[13182] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: netLibrary
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Millard Johnson)
Thu Mar 16 20:31:19 2000
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 09:18:45 -0500
From: Millard Johnson <zendog@INCOLSA.NET>
In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20000315100317.0091b8c0@bayou.uh.edu>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
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It is certainly true that the Ereader is beyond the means of most people
today. If the history of the last 15 years is any guide, that will
certainly change in the near future. Also true that there is no widely
accepted archive of Etexts - but, of course, that is a function that
libraries (if we have a function in the future) could be expected to
perform. The argument that Epublication will limit small runs could not be
more incorrect! There are dozens of VERY small publishers publishing Etexts
in VERY small runs. These publishers make it simple for new authors to
publish. Since there is no "minimum" press run, they can publish for small
audiences. Authors are giving away Etext for almost nothing. If you do not
see them, it is because your library is not participating. Check around a
bit. This kind of thing is happening outside the POP environment.
Ebooks will never replace ALL print books. But if librarians wait until ALL
books have been replaced before they start participating in Ebook
distribution we will have no role in the electronic society. Epublication
is happening. We need to discuss when and how we get in the game.
MJ
***************************************************************
Millard F. Johnson zendog@incolsa.net
INCOLSA (317) 298-6570
"I would rather risk failure than achieve it without risk."
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-----Original Message-----
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum [mailto:PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU]
On Behalf Of Mark Bay
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 11:03 AM
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Subject: Re: netLibrary
Just a reply to all those people who think ebooks are inevitably going to
replace paper...when EVERY book ever written by humankind is available,
when I can go to the beach and not worry about dropping my reader in the
sand or surf, or about leaving it behind, then I think it will replace the
print book. Print lasts 2-300 years, more with proper preservation.
CD-ROMs and other electronic media, 20 tops at this point. You can take a
book, sit it in storage for 100 years, take it out, and read it. Try that
with your ebooks. Print books are fairly easily attainable for low-income
people. Ebook readers certainly aren't. Oh, Microsoft is going to get
into ebooks? THAT should go well. Bill Gates will dictate what you read
and how you read it. Or do you think anybody will make small press,
alternative press, or other "unpopular" books readily available? The
reading public will be reduced to mass-produced, big budget garbage.
I for one hate to think ebooks will ever replace print. Supplement maybe,
complement perhaps, but totally replace? I'd bet against it, at least in
my lifetime.
Anybody remember when they said TV would replace teachers and lots of other
positions? Been about 50 years, and it hasn't happened yet...
Mark
*************************************************
Mark T. Bay
Education / Social Sciences Reference Librarian
M.D. Anderson Library
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-2091
(713) 743-9767
mbay@uh.edu
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