From: Mary Burkey <mburkey>
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:13:00 -0400

I posted this on my blog today, but think that everyone should read Gail Rebuck's speech - so please excuse the cross posting!

 

Digitization is changing the world of literature daily. Each day I add another bookmark to a growing file of articles on topics ranging from Japan's love of cell phone novels (in
<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3005052.ece> the London Times & and
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/world/asia/20japan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin> the NY Times) to the removal of piracy protection on audiobooks (in
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/media/03audiobook.html?scp=1&sq= Publishers+phase+out+piracy+protection+on+audio+books&st=nyt> the NY Times
& Cory Doctorow
<http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/21/random-house-audio-a.html> 's take on Boing-Boing.) Authors & publishers are embracing change by posting free content online, such as Neil Gaiman's story "A Study in Emerald" available as both eBook
<http://us.perfectbound.ret.overdrive.com/05EC3E03-EA4A-4786-B76F-95FF33ED32 C6/10/125/en/neilgaiman> & audiobook (read by Gaiman) on HarperCollins' website.

 

These changes have prompted many to ponder the future of the book. Random House UK's C.E.O. Gail Rebuck presented a brilliant essay as the Stationers' Company Annual Lecture on the evening of March10th. The address, titled "New Chapter or Last Page? Publishing Books in a Digital Age," was made to the members of a Guild formed in 1403 for the publishing industry, a fitting group to contemplate the message. Read
<http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/54562-new-chapter-or-last-page.html> the whole speech here. I believe this to be a must-read for all who value the literary past and who look to the future of publishing.

 

 

Mary Burkey

mburkey at columbus.rr.com

http://audiobooker.blogspot.com/

 
Received on Sat 15 Mar 2008 12:13:00 PM CDT