It's funny how ideas seem to coalesce. A member of the reference department brought me an article today about the evolution of the book. Specifically, this article was about the upcoming fight some are predicting between Amazon and their Kindle book reader, Apple computers and a rumored "device" they may be planning, and the publishing industry, which seems to be caught in the middle.
Shortly after reading the article, I received an email from SCKLS announcing a new teen-oriented website being launched by a book publisher, Simon & Schuster called Pulse It. It seems that this publisher, at least, is trying to build a rapport with younger readers by appealing to the familiarity social networking websites and offering a carrot of 2 new S&S books per month available to read free online. Obviously, the goal is to have these readers share their impressions with their peers on other websites and help to increase sales of S&S titles. This publisher seems to be trying new things (better late than never) to sell more books. I can't imagine that other publishers will be far behind.
Getting back to the title of the post - what is happening here? The bottom line is that publishing and the "printed" word is in the throes of a revolution. There is little doubt about this fact. Nevermind that "ebooks" and their various readers have yet to reach critical mass; the way we will get the latest novel or the newest "book" on gardening is changing. I personally do not believe the paper book is on its way out though. Publishers can move to print-on-demand systems for paper books. Amazon does huge volume in printed material. Apple does not, as the article above states, have a history of trying to usurp the role of publisher or control content like Amazon does. Rather Apple is known for creating elegant "things" people want to buy. Any clash of these titans will have some fall-out but I think that publishing companies, if they are shrewd, could come out in a better position in the aftermath.
What does this have to do with libraries? As usual, I'm not exactly sure. One thing is clear though, and that is HPL and all libraries will need to continue their awakening to the benefits of evolving technologically and otherwise. After a thirty-odd year slumber, the past decade has seen libraries embracing new technologies as quickly as they arrive. Some libraries are better at it than others, but none can afford not to try. Will we be reduced to a kiosk holding a bank of Kindle-like devices? I doubt it. Will we circulate books on some sort of kindle-like devices? Probably. Will we still have paper books? I imagine for a long time to come. Should libraries be test-beds for new gadgets in the future? I sure hope so! Are you listening Jeff? Where's my "beta" Kindle DX?
A kind reader pointed out that I make it sound like no libraries circulate Kindles. I did not mean to give that impression. In fact, many already do this quite successfully. (Another fact to bolster my opinion that librarians are often the first to adopt and make new technologies useful.) Most of my rambling thoughts revolve around public libraries and specifically about the Hutchinson Public Library and I, in my haste, at times do not edit well. So, to clear it up - many libraries (public and otherwise) already do this and HPL is still contemplating how to make it happen in Hutchinson Kansas.
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