by Public Libraries on May 21, 2013
Stephen King, one of the best-selling authors of our time, was once considered to be a pioneer in the world of digital books. Now, he’s taking a stand in the book industry and will not be releasing his latest novel “Joyland” in digital form. King claims that he is withholding the digital rights in order to take a stand against the ebook industry and inspire readers to buy physical books again.
“Joyland” is a classic coming-of-age story that is set in 1973 at an American amusement park, and as anything King writes, is expected to resonate with his fans. This book will be available in stores on June 4, but people who rely strictly on their Kindles and iPads to read will be disappointed that they can’t download their copy in an instant. King told the Wall Street Journal on May 19 that he has no intention of releasing the digital rights anytime in the immediate future. He noted that one day he might release the rights, but for now he wants people to head to their local bookstores to buy their copy of his latest novel.
It’s a move that will surely be appreciated by the local bookstores that are struggling in downtown areas all across America. Between giant warehouses like Amazon and the ebook revolution, hometown bookstores have had a rough time in the last decade. They can’t compete with the prices of Amazon and other online book retailers who sell books at a significant discount, and they can’t provide the same ease-of-use that tablets and ereaders offer the end user.
In a way, King’s decision is a bit ironic. It’s been 13 years now since he released a digital-only copy of one of his books. In 2000, digital books were all but unheard of, and King decided he would help get people talking about this new technology by releasing a strictly digital form of his recent release at the time, “Riding the Bullet.” At the time, King was one of the first authors to release a digital-only book and therefore is considered one of the pioneers of the ebook industry.
King’s protest of the ebook industry comes at a time when the digital book industry is hitting an all-time high. Recent reports show that the industry grew by 44 percent from 2011 to 2012. According to results from BookStats that were published in the Wall Street Journal, the ebook industry generated about $3 billion in revenue in 2012.
Those who watch the book industry, and in particular the ebook industry, will be taking note of this relatively monumental move. Experts are not sure if any other authors will do the same, or if King will be alone in withholding his digital rights for new releases. Even more interesting is the fact that King has another book set to be released this fall which is getting more hype. It has not yet been announced whether this long-awaited novel, titled “Doctor Sleep,” will be available in digital form.
by Public Libraries on May 9, 2013
First Lady Michelle Obama recognized 10 different institutions throughout the United States on May 8 with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service for their exemplary performance throughout 2013. The First Lady stated that these institutions went above and beyond the call of duty throughout the past year, providing members of the public with a place where they could go to learn and experience new things.
Mrs. Obama noted that a library in today’s world must do more than just provide free rental books and a quiet place to study for people who live in the area. Today’s libraries are expected to not only have plenty of books available for residents of all ages, but there also must be programs put in place to help the community, Internet access available and educational opportunities provided to the people who frequent the library. To make the challenge of running a library even greater, most of these institutions have to provide more opportunities with less resources available to them.
The following institutions were given the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service:
- Waukegan, Illinois Public Library
- Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in Ohio
- Rancho Cucamonga Public Library in California
- Pierce County Library System in Tacoma, Washington
- Marshalltown Public Library in Iowa
- National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Boston Children’s Museum
- Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California
- Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio
- Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi
The medal awards ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama presented the awards to the representatives from the recipient institutions along with the Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Susan Hildreth. This particular medal is the highest honor that can be conferred on a museum or library in the United States, and the recipients who receive this award each year boast it as a badge of honor. It shows to everyone in the community that the institutions works hard to provide quality programs and opportunities in order to improve the area at large.
In 2013, winners were chosen in order to show the diversity of the different types of institutions that are operating throughout the United States. Seven states were represented at the 2013 awards ceremony, showcasing that great things are happening across the entire country. This year’s ceremony also highlighted the way that these libraries and museums impacted the lives of people who live and work in their respective communities.
Every year, the winners of this prestigious medal are selected from a pool of nominees. The winners are chosen based on the fact that they have gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to community outreach programs. Each individual institution that won in 2013 will be visited by a StoryCorps representative this year in order to document stories that take place in their community. It is a way to preserve their impact on the community for many generations to come.
