eBook-List Discussion List

[Gerry McKiernan]

                   _eBook-List Discussion List_

  In reponse to my recent posting regarding the identification, acquisition
and management of WebBooks, it was suggested that perhaps a separate
discussion list be established to address these and related issues for
libraries. In investigating if a current list existed, I (re)discovered
the _eBook-List_ mailing list. As stated in its Welcome message,

   _eBooks-List_ "is open to all individuals and organizations 
interested in developing, researching, producing, authoring, 
publishing, distributing, reading, and even dreaming about electronic 
books.  That should include just about everybody!"

                              [snip]

"The primary long-term goal of EBook-List is to create a unified 
community of individuals and organizations (both commercial and 
non-profit) which will promote the continued research, development 
and marketing of electronic books, composing and viewing software for 
computers, and portable electronic book readers."


"A sample list of topics to discuss on EBook-List include, among *many*
others:

1) The electronic publishing formats currently available that could 
be used for producing electronic book titles.  What are their 
comparative
advantages and disadvantages?  Does there now exist the "ideal" 
format?

2) Should a "standardized" electronic book format be developed for 
the long-term future?  Is it even possible?

3) The advantages and disadvantages of electronic books over their 
paper cousins -- present and future.  What are the social 
ramifications when (or "if", for the skeptics out there) electronic 
books become dominant in our society?

4) What will the electronic book reader of the future look like?  
What technology development is required to make such readers 
attractive to
the point that electronic books will become dominant over paper 
books?  How many years from now will this happen?  Do we have the 
technology today to make a marketable portable electronic book 
reader, or do we have to wait for substantially cheaper and much 
higher resolution flat screens to be developed?

5) Network vs. local access of electronic books.  Do consumers prefer 
to actually possess their own copy to store on their own 
computer/reader rather than pay to access it elsewhere over a network?

6) Publishing issues:  Will electronic book publishing allow authors 
to gain more control over their works?  Will it allow authors to 
bypass publishers and self-publish?  How will electronic book titles 
of the future be marketed -- over the Internet or via portable media 
like CD-ROM and its successors?  How will the electronic book 
consumer be able to sort through the expected huge number of 
electronic book titles produced outside of the "big" publishers?

7) Copyright/security/encryption issues:  Is it possible to develop 
electronic books and readers that provide copyright security to 
authors and publishers, such as the use of machine-specific passwords 
(e.g., SoftLock), data encryption, etc.?"

   
To subscribe, send e-mail to ebook-list at mabooks.com.  In the Subject: line
add the word "subscribe" (but without the quotes).  Leave the message blank.

In the average day, there are probably a dozen or so postings, typically
list. [This weeks top topic is the recently announced Rocket e-Book from 
NuvoMedia][BTW: There was a review of the Rocket e-Book in the "Circuits"
section of the _New York Times_ on Thursday, October 29, 1998]

    It response to my posting about WebBooks on the list earlier this week
I received a response that acknowledged and recognized the potential role
that libraries and librarians should play in the evolution of the
E-Book/WebBook and which encouraged wider cooperation among developers,
publishers, and librarians.

    Joy! 

/Gerry McKiernan
Theoretical Librarian 
Iowa State University 
Ames IA 50011

gerrymck at iastate.edu


  	"The Best Way to Predict the Future is To Invent It!"
				Alan Kay