Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

On 08/13/98, Michael Scarpitti <mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> wrote:
>
> You seem to have a knack for catching the end of a trail of messages
> and drawing incorrect conclusions. Let's say I want to buy (not
> borrow) a book published in 1981 (Approaches to Translation by Peter
> Newmark). Let's say I go to my friendly neighborhood college
> bookstore and try to order it. Let's say I get back a notice saying
> "out of print"? I go to Bibliofind on the network and try a search,
> which comes up empty. Now, Mr. Henderson, you tell me: What the hell
> am I supposed to do?

Well, many people would go to a LIBRARY, check it out, and continue searching in the meantime. Most books eventually show up in 2nd hand book stores. You must be patient. I once took a class where the professor required an out of print book (all homework was assigned out of it too). All the library copies were put on reserve and the whole class worked at the library on the classwork. It is not always convinenient, but neither is life. This is the purpose of a library.

Another option is to go to used bookstores YOURSELF. I have found more books that way than by calling places. Many used bookstores have no clue as to their entire collection - some books have been there for years.

If you know of a professor who has assigned the book sometime recently, advertise on that campus for the book. If it isn't being used, it can't be sold back to a college bookstore and won't sell well in other campus used book sales. Students will often jump at the chance to make a few bucks back on books they think they will never use again.

It is unclear from your signature what exactly you do, so I cannot tell if you need the book for your personal use or not. For personal use, a library book should be just fine, unless you want it to take apart and scan the pages which we all know is not a proper usage for a 1981 book. If it is for company use, a library book (perhaps ILL) may due to satisfy the current need until you can locate a copy. (I vaguely remember that UMI is able to make photocopies of entire books for some outrageous fee. Presumably a large portion of the fee goes to the CCC which would then go to the publisher and pay royalities if there are some to be paid).

You have many more options available. USE THEM!!

                                   Sincerely,
                                   Angela Putney, Ph.D.
                                   Physics Management Fellow
                                   American Institute of Physics
                                   One Physics Ellipse
                                   College Park, MD 20740
     
                                   Phone: 301-209-3135
                                   Fax:     301-209-3133
                                   E-mail: aputney[_at_]aip.org