futureofthebook.com

booke vs.ebook

ìCataloging Electronic Booksî, Robert Bothmann,
LRTS 48/1 2004 describes the taxonomic states of the eBook. The ebook may have different manifestations. It can be a facsimile, a reproduction or, rather than a surrogate, it can be a unique manifestation of a conceptual work.

Also important in the
booke vs. ebook context is the nature of the work as monographic; as a ìnon serial bibliographic work that is complete or intended to be complete in a finite number of partsî. If ìit acts like a book, reads like a book, and generally ëfeelsí like book, except that it is electronic, then it probably is a book.î

Or is it? Without regard to the
comparative haptic features the electronic book mismatches the print book, both in cataloging and in reading in another important aspect. Ebooks must be cataloged in a context of their ìmode of access or system requirements necessary for their operationî. With a print book the interface remains the reader alone.

back to books

Who wrote the Gospels? Turns out that the first century authors were not reporting on events, they were reading and rewriting now lost books. These precursive manuscripts; venerated, inspiring and yet troubling books of the period, engendered a world religion.
Books are still witnesses to the spirit world.

Get the whole story, including the news that Luke was a woman, from Randel Helms’
Who Wrote the Gospels.

national security

“I still think that the war should stay an important issue. Why shouldn’t
those people who supported the war be held accountable?
People ask whether the world is safer without Saddam Hussein. I heard an
interesting twist on that theme. In Europe they think the world would be safer
without Bush. Absolutely the world would be safer with Dean.” (from the
Blog)

electability

“Are you going to vote for the President who took our nation to war or just
one of the Senators who supported him?”
“Are you going to vote for the President who cut your taxes or just one of
the Senators who supported him?”
“Are you going to vote for the President who appointed John Ashcroft or just
one of the Senators who confirmed him?”
See where this goes?

None of them can beat Bush in November. Only Dean gives America a real choice – a centrist common sense democrat. (from the
Blog)

reactivate Dean Corp

The momentum of the Dean campaign turns our to be a momentum for progressive self governance. So the best approach to the next four years will be a reactivation of Dean Corp, the local community work crews. In the twilight of our place as a peaceful and productive nation we can only help each other.

useful poll information

While relative positions are suspect, polls can indicate turn-around. Today
Zogby shows a Dean turn up and Kerry turn down.

Screamingly honest Dean is more Presidential than the current President who formally lies to the American people and casually casts the nation into debt and global disrespect.

we will never give up

“Dean infused (and is likely still infusing) a better and more open discourse among all the candidates and among Democratic leaders. He has channeled the
anger (yes, it is anger) with the Bush administration about the war, individual freedoms, taxation, public policy, etc., etc., into a much more up-front discussion. The other candidates are openly countering Bush
policies and in their rebuttals to the State of the Union — I believe that Nancy Pelosi and Tom Daschle echoed Dean-infused sentiments about the address and the administration itself that they might not have raised 6
months ago when everyone was still cow-towing to the administration. In other words, Dean and his supporters have raised the debate to one that is suddenly in the national collective currency. This is no small thing –
whether or not Dean wins the nomination, he and his supporters will have achieved something that is perhaps greater and more valuable.”Anne Baber Wallis, Professor, University of Iowa

Kerry and Edwards over Dean

Most of our neighbors went for Kerry in the caucus. The feeling was that Kerry will be able to correct mismanaged military intervention but of course we only need such a correction because of Bush adventuring. Edwards got a boost when Gebhardt preference caucus participants crossed over to Edwards.

The Dean supporters were predominately first time caucus participants and young. This contingent and its energizing candidate probably accounts for the immense turnout more than twice the highest projection. Johnson county high projection was 6,000 caucus attendance. In 57 precincts we had awsome turnout well over 12,000.

Howard Dean will continue. He has set the stage for the displacement of Bush.

MLK day and Iowa Caucus day

Dr. King’s struggle was one of engagement. Activism. Participation. “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict,” said King. (from Craig)

Howard Dean had his last rally before the caucus here in Iowa City. Joyce and I were on the stage with other precinct captains. The fire department closed the door after the first 1,800 packed the room. The Storm volunteers (from other states) dutifully left to enable more Iowans to get in.

