The following link is to a website that has been made for ‘Little Librarian.’ What is Little Librarian? It is a little library kit that will allow kids to play the role of a librarian. The kit comes with library cards, bookmarks, overdue notices, etc. It is a role-playing game that will help get kids into books and libraries.
For more, visit:
http://www.littlelibrarian.net/
The following link is to an article on yet another way to store your valuable traditional books.
For more, visit:
http://freshome.com/2007/04/15/twin-bookshelf/
Social networks and web applications are rapidly multiplying all over the web and it should come as no surprise that a large number of such sites are dedicated to books in one way or another – as well as being useful to those that read books, offering ways to save and share quotes, words, etc. At the BookShelf will be bringing these types of sites to the notice of its readers, as I think they can be of tremendous use and benefit. Some will be useful to most and maybe others to very few, but they are all useful to someone, with the possible odd exception of course.
Booki.sh is a site that allows you to store your ebook library in the cloud, meaning that you can access it wherever you are, provided you have Internet access and the necessary device to do so. Your device only needs a modern web browser in order to use Booki.sh. Booki.sh provides it own software, so it will work in your device in a similar way to an ebook reader (the website explains how to use the software when reading a book).
Do you really need Booki.sh? Well that is another question – if you have a Kindle for example, you probably do not as you already have your library handy (or a very large selection of it on your device) and an ebook reader. However, if you do not have an ebook reader as such on your device (lap top, etc), Booki.sh could be very handy and useful. Either way, it won’t hurt to have a look and decide for yourself.
For more, visit:
https://booki.sh/
The link below is to an article on the scanning service 1DollarScan. The service will scan your old books and make them into an ebook.
For more, visit:
http://mashable.com/2012/03/29/1dollarscan/
The link below is to a Blog where you can get a free ebook copy of this book, which is edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor. This book examines the character and teaching of Jonathan Edwards, a pastor from the era of the Great Awakening in the USA.
How do you get a copy? Simply leave a request in the comments section of the post linked to below.
If you would like other books visit the Blog, subscribe to it to keep up to date on what books are available and tell your friends about the site.
To Obtain a Copy of the Book, Visit:
http://searchandtrace.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/a-god-entranced-vision-of-all-things-the-legacy-of-jonathan-edwards/
Visit the Blog at:
http://searchandtrace.wordpress.com/
The link below is to an article on Harry Potter ebooks which are now available from the pottermore website. So how many people will buy these if they already have the traditional books? I’m guessing quite a number of people will want to have digital copies of the books.
For more, visit:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/harry-potter-ebooks-exclusively-pottermore-shop-updates/
After a number of years of reading ebooks on my lap top and before that on my old computer, I have now got myself a Kindle – the Kindle 4. A little bit of trial and error – a bit of playing about with it and I think I now have it worked out (more or less). I’m thrilled with it I have to say. I’ll finally be able to read ebooks without having to set up the lap top – so much easier with the Kindle. So I have loaded a couple of books onto it with the USB connection to the lap top, so I’m set to go. Now I can take my reading with me wherever I go and not be worried about a bulky set up of any description.
I have also bought the Kindle cover for it, that way the screen will be protected and my investment won’t meet an unhappy and early death.
For more information on the Kindle visit:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051QVF7A/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle
The link below is to an article that reports on the clash between interactive books being sold as either iBooks or Apps by Apple. An interesting read on an issue that may impact ebooks into the future.
For more visit:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1826105/apple-ipad-ibooks-app-store-corona-amazon-horse-magic-bats
The link below is to an article that deals with how to promote a book online. A useful read if you want to sell your books online.
For more visit:
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/how-to-pitch-your-book-to-online-outlets_b49073
I have been reading ‘Print is Dead – Books in our Digital Age,’ by Jeff Gomez and have now completed my reading of it. The final chapter ‘Will Books Disappear?’ asks the obvious question concerning books in a digital future. The answer is both yes and no I think. Certainly books will still be around for the foreseeable future – niche products, throw away copies, second-hand books, collectors items, etc. However, traditional book production will certainly slow and far fewer will be printed and distributed in the ‘traditional’ manner.
In the digital age, Print on Demand services may grow and maintain popularity for a period, with services like Google Books allowing the ability to print an out of print work cheaply and quickly. Allowing these works to also be accessed via the World Wide Web and in ebook format will limit the use of this technology I would think.
With the content of books still being the main resource, employment around the content of books should also remain. The need for editors, publishers and the like, will still be required for excellence in ebook production. The quality of books should continue undiminished, though there will also be avenues for lesser quality works via the World Wide Web. So the book will not disappear, only its appearance will be transformed and the content remain the same.
Closing Thoughts on the Book
‘Print is Dead – Books in our Digital Age’ covers no new ground, but it does cover the same ground of the traditional book versus the ebook very well. It presents its case and does it well. Traditional book champions will more than likely remain unmoved by the arguments of Jeff Gomez and those that herald the arrival of ebooks will probably agree with the sentiment expressed in the pages of this book. I believe ‘Print is Dead’ presents a very balanced argument for ebooks in the digital age and presents a future for books that is upon us, in inevitable and that offers up some wonderful possibilities if we are willing to embrace them. I would recoomend this book to anyone interested in the traditional book versus ebook debate.
See also:
http://www.dontcallhome.com/books.html (Website of Jeff Gomez)
Podcast (Excerpts from the Book)
Google Books
Amazon
At the BookShelf 
You must be logged in to post a comment.