Comments on: Help Readergirlz donate 125,000 great books to low-income teens http://boingboing.net/2010/11/30/help-readergirlz-don.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: SonOfSamSeaborn http://boingboing.net/2010/11/30/help-readergirlz-don.html#comment-953116 SonOfSamSeaborn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-953116 It's a good point, but if you obtain a plaintext book it's probably not technically legal unless you own a hard copy. It's a shame there isn't an open, standard ebook format with widespread adoption, and that indeed for every device there is another prop format with more manufacturers announcing devices every month or so. Also, in the old traditional way, I love paper books and would love to be able to encourage their use. I hope this extends to the UK as well because my God there are some dumb shits with money here. It’s a good point, but if you obtain a plaintext book it’s probably not technically legal unless you own a hard copy. It’s a shame there isn’t an open, standard ebook format with widespread adoption, and that indeed for every device there is another prop format with more manufacturers announcing devices every month or so.

Also, in the old traditional way, I love paper books and would love to be able to encourage their use. I hope this extends to the UK as well because my God there are some dumb shits with money here.

]]> By: Lorie Ann Grover http://boingboing.net/2010/11/30/help-readergirlz-don.html#comment-953394 Lorie Ann Grover Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-953394 Thanks, Cory! Thanks, Cory!

]]> By: timbearcub http://boingboing.net/2010/11/30/help-readergirlz-don.html#comment-953160 timbearcub Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-953160 is there a similar scheme like this in the UK? I always remember as a kid being sent a book as part of a publisher/magazine hookup to send out free books, it was great - and meant I bought that series of books where I could...I can see how for those with no money free books are a lifeline. is there a similar scheme like this in the UK?

I always remember as a kid being sent a book as part of a publisher/magazine hookup to send out free books, it was great – and meant I bought that series of books where I could…I can see how for those with no money free books are a lifeline.

]]> By: Brian Minter http://boingboing.net/2010/11/30/help-readergirlz-don.html#comment-954797 Brian Minter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-954797 Those are great questions (I work for First Book). First Book has been around for a while, and the model of getting books to kids has been a good one. Everyone is aware of advances in the tech we use for reading, but there are lots of challenges, as you might imagine. Getting books (in whatever form) into the hands of kids who wouldn't otherwise have them is the goal. I love paper books too. But I accept that, one day, they *probably* won't be how we read. At present, First Book operates in the U.S. and Canada. (The effort that Readergirlz is making has been really awesome, by the way.) Those are great questions (I work for First Book). First Book has been around for a while, and the model of getting books to kids has been a good one. Everyone is aware of advances in the tech we use for reading, but there are lots of challenges, as you might imagine. Getting books (in whatever form) into the hands of kids who wouldn’t otherwise have them is the goal.

I love paper books too. But I accept that, one day, they *probably* won’t be how we read.

At present, First Book operates in the U.S. and Canada.

(The effort that Readergirlz is making has been really awesome, by the way.)

]]> By: vmaldia http://boingboing.net/2010/11/30/help-readergirlz-don.html#comment-953083 vmaldia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-953083 In my country a touch screen cell phone that can be used to read TXT books and documents can cost like US$70 and an android cell phone can cost US$250. A cheapo chinese knockoff of the 7 inch ipad maybe costs US$110. Wouldnt it be cheaper faster and more efficient in the long run to just get one of these devices for each kid and give them e-books instead of using paper books? In my country a touch screen cell phone that can be used to read TXT books and documents can cost like US$70 and an android cell phone can cost US$250. A cheapo chinese knockoff of the 7 inch ipad maybe costs US$110. Wouldnt it be cheaper faster and more efficient in the long run to just get one of these devices for each kid and give them e-books instead of using paper books?

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