People creatively using devices they already own
I’m not one to dismiss the usefulness and market potential of the Kindel. However, I don’t think it’s a book panacea… libraries and consumers have been down the digital book reader path before, a few times, actually. Perhaps now the digital gadget climate is just right for people to go for a Kindel, or a Sony Reader, or something like that. But I really see it as somewhat of a niche market, like school kids who would no longer need to carry around 50+lbs of books, or crazy avid readers who don’t use any other technology in their lives and don’t want to pack 10 books for vacation.
Here’s what I’ve been thinking: instead of a specialized gadget, go with the gadgets that people already own. What I’ve seen with friends who have recently acquired shiny gadgetry is that they’re looking for the most comprehensive pocket toy humanly possible: phone, web, calendar, music, notes, emails, news, books, you name it, in a 3″x5″ or smaller package. I see potential for library innovation here somehow, by offering services that download to mobile phones, the same way we should really be implementing notifications and reference in happy mobile phone-friendly formats in areas where the service would be viable (good coverage for multiple carriers, multiple patron audiences showing interest, that sorta thing).
Even just promoting free services like LibriVox, Podiobooks (also great for self-published audiobooks), and myriad ebook download services shows that we’re recognizing the needs of this community, and making the effort to direct them to free services, much like we would in our brick-and-mortar libraries. I’m planning on teaching a class on Podiobooks in a few months — since a recent survey of patrons about classes showed there was interest in such a service — so I’ll let you know how it goes. If you’re already doing something, anything, with these services, as individuals or in your libraries, I’d love to hear about it.
Anticipating the next step ahead (I’m guessing this is already happening in the US), as we as librarians should be doing, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more creative writing on cell phones. It’s happening in Japan, and it’s a very cool. I know that I’m writing and publishing blog posts from my Blackberry (you can even install the WordPress Mobile Edition plugin to access your blog through a much friendlier mobile interface), are people in your community doing it? Do you think they would? Have you asked? Are you doing it?
Tags: eaudiobooks, ebooks, innovate, LibriVox, Podiobooks
I am sure they are using phones to blog. I don’t personally. I like my ergonomic keyboard too much!
Back the last time I had money (remember money? heh) I had a Palm V. I was anti-cellphone then and didn’t have one of those. BUT I did buy ebooks and read them on my Palm all the time, particularly when I was in Germany and English language books were scarce. That was 2000-2002, so I do have to chuckle when people talk about ebooks like they’re new just because Amazon makes a dedicated ebook machine now. And yeah, if I had a cellphone with a decent-sized screen and a public transit commute, I’d probably get into ebooks again. For now I continue to love love love the LA public library, if not always LA itself
Libraries need to find a way to “partner up” and build ebook readers specifically designed for library patrons.
Google will get into the consumer electronics game and introduce the gphone, OCLC should get into the ebook reader game and introduce an ebook reader designed specifically for libraries.
I’ve got like 150 reasons that won’t happen, but it’d be pretty amazing if it would, right…?
You all might be interested in http://www.booksinmyphone.com They give away public domain and creative commons books packaged up to be read on regular cell phones. I’ve been reading their books for a while and had no trouble adjusting to the small phone screen, after a few pages I was just ‘in’ the story. The portability of adding books to the phone is a real boon. You can browse and install direct to your phone from the mobile version of their site, or via a PC.
Jen: I haven’t seen money in so long, I’d throw rocks at it! ;D I agree that when people get all excited about yet another ebook reader, it’s really just quaint and adorable. For some reason, big vendors like Amazon and Sony have decided to make it a trend right now, despite the trend towards all-in-one devices. Maybe it’s the Boomer market that’s driving it, who knows.
Nate: I agree, it would be awesome, and I think it needs to be the libraries who make the first move, or it won’t really mean anything. It’d be nice if someone other than a vendor, say, I dunno, ALA, got involved in the deal-making process, and showed a little initiative in deals like this. We seem to leave entirely too much to library vendors, which just doesn’t seem right. I guess that’s one of the 150 reasons for why it won’t happen…
avagee: I’m totally looking into it, because that sounds wicked cool. I also need to look into how many steps it would take to get a PodioBooks book onto my Blackberry, although honestly, I prefer to keep audiobooks and such on my Sansa e280 (one of the few separate, devoted devices I own).
Thank you all, btw, for engaging in the discussion here. It’s still really novel to have comments turned on, and it’s really cool to chat up the topics.