The furvor and cheers were well beyond reality. It was difficult to hear the Governor on stage, but we all knew much of the content by heart and chanted along with our favorite passages. After his speech he went down into the crowd. He was attracted to those with a handicap and deliberately grasped them on both shoulders. We saw the expressions of everyone he greeted. It was like a live feed from a Gospel.

two ways of life

In the final days before the caucus the appeal of the various Democratic contenders can still be distinguished. Gebhardt and Kerry will “fight for you” while Dean will empower you to fight for yourself.

Perhaps most Americans want their President to do their own democratic duty perhaps most want only to “eat, shop and relax”. Joe Trippi says that the Dean campaign, on the other hand, calls citizens to civic duty. Which offer will find support?

The 18th c. American fight for independence provoked a minority of patriots to step forward. With a combination of boldness and luck they succeeded. So far the Dean movement has also had boldness and luck. It has also brought out true patriots who have the National well being in mind.

PBI on Sandy River

The
2004 Paper and Book Intensive program will occur at an OxBow but on Sandy River east of Portland.

“Now celebrating its twenty-first year, Paper and Book Intensive is a working sabbatical for practitioners and serious students in the book arts, papermaking, and conservation. Daily class sessions are combined with lectures, discussions, and shared meals, to promote unusual levels of exchange and inspiration. PBI 2004 is our opportunity to revisit the Western United States and some of the wonderful book and paper people who inhabit its rugged terrain. The lineup of instructors is stunning.”

AIC also in Oregon this year

The
annual meeting of the American Institute for Conservation will take place June. Gary of FotB will be presenting on the
application of sewn board technique to book conservation practice.

Art of the Book Colloquium

Emilly Martin of
Naughty Dog Press and Gary Frost of Future of the Book Bindery will offer a two day
workshop February 26-27 at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Be there or be (papyrus book sheet) square!

demise or renewal?

In these last days before the Iowa caucus it is apparent that Howard Dean will work through to the nomination. But without a clear momentum for Dean the Democratic party and its contending candidates will divide itself and falter in the general election. We must all “caucus for Dean” now.

MIT Preservation

The
Preservation Services department at the MIT Libraries has kindly linked to FotB.

We, the People

“We, a campaign of the people, have the power to take our country back, to make sure the people run the government. You have the power to revitalize our democracy and restore the United States to a place of respect in the world.

I ask you to stand up and stand together with me. To stand up to the special interests and the political establishment. To stand up for our democracy. No one is going to do it for you — you have to do it, you have to stand up for change.” Howard Dean

Howard Dean has already accomplished more for the American people in a few months than the Bush administration has in four years. And he did it as an “outsider” which certainly reflects poorly on the concensus of the establishment. In fact the Bush administration is its own worst enemy, unaware that its self-interests are at odds with the common good and our National well being.

Caucus for Dean

The headquarters for the campaign here in Iowa City will impload the day after caucus as all the staffers move on to assignments in other states. But at the moment it is a vortex of staff projects and phone banks of “storm” volunteers. We struggle to get across the floor to report our new supporters in Coralville precinct one.

We stay up most of the night discussing developments because we run our own campaign in CV01. Peter from Oregon is staying here with us and helping out. A physician, he set aside his practice to work full time for Dean. He reminds us that it is like the 60’s again.

“There is only one thing that George Bush’s $200 million in corporate contibutions can’t buy .(turn over the postcard) .the American People.”
Iowans for Dean

Common Sense, 21 c. edition

Drawing from some of America’s most influential historical figures,
Common Sense for a New Century proposes that the very values that helped found our United States over 225 years ago are at stake in the 2004 election.

Common Sense was the first American best seller. It sold 120,000 copies in
the first three months after its publication in January 1776. An estimated
500,000 copies were sold that year. Such sales were phenomenal, considering
that the population of the entire country was only about 1.5 million.

