I purchased an ebook reader a few weeks ago and have been searching the web for books. I found A.J. Campbell's, Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds here http://www.archive.org/details/nestseggsofaustr01camp and volume 2 here http://www.archive.org/details/nestseggsofaustr02camp It's out of copyright so is perfectly legal to download and they have it in several formats which should suit just about any ebook reader or computer. There's also several of Gould's books at this site.
Campbell's book was the first bird book I ever bought with my own money. I got it in the early 1970's and it cost me $65 which was a fortune to me back then. I worked at a dairy after school and on weekends for about 6 months to pay it off.
Sorry if this info has been posted before.
John
Hi Triker, sorry(?) , nobody has answered so far. I'm not commenting on the E-books either. As we are Bookbinders, we are not in favour of the electronic version of the real BOOK,as it might kill our livelihood.I hope, it will never replace the "printed book",one of the greatest Arts!!
There is nothing like a book in your library, to look at and feel, as you turn the pages! M-L
M-L
Thanks John for sharing these books.
While I may also prefer to hold a printed book - if that is not possible I will take whatever is available - these books are no longer easily (if at all) available in printed format. I hope we never lose the availability of printed books but I certainly do see their appeal and worth.
E-readers have (re)opened up a world to people who would otherwise not be able to obtain/use books in the usual way. I have an acquaintance in Alaska who is effectively housebound with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and is unable to hold an open normal book in her hands. Also, the frustration and time taken just to change pages of an open book on her lap impact greatly on her enjoyment - her e-reader has positively changed her life.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
Thanks for sharing the info re books available to download - I will have a look at the site, sounds interesting, especially the Gould books, I also like printed books but if legal and out of copyright, and can't be accessed eslewhere, this makes a lot of sense.
Meave
Thanks Triker for putting this info in a post, we were wondering if there were any books like this available and did not know where to look.
Jeanne
Brisbane QLD
I searched "birds" at the archive.org site and there is 100's of titles available. Searching "Australian birds" narrows it down a bit but there is still a few to choose from. They're all older books that are out of copyright. I'm currently reading John Gould's Handbook to the Birds of Australia. Interesting to note that in his preface dated 1865 he is calling for the protection of Australian birds.
John
Sorry, I can't help. I like real books myself. I even print PDFs so I can hold and read them. Just cannot stand reading on an LCD screen. :-(
Thanks Triker. What fantastic books. The observations are so interesting! ^_^
Thanks for sharing the books. I am not really that comfortable with using ebooks as I still prefer to use a physical book which I can write important notes on. It is good to be able to note whatever stuff you want that have an ebook reader with you in its place. Though for viewing and browsing at home, ebooks would also be a good option, but not for those who are pro paper books.
I like your thoughts on books alexd. I haven't heard of any valuable "First Editions" as Ebooks yet.So far we haven't bound a Ebook in leather yet either.(LOL) Funny that I haven't heard or seen any Ebook collector. M-L
M-L
I'm currently reading my first ebook. Eeeeeeeeeeeee!
Seriously, it's not so bad but it doesn't hold a candle to the real thing.
The advantages are
- the books are cheaper (so far)
The disadvantages are
- my ereader is an iPad which my technophile family gave me for my birthday. It was impossible to read my ebook (iPad) at the beach. I understand there are other ereaders which are beach-reader friendly
- the battery needs charging frequently so I sometimes find my ebook is unavailable to me
- my ereader (iPad) takes up considerably more room in my back pack than a regular size book. However, Ms Woko's ereader is much smaller than an iPad
- loading the ebook takes a while (not long enough to make a cup of coffee, however) so I imagine it's frustrating if one has an unputdownable ebook on the go but has to wait for the ebook to load
- turning off the ereader (iPad) also takes a few seconds
For me the real thing is much better, especially if the paper comes from plantation forests. Which reminds me. I don't think there are hi tech materials plantations from which ereaders are made.
Sympathy, Woko! Haven't yet tried an e-book but I know I'm a piker at new things when I have already a tried and true method - I do love reading, for pleasure and for info. Keep trying, someone has to do it! I just love having books in the bookshelf.
Meave
I can identify strongly with what you say, Meave. If I think about it one of the main reasons I'm reading an ebook is so that I can tell my technophile phamily that I've read one.