Platform 9 3/8ths: Rowling and The Book

I am going to go out on a limb and bet most anybody alive in the last week has heard that J. K. Rowling, author of You Know What, released a new book.  I got tired of typing her name after one article, so I started collecting everything I read and decided to make a little story about it.  Here you go:

Once upon a time, in the land of Eng Land, there was a billionaire author, J. K. "Joking" Rowling, who decided to write a new book that had nothing to do with the books for which she was known.  Feeling the burden of progress, Joking decided to write some sexy, drug stuff and would not apologize for it.

When The Book came out, the first viewers looked once, then looked twice and were turned into the dreaded "Reviewers," friend or foe a billionaire can never tell.  The First Reviewer cast down the mighty Joking.  Despite this, The Book was set to make history in the form of money.  Conservative Reviewers called The Book "leftist screed."  Then, The New Yorking Timers Reviewers gave their word, and it was displeased.  Finally, the Huddled Masses Reviewers said it was cool by them.

The Library began to set up shop to dispense the book to the public, expecting long waiting lists.  Moms were especially excited, tired of all that kid wizard shit*.

During the furor, Joking claims that the books that every loved may becoming back, probably to get away from the fact that The eBook was expensive.

Then, disaster struck.  eCopies of The eBook, given away to first buyers of The Paper Copy Book, The eBook was broken.  One assumes people were on that.

One also assumes the billionaire Joking went about her life.

*Kid Wizard Shit is my hip hop name.

Article Seems Proud That 'Only' Thirteen Books Were Banned in Texas This Year

I am not sure about the tone of the article linked below.  A blog post from the Houston Chronicle, the article makes note of Banned Books Week while also saying that this is the lowest number Texas communities have banned in a decade.  Is this pride of some kind of slight progression or a surprise that this is still going on.  As a blog post, the tone is ambiguous, at least on the first quick read through.  Here's some stats they quote:

"Most books land on the banned list because of sex, profanity, nudity, violence, religion, race and/or politics. Asking parents to sit down and read the titles that concern them before making official complaints in writing has helped streamline complaints and bring the numbers of banned books down, Burke says.

Some titles on this year’s list were banned by elementary schools because the content was deemed too mature for young students. In some cases, administrators recommended the books be taught in upper grades in the same district."

I applaud bringing awareness to the cause, whatever the intention.  I also applaud the Texas education system for educating parents as well as children.  Hopefully next year the number will be zero.

Books banned in Texas public schools, 2011-2012 - Houston Chronicle (blog)

Kentucky Encourages Reading with Licence Plates

Kentucky introduced a new "Kentucky Reads" licence plate to support public libraries in the state.  The campaign celebrates the continued usage of public libraries in Kentucky.  To get a hold of the plate, all you have to do is move to Kentucky and pay $25. 

What to do with this story?  As a Mississippian, a state known for our illiteracy rates as much as our writing, I can not go for the obvious reading joke.  Horse and bourbon jokes also seem uncouth, because, well... those things are awesome.  Part of me just wants to find a picture of Mr. Ed with a book, but I am lazy and writing this from a tablet and that would be a pain in the ass.  Ooo!

I hope this does not encourage reading while riding on your drunken horse.

Aaaand, Thank you.

New license plate encourages drivers to 'Support Kentucky's Libraries' - The Lane Report

Author Torrent's His Book, Google Disables His Ads

Google disables ads on blog after author Cody Jackson linked to a torrent on his blog to his self published book.  Jackson gives away the book, Learning to Program with Python, in both ebook and paperback editions and uses ad revenue from Adsense to generate income.  Google felt the link violated their terms of piracy of copywritten material, so they disabled his ads.  The case has since been resolved, but the issue raises interesting questions about Google's customer service policy.

On one hand, you can not blame Google for having a catch all policy about copywritten material.  They handle millions of accounts every day and can not police all of them personally.  However, it would be nice if the company could put some folks to work answering the phones.  I just hope by writing about this, my own ad space is not threatened, but I guess that would be evil which is also against Google's policy.

Google disables ads on author’s website for torrenting his own book

Penguin Group Sues Writers, That's One Way to Promote Self Publishing

Penguin Group is seeking repayment of nearly $577,000 paid to writers in advance for the promise of books.  The odd part that most are noticing is the low amount they are looking to recoup, all under $100,000 and one around the $12,000 mark.

Now, I know that to some of you that sounds like a ton of money.  Hell, that last amount alone could change my way of life significantly (Hint: I'd buy top shelf bread rather than the day old stuff.)  But as the article linked below points out, think about the professional writer who looks at that money not as a boon, but as half to a year's salary while he/she toils over their manuscript.  

So why is Penguin Group trying to get that cash back?  Are they doing the literary equivalent of checking under the seat cushions for loose change?  Do they have a book deal on the horizon that may just change their budget?  Say, how's that new Rowling book doing...  "I wonder if she'd do another Harry Potter," he implies pointedly.

Penguin Group Sues Writers Over Book Advances - Businessweek

New Jersey School Librarians On the Way Out?

The number of New Jersey school librarians and media specialists has shown a decline in recent years.  The Philiadelphia Inquirer reports:

"Over the last five years, the number of certified library/media specialists in New Jersey public schools has dropped by almost 15 percent, according to the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, whose own membership has been cut almost in half.

There were 1,580 certified specialists statewide last year, down from 1,850 in 2007-08, serving about 2,500 schools."

Fifteen percent in five years.  Following the trend, there will be none in twenty-five years.  Or some, but they won't be happy. A baker's dozen overworked librarians checking out the same copy of Cat in the Hat to eighth graders, or whatever they read at that age.  Think about that, New Jersey, if you can read this.

Also, why did I have to get this from a Philadelphia news source?  Have they let go all the New Jersey reporters, too?

N.J. school librarians are reduced in volume - Philadelphia Inquirer

United Kingdom Asks, "Wha's Dat eBooks Lending All About, Then?"

The United Kingdom is looking for ways to lend eBooks in libraries. Cultural Minister Ed Vaizey had this to say:

"E-lending is currently in its infancy but growing fast. Just as e-readers are transforming the way people access books, e-lending could help transform the way people use libraries"

Ain't it just amazing how information and information type issues just go viral around the world?  I mean, here we are, down of a new millenia, and people are coming up with more problems for themselves.  Am I right?  Boy, this reminds me of when my grandpappy used to talk about PUTTING FUCKING BOOKS IN LIBRARIES.  

Sorry, but this is a pain in the ass topic for me.  I get all the issues.  The publishers want to make sure they get paid, the authors want their books out there and the libraries want to share like they always have.  It just hurts to keep reading the same articles over and over again.  One step forward, two steps back.  Blah, blah, blah.

UK government looks at ways to put ebooks in libraries Via Library Stuff