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Greg Newby, CEO of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, has died (pgdp.net)

652 points by ron_k · 276 days ago · 105 comments on HN

Article summary

Dr. Gregory B. Newby, CEO of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, has passed away after a short battle with cancer. He worked closely with Distributed Proofreaders and was a key figure in the development of Project Gutenberg, helping to make over 75,000 ebooks available. Newby was also involved in the production of the Project Gutenberg Open Audiobook Collection, which was named one of the best inventions of 2023 by TIME magazine. He was a lifelong reader and cared deeply about making literature accessible to people.

Main themes

  • Project Gutenberg
  • Literary Archive Foundation
  • Ebook accessibility
  • Cultural preservation
  • Tribute to Greg Newby

What commenters say

  • Greg Newby was not the founder of Project Gutenberg, but rather the CEO of the associated nonprofit organization, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
  • The renaming of the thread to reflect Newby's actual role was a necessary correction to avoid giving him undue credit.
  • Some commenters believe that Harry Potter has had a significant impact on popular culture, supplying metaphors and narratives that are widely used, while others disagree.
  • The idea that most works are not very popular and may not be worth preserving is countered by the argument that even lesser-known works can have value and be worth making available.
  • The use of leading zeros in dates is a deliberate choice to promote a long-term perspective and avoid the ambiguity of two-digit year representations.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of preserving cultural works, with some arguing that it is not just about the popularity of the work, but also about its potential value to future generations.
  • Some commenters appreciate the work of Project Gutenberg and the Literary Archive Foundation in making ebooks and other cultural works available, and see it as a valuable resource.
  • The conversation also touches on the idea that the internet and digital platforms can be a powerful tool for preserving and sharing cultural heritage, but also raises questions about the challenges of doing so effectively.