[2470] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Kahin's Book
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (BRIAN KAHIN)
Wed Mar 4 14:14:11 1992
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1992 14:10 EST
From: BRIAN KAHIN <KAHIN@HULAW1.HARVARD.EDU>
To: daveh@csn.org
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
X-Vms-To: MAILER%"daveh@csn.org"
>'Building Information Infrastructure' looks like a good compendium
>of essays (I presume growing out of the Harvarad Sch of Govt NREN
>conference of 2 years ago) for - as the ad says '...as an aid to
>planning and policy development at local, state, and national levels'
>I'll get it, though I am a little unclear on just how the
>access of the pieces from the Primis database works. As a benefit
>of buying the hardcopy, or added, or what?
Dave, although McGraw-Hill envisions moving to direct network
access one day, the Primis database is presently used for
on-demand printing. Chapters in the book are available
entirely independent of the book at a flat rate of $.07/page,
regardless of whether you order 10 copies of one chapter or one
copy of ten chapters. I think there is a minimum (but it's
low, maybe $7.00) and shipping is extra. Interestingly, the
book is about 450 pages; so you actually end up paying more per
page if you order the complete book. (On the other hand, the
book has a four-color cover, and its resale value is probably
higher.)
In thinking about how to publish, I found the Primis model to be
an appealing step in the right direction (see the Editor's note)
-- an opportunity to practice a little of what we were preaching
and a way of reaching beyond the conventional market for a book.
Brian
