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The library upstairs
October 1, 2009 | 11:56 am
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By Court Merrigan
I have a job. At this job I can walk upstairs and go into the library. This makes me happy.
We’ll know that e-books have well and truly arrived on the day an e-reader evokes a similar response.
Even better, I now have access to a state-wide network of libraries and, better still, the entire University of Wyoming collection. Currently a couple obscure and expensive biographies are winging their way to me: Nabokov: The Russian Years ($43 on Amazon) and Kafu the Scribbler ($66). Been wanting to read both for several years each. Neither exists in e-book format that I’m aware of. They’ll be here in 3 to 5 days, for free. In my biblio-centric universe, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Some people look up at the starry cosmos and feel paradoxically puny and connected to something larger than themselves. Me, I go into a library.
Image: CC-licensed image of Trinity College Library in Ireland. Art by 18th century watercolorist James Malton.
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Comments:
No question that tax-payer supported libraries are wonderful things for frugal book-readers. I would guess, though, that your library ah-has are matched by eBook fans’ ah-has. Science Fiction fans (especially those of a right-wing bent) celebrate every time Baen puts new books in their free library. Those of us who are a bit weird get excited to see that Sir Richard Burton’s translation of the Arabian Nights are available free from Fictionwise. From my own sales, I know that there are at least some who look forward to the $1.00 month of availability on new books I publish. It’s the books, not the paper, that make them special. And don’t forget, David has been pushing for tax-payer support of eBooks for years.
Rob Preece
Publisher
I have a life. At anytime during my day I can get online and buy a book. This makes me happy.
I guess ereaders have made it, then. Next!
Every night I turn on the built in light on my Sony PRS 700 and read without disturbing my wife. This makes her happy. When she is happy, I am happy.
Rob, I hope you’re right that there are e-book readers out there who are getting those A-ha’s. While I’ve found some great stuff to go on my Kindle, for me, it still can’t compare to standing in a library with all those open stacks stretched out before you … but I hope it does, someday.
Guess so, Steve. Although I’d venture that there are at least a few books out there you’d like to read that haven’t been digitized just yet …
RealBill:
I get that same feeling from Google Book Search. One million free ePubs and counting! I don’t even have to get out of my pyjamas.
Yes, yes, I know their quality control is almost non-existent. Believe me, if I can find it elsewhere I’ll get it elsewhere. What’s great about GBS is finding things I *can’t* get anywhere else.
Bring on the (ebook) banquet – I’m hungry!
@Court: True. But then, I haven’t seen most of them in print anywhere, either…