Standard Ebooks: liberated ebooks, carefully produced for the true book lover (standardebooks.org)

Article summary

The discussion revolves around Standard Ebooks, a project that produces high-quality, liberated ebooks from public domain works, often sourced from Project Gutenberg. The project aims to make these works more accessible and readable for the average user. Contributors can sponsor the production of new ebooks, with costs starting at $900 plus $0.02 per word over 100,000 words. The project prioritizes making material accessible, rather than just preserving it.

Main themes

• Ebook production
• Public domain works
• Accessibility
• Copyright issues
• Digital preservation
• Volunteer contributions

What commenters say

• The Standard Ebooks project is a valuable resource for those seeking high-quality, public domain ebooks, and its focus on accessibility is commendable.
• Some commenters feel that the cost of sponsoring a new ebook is reasonable, given the work involved in producing a high-quality digital edition.
• Others argue that the cost is too high, especially considering that the book must already be transcribed online.
• There is a need for projects like Standard Ebooks, as libraries often prioritize preservation over accessibility and may not accept contributions from individuals.
• The use of scans from sources like Internet Archive can be problematic due to potential copyright issues and poor quality.
• Contributors to the project must signal their intent to work on a book to avoid duplication of effort, and the project has a clear process for producing and publishing ebooks.
• Some commenters appreciate the project's focus on making material accessible, rather than just preserving it, and see it as a valuable resource for readers.
• The project's approach to copyright and licensing is seen as a strength, as it prioritizes making public domain works available to all.