Project Gutenberg, a visionary concept that revolutionized the accessibility of literature, stands as a testament to the transformative power of technology in the realm of knowledge and scholarship. Comparable in significance to the Gutenberg press of the 15th century, Project Gutenberg has democratized access to thousands of literary works, making them freely available to anyone with internet access. This digital library, founded by Michael Hart in 1971, has become a cornerstone of the electronic book movement, challenging traditional paradigms of distribution and ownership in the publishing industry.
In 1971, Michael Hart, a man with a vision for the future of reading, initiated the concept of electronic books, or e-books. This innovation is widely recognized as a monumental leap in the history of knowledge dissemination, paralleling the impact of the Gutenberg press, which emerged five centuries earlier. E-books, unlike their printed counterparts, are considered public goods; they can be produced, replicated, and distributed at virtually no cost. This means that anyone with even the most basic technological access can enjoy a vast array of literary works.
Project Gutenberg was established as a repository for tens of thousands of public domain texts, all freely accessible online. It has become the largest and most comprehensive collection of its kind, inspiring numerous imitators and mirror sites. The mainstreaming of e-books has attracted the attention of major commercial enterprises, including Microsoft, Yahoo, Amazon, and Google, all of which have entered the digital book market.
Michael Hart expressed his views on this shift: "As e-books become mainstream, giant commercial enterprises are trying to co-opt the e-book world, moving from its origins of 'Unlimited distribution' to the old 'Limited Distribution' paradigm of common business plans."
When asked about his feelings toward the entry of big players like Google Print Library and MSN Book Search into the e-book space, Hart acknowledged a sense of both vindication and neglect. Despite this, he emphasized that Project Gutenberg's success stems from its grassroots approach, contrasting with the top-down models that dominate the industry. Hart's vision was to create a "Trickle-UP" project that would change the world without the influence of money or corporate control.
Hart also addressed the issue of e-book piracy, suggesting that it is partly a reaction to exorbitant book prices and restrictive copyright laws. He pointed out that while the cost of goods like gasoline has increased tenfold since 1955, the price of paperbacks has risen by a factor of 40. This discrepancy has made books less accessible to many readers, potentially fueling the piracy market.
Project Gutenberg, with its vast online repository of public domain and copyrighted books, poses a challenge to the publishing industry's vested interests. Hart argued that publishers view any competition as an incursion on their turf and that copyright laws have historically been manipulated to protect their monopolies.
With books now being read on a variety of platforms, including PDAs, iPods, cell phones, and gaming consoles, Hart believed that the definition of the book would continue to evolve. He supported the idea of making e-books available in as many formats as possible to reach the widest audience.
Hart criticized governments and institutions for their lack of initiative in providing electronic public libraries, despite their claims of wanting to educate and provide for the masses. He highlighted the potential for e-books to bridge the digital divide and make literature accessible to billions of people worldwide.
Project Gutenberg operates primarily on volunteer efforts and donations of time and energy rather than financial contributions. Hart mentioned that the project does not receive corporate sponsorship or grants and operates independently of other Project Gutenberg initiatives around the world.
Hart predicted that machine translation would play a significant role in the future of Project Gutenberg and other e-text databases, potentially translating millions of books into hundreds of languages.
As Project Gutenberg approached its 35th anniversary in 2006, Hart invited ideas and participation from the community to mark the occasion and continue the project's mission of unlimited distribution of literature.
In conclusion, Hart emphasized the importance of choosing between free access to a public domain and a world where everything is copyrighted and controlled by commercial interests. Project Gutenberg stands as a beacon of hope for a future where technology enables the free flow of information and knowledge.
Project Gutenberg continues to be a vital resource for readers, educators, and researchers, offering over 60,000 free e-books as of my knowledge cutoff in 2023. It remains a symbol of the potential for technology to democratize access to literature and knowledge on a global scale.
The Ubiquitous Britannica 2015
Encyclopedia Britannica is now online and as a DVD. The print edition has been discontinued.
Pears Cyclopaedia 2014-5 Edition: Human Knowledge Encapsulated
Pears Cyclopaedia is the last remaining one volume reference work.
Envy as the Foundation of Capitalism
Envy is either destructive, or, as in the case of capitalism, constructive.
