Desktop Book Binder
National Public Radio’s Morning Edition talked about a book binder a man invented that’s about the size of a desktop printer. The show focused on its utility for out-of-print books and on-demand printing, complete with the scenario of someone going to a local bookstore and paying for the clerk to print a specific title right there.
It also talked about a trip Brewster Kahle made through Uganda with one of these binders, letting children select books from the Internet and printing and binding the books for them at a very low cost. It supposedly produces a paperback book of similar quality to what you would purchase at a bookstore.
I’m thinking: why do people have to go to a store to buy, print, and bind a computer file? Why not create a business model where people can purchase and download text over the Internet and print it right there in their own home? What about using this binding method in the academic publishing world? Imagine not having to wait a year for the latest book to come out in a paperback version, not having to go outside in single digit temperatures when you run out of reading material, and not paying huge subscription prices for academic journals.
This binder has a lot of exciting implications for libraries, too, especially in remote or dangerous places where getting deliveries of books is not always easy or feasible or acquiring materials may be very expensive or difficult.
(This post is particularly for our friend at Dowbrigade, but I don’t mean to encourage him in his current practice of downloading and printing books. I’m nudging him with what could be the future of book publishing and a potential way to bypass doing business with publishing companies.)
January 12th, 2004 at 9:49 am
In some ways, this is a return to the early history of the book (except for the download and print on demand part). I wonder if custom-made, fine bindings will make a comeback?
January 12th, 2004 at 5:15 pm
And fore-edge paintings, too.
January 13th, 2004 at 10:30 am
Sadly, I’m not that attracted to fore-edge paintings, although there are many fine examples that I admire. (I don’t like marbled paper much either; if word gets out, I may never work in rare books again
). But the beauty of custom bindings is that things can be bound to meet individual tastes and quirks.
January 16th, 2004 at 9:02 am
Jessica,
Thanks for the support and contributions to the training session last night, and I appologize for trying to make you feel bad about missing me at Dim Sum. I did NOT look at EVERY table as I did not even know there was a 3rd floor; I just checked the first two.
Hope we can do it again soon.
Michael