[LINK] Twenty Years of the Net in Australia

[Richard Chirgwin]

Tom Worthington wrote:
> 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.
>   
Tom,

It's not a for-profit exercise. I would imagine that the book is a net 
cost; a little cost recovery on books sold is hardly reprehensible.
> 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.
>   
Have you tried selling ads lately? But I digress - we don't know, for 
example, whether the contract with the author commissioned to write the 
book would permit give-away copies.

RC
> 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).
>
>
>