full article
Full article
Monday, June 11, 2012
Waste charges rattle Library of Congress
Management at the Library of Congress, the world’s largest storehouse of knowledge, has a poor memory. For a decade, problems of overspending, no-bid contracts, and improper care for some of mankind’s rarest books and artifacts have been brought to upper-level attention—but problems have only worsened.
The library’s inspector general, Karl Schornagel, who has monitored and reviewed the institution’s activities for the past 11 years, reported in March that he found $771,163 in questionable spending from the prior six months. The semiannual report also said that employees failed to use $1 million in funds before they expired due to lack of communication and coordination. And an outside consulting firm, Jefferson Solutions, found that more than half of $52 million worth of contracts chosen at random for review were awarded without opening the pool to competitors who could have offered a lower bid.
Full article
Ray Bradbury Interview January 21, 1974
Ray Bradbury interviewed on the public television show "Day at Night"
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Waukegan needs Ray Bradbury museum, biographer says
Comment by Sam Weller - Bradbury Biographer
"Ray Bradbury put Waukegan in many ways on the map," he said. "There really should be some sort of place that will house his things, that could bring people from around the world to reflect on his legacy."
Full article
Bradbury biography by Weller: The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury (P.S.)
"Ray Bradbury put Waukegan in many ways on the map," he said. "There really should be some sort of place that will house his things, that could bring people from around the world to reflect on his legacy."
Full article
Bradbury biography by Weller: The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury (P.S.)
Thieves make off with library sculptures worth $15K
Scrapper thieves struck at the heart of the Waukegan Public Library, ripping out two bronze statues that were bought by library patrons and displayed in the facility’s County Street courtyard.
Full article
Friday, May 25, 2012
Project Excelsior, Colonel Kittinger, and Felix Baumgartner
Felix Baumgartner is planning a freefall jump from 120,000 feet. He is trying to break the record of U.S. Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger.
This jump is being sponsored by Red Bull and they have a website about the jump.
There are two books that discuss Col. Kittinger's earlier jumps that are interesting reads:
There is video interview of Colonel Kittenger: The Highest Step in the World, Joe Kittinger & the Excelsior Missions
Wikipedia entry on Project Excelsior
Interview with Felix Baumgartner on NPR: Austrian Pilot Hopes To Break Freefall Record
There are two books that discuss Col. Kittinger's earlier jumps that are interesting reads:
- Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger
- The Pre-Astronauts: Manned Ballooning on the Threshold of Space
There is video interview of Colonel Kittenger: The Highest Step in the World, Joe Kittinger & the Excelsior Missions
Wikipedia entry on Project Excelsior
Interview with Felix Baumgartner on NPR: Austrian Pilot Hopes To Break Freefall Record
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Book Publishing’s Real Nemesis
An antitrust suit may provide short-term price reductions on e-books, but once the competition is flattened, Amazon is likely to resume its monopolistic ways.
Note: I think there are many things to question in this article.
Note: I think there are many things to question in this article.
See full article: Book Publishing’s Real Nemesis
Monday, April 9, 2012
Give people time to read.
Harper Collins proposed a 26 loan cap on titles they license to libraries. The thinking was that if a book could be checked out for two weeks it could be circulated 26 times in a year. Restricting an ebook to 26 checkouts was equivalent to the use that a paper library book would have in a year.
This entire issue is contentious and I do not want to debate the number of checkouts in a year. What I did want to discuss was what changes could be made in regards to how checkouts are done if there is going to be a 26 check out cap on a book.
When I check an ebook out from the library why do I have to “return it” after 7 or 14 days? There is no “return” that is actually happening. I am using a digital file and after a certain date the file stops working. The whole idea behind checking out a book from the library is that it will be read. Why can I not take a month or two to read the book?
If we are going to have publishers put a cap on the number of loans why not free up the length of the loan? Why not allow the book to be read over a year? With the cap of 26 the book can only be loaned to 26 people. Why not allow each of these people to have up to one year to read the book?
Longer loan times would allow more people to make use of library books. People are busy and often they cannot finish a book is 7 - 14 days. Now that we have ebooks why not give people time to read?
This entire issue is contentious and I do not want to debate the number of checkouts in a year. What I did want to discuss was what changes could be made in regards to how checkouts are done if there is going to be a 26 check out cap on a book.
When I check an ebook out from the library why do I have to “return it” after 7 or 14 days? There is no “return” that is actually happening. I am using a digital file and after a certain date the file stops working. The whole idea behind checking out a book from the library is that it will be read. Why can I not take a month or two to read the book?
If we are going to have publishers put a cap on the number of loans why not free up the length of the loan? Why not allow the book to be read over a year? With the cap of 26 the book can only be loaned to 26 people. Why not allow each of these people to have up to one year to read the book?
Longer loan times would allow more people to make use of library books. People are busy and often they cannot finish a book is 7 - 14 days. Now that we have ebooks why not give people time to read?
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Thinking more about ebooks and libraries and what big publishers should do
Blog post by publishing consultant Mike Shatzkin.
