PRINT VERSUS DIGITAL PUBLICATION

We recently received the message below from the head of a scholarly press, inviting Richard Koenigsberg to publish his writings in book form. With appreciation and respect, we declined. As Clay Shirky stated: "Putting something on paper used to be a way of increasing the number of copies in circulation, and now it’s a way of decreasing the number of copies in circulation, by comparison to the digital media."

Mary Helen Guider-Shaw
Director of Public Relations

-----Original Message-----

From: editor

Subject: Your scholarly work

Dear Dr. Koenigsberg:

I have read your work for many years. I think that you are one of the most important thinkers in the world today. Unfortunately I am not linked to the web and I do not read things that are published there.

Would you allow me to bring out print editions of your books so that traditional scholars like myself can have access to what you are writing? I would be happy to publish whatever you write in the form that you have written it and I will do it as no cost to you. If you want this or not, I can think of no other way that I can pay homage to you.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen Guider-Shaw
Director of Public Relations
Library of Social Science
Phone: (630) 212-0485
Email: mhgs@libraryofsocialscience