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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Random Thoughts on a Summer Friday (In Which I’ve Buried the Lede)

That "Local First" angle is what disturbs me the most, latching on to a legitimate movement whose most compelling hook focuses on locally sourced goods and sustainability, to support booksellers whose primary focus is usually selling the products of multi-national corporations who treat them like second-class citizens. The bookstores that are true pillars of their communities don't need hollow slogans and dreams of going viral on YouTube, because they prove on a daily basis why they matter to their communities.

Continue ReadingRandom Thoughts on a Summer Friday (In Which I’ve Buried the Lede)
NOLA Water Meter Cap

Dear Hipsters: Please Don’t Ruin New Orleans For Me

If you're eyeballing New Orleans, do so with the big picture in mind and think about the future. Their school system is a tangled mess of ill-conceived "reforms," and since I suspect you're going to love it there and some of you will end up living there and having kids, start paying attention now and look for ways to have a positive impact.

Continue ReadingDear Hipsters: Please Don’t Ruin New Orleans For Me
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Why DRM is a Toothless Boogeyman, Ebooks are like Video Games, and Amazon is the Winner

It's not a huge stretch to posit Amazon as the reverse-Valve of the ebook world, constantly pushing the envelope in unexpected ways, aggressively experimenting with pricing, developing a core of popular franchises, while staying focused on delivering and optimizing the best consumer experience.

Continue ReadingWhy DRM is a Toothless Boogeyman, Ebooks are like Video Games, and Amazon is the Winner
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Rethinking Engagement: Facebook and Permission Marketing

If you think of a “Like” as an opt-in, you’re as close to the value proposition of an email list as it gets outside of actually acquiring that email, and you should treat the content you post to your Facebook Page with as much care and attention as you do your email newsletters. Even better, think of your Facebook Page as a key component of your brand’s overall audience development strategy, complementing your website and email program, and as your audience there grows, leverage Facebook Insights as aggressively as your web analytics to inform and evolve your content strategy.

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Pottermore—When Disintermediation Goes Awry

While it's interesting to see the affiliate script flipped on Amazon, with their redirecting traffic to purchase the ebooks (surely with a nice cut of the revenue), the user experience leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you're used to purchasing your ebooks via the Kindle itself and/or the apps. The whole setup seems to be targeting hardcore fans—most of whom have probably already downloaded the ebooks for free via a torrent site—while asking the more casual reader to jump through hoops Amazon and B&N, in particular, have worked hard to eliminate.

Continue ReadingPottermore—When Disintermediation Goes Awry
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Ebooks and Libraries: Is it Worth the Effort?

Since publishers are so concerned with the “perpetuity of lending and simultaneity of availability” of their ebooks, I have to wonder if libraries shouldn’t just help them out and hit the STOP button themselves? Stop buying ebooks across the board, at any price, under any terms.

Continue ReadingEbooks and Libraries: Is it Worth the Effort?
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Moving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2

The latest edition of Book^2 Camp, a publishing and technology "unconference," took place yesterday, and while it lacked the star power of last year's Margaret Atwood appearance, it was another worthwhile Sunday afternoon full of thoughtful conversations about the future of publishing. Three quick takeaways.

Continue ReadingMoving Beyond THE BOOK; Three Takeaways from #Book2
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