In the post he suggests several things the big publishers should do in regards to libraries. It is likely that publishers will experiment with some of these ideas. I recommend you read the post so that you are aware of them.
In the post he suggests several things the big publishers should do in regards to libraries. It is likely that publishers will experiment with some of these ideas. I recommend you read the post so that you are aware of them.
E-readers expand, but face obstacles in libraries
The popularity of e-readers is soaring, but good luck finding that hot new title at your local library.
Most large publishers refuse to sell critical portions of their digital catalogs for library lending, and those that do are imposing stiff fees and onerous rules.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Keeping Overdrive books on a Kindle for extended times
Here is a discussion on the Amazon Customer Discussion boards about how ebooks from Overdrive expire on the Kindle.
It seems that if the wireless is shutoff on the Kindle there is no mechanism to expire the book from the device. This allows people that need more time to finish a library book to keep their wireless off so that the book does not expire and they can continue to read the book even though technically it is due.
On the discussion board there seems to be some debate about whether this practice holds up other users that want to use the book. From reading over the thread I think it is the case that the book goes to the next person in line even though the book is still on the other persons Kindle. The library system shows the book as expired so it goes to the next person.
There is probably one person out there that made an investment in a "library" Kindle. You buy a Kindle for $79 and you never turn on the wireless. You then load library books on the Kindle via USB and the books never expire.
Several years ago there was news stories about a new DVD technology that allowed for DVDs to degrade when exposed to air. The idea was that you could have a rental DVD that you did not need to return because 48 or 72 hours after the DVD was first opened and exposed to air in would no longer work. From the articles the degradation process was based on oxidation and this made the disc unplayable. The idea never took off mainly because of environmental concerns. Every rental under this model would become trash after a couple days. A friend and I joked that if these DVDs had taken off there would be some geeks somewhere that would build an argon chamber to store their rental DVDs in so that they would never oxidize. We joked that someone would build a $20,000 airless chamber to save $500 on DVD purchases.
It seems that if the wireless is shutoff on the Kindle there is no mechanism to expire the book from the device. This allows people that need more time to finish a library book to keep their wireless off so that the book does not expire and they can continue to read the book even though technically it is due.
On the discussion board there seems to be some debate about whether this practice holds up other users that want to use the book. From reading over the thread I think it is the case that the book goes to the next person in line even though the book is still on the other persons Kindle. The library system shows the book as expired so it goes to the next person.
There is probably one person out there that made an investment in a "library" Kindle. You buy a Kindle for $79 and you never turn on the wireless. You then load library books on the Kindle via USB and the books never expire.
Several years ago there was news stories about a new DVD technology that allowed for DVDs to degrade when exposed to air. The idea was that you could have a rental DVD that you did not need to return because 48 or 72 hours after the DVD was first opened and exposed to air in would no longer work. From the articles the degradation process was based on oxidation and this made the disc unplayable. The idea never took off mainly because of environmental concerns. Every rental under this model would become trash after a couple days. A friend and I joked that if these DVDs had taken off there would be some geeks somewhere that would build an argon chamber to store their rental DVDs in so that they would never oxidize. We joked that someone would build a $20,000 airless chamber to save $500 on DVD purchases.
Ebook versus print books when buying from Amazon as a Prime member
Two article that I saw recently that got me thinking about when I buy print books versus when I purchase ebooks.
For Amazon Shareholders, Prime Boosts Costs And Trashes Profits
Amazon: Print Book Unit Sales Up; More Content For Prime
I am a Kindle owner and a Prime subscriber. If I am purchasing a book to read I typically prefer the ebook version. I have gotten really used to reading books in large print and I am able to do that with any book on my Kindle. This may be the height of laziness but I also no longer have to hold books open. I really like the Kindle because I do not have the weight of a regular book and I do not have to hold the book open.
The reason why so many people have to "curl" up with a book is because they are heavy and you need to get in a comfortable position to read the book. I have been doing a great deal of my reading while I am on the treadmill and the Kindle works better for me in that setting.
That said I am still a very price conscious person and recently prices have been driving me to purchase more print books. Several books I have wanted to purchase recently have been more expensive as ebooks than the paper copy. Because I have an Amazon Prime subscription I can get the paper copy to my door within two days for no additional cost. So when I run into a situation where the Kindle copy is $9.99 and the paper copy is $8.99 I have been buying the paper copy.
The article about Prime trashing profits for Amazon is interesting. I am curious to see how long Amazon will continue to subsidize free shipping. Now that Amazon gives other benefits to Prime members such as the Amazon Kindle Lending Library and the Amazon Prime Instant Video they may be able to drop free shipping at some point and still maintain Prime subscribers because these people still find the other features of value.
I think Amazon may also still have free shipping for Prime but only for the slowest method of delivery. Currently two day delivery is free. I think that Prime members will get regular shipping for free and two day delivery will cost $1-$2. This is still a discount for two day shipping but it will reduce some of the loses for Amazon.