Although the Revolutionary War began in April of 1775, its aims were
ill-defined. Prior to the publication of Common Sense, not one of the
thirteen colonies had instructed its delegation to the Continental Congress
to vote in favor of independence. The best estimates are that only
one-third of the delegates to Congress favored independence. Certainly
other writings and events helped shift public opinion in favor of
independence, but no single writing or event had the profound effect of the
arguments advanced by Paine in Common Sense.

“We are not going to promise the American people a paradise. Instead they are going to hear a summons to do their duty.” Joe Trippi

***“the Harry Truman of our generation”

Tom Harkin has endorsed Howard Dean.

“Tom Harkin said yesterday that the Bush administration – and their
special interest cronies plan not just to trash the Democratic
candidate, but to poison the entire political atmosphere.

But together, by taking action, we are going to stop them. And we are
going to change our country.” Joe Trippi

***“bring the ebooks home”

TeleRead is an extensive ebook news site.

“TeleRead would not instantly eliminate paper books from the existing library systems–in fact, it never would. Paper books will always be with us even though the younger generation is increasingly screen oriented. The plan is more about evolution than revolution.”

(Disregard any projection that assumes the equivalence of paper and screen based monographs.)

yes librarians for Dean

Librarians are the most networked community, they must enjoy the on-line momentum of the Dean movement. But still no national blog .

an 18th century letter in the digital mode

“Let me be clear, your allegation is ridiculous. The 3,500 volunteers who have pledged to come to Iowa by caucus time are people who believe in a better America and a stronger democracy. Many are first time voters who have chosen to reengage in the political process because they understand that government has stopped working for the people. They know that Howard Dean is a different type of politician, and if we asked them to participate in the activities you allege, they would get in their cars and drive home.” Joe Trippi

Joe Trippi’s
letter January 8, in defense of the Dean movement has the impact and meaning of a communication from Thomas Paine.

“Two Over two hundred years ago, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet that would light the fire that forged our nation. He called it ìCommon Sense.î Passed from hand to hand, patriot to patriot, it was a call to action for those Americans who believed their government had to change. It spelled out the values of a new republic. And King George IIIówho had forgotten his own people in favor of special interestsówas replaced by a government of, by and for the people. America was born.” Howard Dean

FotB manifesto

Digital discovery, research, and connectivity augment the relationships between books. These resources are similar to traditional human resources that
construct meaning and new content between print materials. The senario in which digital resources supplant print resources has not occurred. The explanation for the overlaps including “inside the book” engines is that the digital resources integrate and therefore can mimic all the reading modes. But their superiority, beyond the technological achievement of simultaneously screening verbal, written and print modes into a readable matrix, is overrated. For one thing the richness of expression of the visual/verbal mode is not approached, the conceptual exercise of the written mode is not fully required and the permanence and systematic accumulation of the print mode are not achieved. Digital research is still an accessory of the parent reading modes.

Writing Space, the 3rd edition

I am still trying to find one sentence in the 2nd edition that is similar to any sentence in the 1st. This is an extreme hypertextual experience. I wish to get back to some precepts of the 1st edition but cannot find them in the 2nd.

“If computers do embody intelligence, then they do so just as printed books and manuscripts have done.”
Jay Bolter appears to have shifted from this premise of the 1st edition (1991) only because the increasing connectivity that has emerged by the 2nd edition (2001) appeared too expansive and responsive not to consider it a superceding mode.

The future of the book position here is that the book is refashioning cyberspace not the other way around. Connectivity and electronic search is infilling meanings between printed books. The achievement of connectivity only provides a composite screening of all reading modes. It merges reading modes of orality, writing and print but only augments these parent modes.

***” and that is exactly what we are going to do.”

The truth is the power to change this country is in your hands, not in mine. You have the power to take back the democratic party, give us new leadership so we can beat these republicans again. You have the power to take back our country so that the flag of the United States is no longer the sole property of John Ashcroft and Rush Limbaugh and Jerry Falwell, it belongs to every single one of us again. And together we have the power to take the White House back in 2004.”

We continue to work to motivate caucus participation here in Iowa. Howard Dean will make his last campaign visit to Iowa one week from Monday right here in Coralville. He must then move on to campaign in other states. He will return to Iowa again as President because we are going to elect him ourselves.