Bookcrossing - Track Books You Have Shared

Bookcrossing is a community of 747,682 book lovers in nearly 150 countries who share books among friends. As the books are shared they make their way further and further (and maybe back nearer) the original owner. Bookcrossing tracks the books geographically as they migrate! What a cool idea.

You simply register the book on the site, receive a tracking number and inscribe it on your book before sending it on its way. As each new reader receives it, they simply log it into the site and eventually pass it on.

There is much more available at the site including forums, book search, reviews and comments and much more!

University of Michigan and Books on Demand

Finally an Espresso Book Machine from On Demand Books is installed in a library and working -not as a demonstration project but simply as an additional library service. From the University of Michgan's press release: "The book machine, located in the Shapiro Library lobby on U-M's Central Campus, prints out-of-copyright books from the University's digitized collections. At a cost of about $10 per book, the service is available to researchers, students and the public.

The printing process begins with a reader selecting a digitized book from U-M's pre-1923 collection or from another online source, such as the Open Content Alliance. Most books printed prior to the early 1920s can be reprinted without seeking the permission from whomever holds the copyright. Then the file is downloaded to the Espresso Book Machine, where it is formatted, printed and perfect bound with a four-color cover. A finished printed book takes 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of pages."

Here's a link to the press release and a short video. Imagine someday visiting a library with another networked Espresso Book Machine and buying a copy of a book from the University of Michigan's collection in just a few minutes! How cool is that!?