I am getting ready for the release of my new book Expect More. The final edits are underway, and as I wait I’ve been playing around with different ebook platforms. I’ve taken the OITP white paper that started it all (participatory librarianship) Participatory Networks: The Library as Conversation and made ebook versions using Smashwords and the iTunes book store via iBooks Author. It’s free and feel free to download the white paper (a bit dated at this point).
Smashwords was a piece of cake just uploading a Word file. We’ll see if it gets the book listed in other book stores (like Barnes & Noble). Click here to see the Smashwords entry (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/164561).
Apple’s iTunes is typical Apple. Very easy to put together the files, then a bit bureaucratic to get it submitted and approved. Still, fast turn around and you can find it by searching the bookstore through iTunes.
By the way, I went most of the way with Amazon but they required I charge for the book.
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Dave, thanks for making that original essay available via Smashwords. I’m reading it for free on my Kindle. I used the free applet Sendtoreader.com to send the text to my Kindle. Discovering Sendtoreader.com has changed my relationship to my Kindle for I can now more easily use it on my terms. You only own a device when you’re using it for your own purposes. Now I have my Kindle working for my own purposes, I’m wondering how I can best configure this tool for community purposes. Amazon provides no tools for cloning Kindles such that the complete contents (public domain or creative commons) can be quickly duplicated onto 50, 100 or 500 devices.
If Amazon won’t create such a tool, you can bet the open source community will devise an ereader with such a feature. In a knowledge society, it can’t be just librarians who worry about such things. All participants in society have a duty to think about and worry about the most efficient ways of distributing ideas and knowledge. Group worry is the path to group wisdom. I sure hope ischools consider adding a course in Worrying. (Perhaps also Advanced Worrying.) Ironically, worrying is one of most hopeful of human activities. It’s only when people don’t worry that I worry.