I’m getting ready for the Ithaca Lace Day in October.  I’m taking Binche,
and am all set with sufficient books.  But a friend is taking a different
course, and scrambling to find a used copy of the preferred book, which is out
of print.  Used copies are scarce and very expensive, new ones are the price
of a cheap intercontinental flight.  From time to time discussions concerning
copyright infringement arise on this list, including the lack of profit for
authors.  A book that is out of print is a problem for everyone except the
used book sellers.  The author is not getting royalties, the patrons either
cannot find the book, or sometimes are paying extortionate prices for them.
One never really knows whether one’s labor of love will be successful.  But
when it is, such a book sells out, there is still a demand, and the author is
deprived of well deserved income through royalties.

We now have the capacity to print books on demand.  As I understand it, you
hand the disc to the printer, tell how many copies are needed, and in due
course the books appear for sale.  It may not be that simple, but it seems to
be a good investment for an author to have such a disc, to provide copies for
future book buyers.  The author may have a tidy pension, readers get to learn,
and the propagation of knowledge and lacemaking continues.

I say this even though I have shelves of books that will provide a useful
legacy to my heirs.

Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US, where it’s still cloudy, just begun to
rain a bit, but the river behind my house is retreating.  The big river, the
Susquehanna has yet to crest, homes have been evacuated, damage along its
banks is sometimes extensive, and damages to roads and such has yet to be
assessed.

-
To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line:
unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to
[email protected]. Photo site:
http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003

Reply via email to