[LINK] Twenty Years of the Net in Australia

[Tom Worthington]

I wrote:
> ... Unfortunately AARNet decided not to make their book about the Internet 
> available via the Internet. ...

James Sankar from AARNet has replied via my Blog:

> The book AARNet has launched has a limited print run as it meant to be
> a commemorative keepsake. However, we have limited copies available for
> sale through AARNet’s website and we endeavour to provide a response to
> enquiries as soon as possible. AARNet intends to distribute these books
> to libraries around Australia in the future and we anticipate this to
> commence from December 2009. Depending on the public’s interest, we may
> consider making the book available through other formats or
> distribution channels.

AARNet is a not-for-profit organisation in the electronic communications 
business. I suggest it stick to that and not attempt for-profit print 
publishing.

AARnet could make the book available on its web site for free (or with 
advertisements to cover the cost). They can give away the commemorative 
print run and make the book available for purchase through an online 
book distributor.

As an example of this, ANU ePress give away web and mobile versions of 
books, while selling print editions: <http://epress.anu.edu.au/>.

Another example is my new book "Green Technology Strategies", available 
free as web pages: <http://www.tomw.net.au/green>.
It is also available print on demand (POD): 
<http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/green-technology-strategies/7798786>.

All I had to do was upload the book content to the POD company web site 
and set the price (there is no up-front charge for publishing a book). 
The POD company takes the orders, prints and dispatches the books and 
sends me my share of the revenue (about ten times as much as normal book 
royalties). At present Australian book distributors are ordering the 
book from the POD supplier. But in a few weeks time the book will also 
be available via Amazon.com, through wholesale book suppliers to retail 
stores and in-store print on demand units (that cost $US75 to set up and 
my share of the revenue drops to about five times normal book royalties).


-- 
Tom Worthington FACS HLM, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Adjunct Lecturer, The Australian National University t: 02 61255694
Computer Science http://cs.anu.edu.au/people.php?StaffID=140274