PDF

Now that I have finally caught up on the assignments (pretty much - still have a few more scout portal entries to add), I am ready to read the next text for LIS 2000. Before cracking open the copy that I bought, I always check for a free source, hoping to return the one on my shelf unused. I had requested ILLs on most of the books at the beginning of the term, because my local library didn't have them. Most of the ILLs have not come through in time, so I have had to use my copies afterall.

Today, I noticed a post on the LIS 2000 db that "The Wealth of Networks" was available on PDF from WikiCommons. Sure enough! A little more googling and I am looking at a free PDF of the book for this week's review, "The Access Principle." Wow! I know some authors must think this is a good idea, and based on the topic of the book, I can guess why Willinsky is offering it this way. But I have to wonder why a publisher would go along with it. I just don't get the economics of it. I, for one, will return the copy I paid for and read the PDF. I've already printed out the first few chapters, then I'll read a few more on-line. The book is still in hardback, so I had to pay $25 or so for it. All I had to do to get the PDF was a simple, free registration with MIT Press. Couldn't have been easier.

I don't have a real head for business, but this just doesn't seem to make sense.