For Amazon Shareholders, Prime Boosts Costs And Trashes Profits
Amazon: Print Book Unit Sales Up; More Content For Prime
I am a Kindle owner and a Prime subscriber. If I am purchasing a book to read I typically prefer the ebook version. I have gotten really used to reading books in large print and I am able to do that with any book on my Kindle. This may be the height of laziness but I also no longer have to hold books open. I really like the Kindle because I do not have the weight of a regular book and I do not have to hold the book open.
The reason why so many people have to "curl" up with a book is because they are heavy and you need to get in a comfortable position to read the book. I have been doing a great deal of my reading while I am on the treadmill and the Kindle works better for me in that setting.
That said I am still a very price conscious person and recently prices have been driving me to purchase more print books. Several books I have wanted to purchase recently have been more expensive as ebooks than the paper copy. Because I have an Amazon Prime subscription I can get the paper copy to my door within two days for no additional cost. So when I run into a situation where the Kindle copy is $9.99 and the paper copy is $8.99 I have been buying the paper copy.
The article about Prime trashing profits for Amazon is interesting. I am curious to see how long Amazon will continue to subsidize free shipping. Now that Amazon gives other benefits to Prime members such as the Amazon Kindle Lending Library and the Amazon Prime Instant Video they may be able to drop free shipping at some point and still maintain Prime subscribers because these people still find the other features of value.
I think Amazon may also still have free shipping for Prime but only for the slowest method of delivery. Currently two day delivery is free. I think that Prime members will get regular shipping for free and two day delivery will cost $1-$2. This is still a discount for two day shipping but it will reduce some of the loses for Amazon.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Libraries turn to cloud for e-book lending
Millions of Americans now own Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers. And libraries are taking notice, expanding their collections of e-books they can loan to patrons.
That trend has 3M's attention. The company has a long history of serving libraries. And 3M sees a big business opportunity in helping libraries build, manage and lend their collections of electronic books.
The St. Paul Public Library next month will begin a formal trial of 3M's "Cloud Library" system, along with ten other major public libraries around the country.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
An ebook ten years later
In 2001 I read the book - Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing. It is a nonfiction book about a man that got a job as a guard at Sing Sing prison and recounts his experiences.
At the time I had a RCA REB 1100 ebook reader. The REB stood for Rocket eBook. Rocket was bought by RCA and the first RCA device was given a number as a name.
At the time I had a RCA REB 1100 ebook reader. The REB stood for Rocket eBook. Rocket was bought by RCA and the first RCA device was given a number as a name.
To buy books the device had an internal modem. There was a little flap that opened and there was a place that you could plug a phone into the reader. You then could download a book catalog using the modem. In the catalog you could put a check mark beside books you wanted to buy. You then connected the device to a phone line and the books you selected in the catalog were delivered to your device. You had to have an account for your reader and when you downloaded books your credit card was billed for the purchase.
Newjack was the first book that I read on an ebook reader. I was able to have an immersive reading experience using the REB1100. I actually found the REB1100 more comfortable to read with than a paper book because I did not have to hold the book open. I could also rest my thumb on the forward page button and moving through the book was very easy. Actually easier than turning pages of a paper book. I also used a large font when I read and this just made it easier to read. During this time I remembering reading a paperback book that had particularly small type and I remember being frustrated that I could not just click a button and have a larger font in the paper book. Paper books are not always what they are cracked up to be. Holy relics beyond reproach and criticism.
I am pretty sure that I paid $5.99 for the electronic copy of Newjack. Every month in the catalog there would be some books that were for sale and would be under $10. Books that were not on sale went for full hardcover price. To buy the ebook version of many books you had to pay $22 - $26. I never spent over twelve dollars and I only bought about 5 books from RCA. They folded in 2002 or 2003 so I was not able to buy books after that. There was a way to load text files on the reader so primarily the reader was used to read classics that I obtained from Project Gutenberg.
The other day I was on Amazon and I stumbled across Newjack again. It is now available for the Kindle and is selling for $11.99. The paperback is $9.99. It was just funny to see a book that I purchased as an ebook over ten years ago selling on Amazon for more than paperback price.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Publishers And Booksellers See A 'Predatory' Amazon
Booksellers and publishers are worried that Amazon is going to devour their industry. The giant online retailer seems to have its hands in all aspects of the business, from publishing books to selling them — and that has some in the book world wondering if there is any end to Amazon's influence.
Publishers have a problem when it comes to discussing Amazon: They may fear its power, but they are also dependent on it, because like it or not, Amazon sells a lot of books. But lately, the grumbling about Amazon has been growing louder, with some in the book industry openly describing Amazon's tactics as "predatory."
Publishers have a problem when it comes to discussing Amazon: They may fear its power, but they are also dependent on it, because like it or not, Amazon sells a lot of books. But lately, the grumbling about Amazon has been growing louder, with some in the book industry openly describing Amazon's tactics as "predatory."
Monday, January 16, 2012
Libraries Struggle to Stock E-Books
The popularity of e-books soar, but publishers, fearing piracy, won't let libraries get their hands on enough of them.
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