Think about it. They are useful, affordable and durable. They can withstand the harsh conditions of the developing world, and don't pollute the environment (indeed they are made from renewable resources and can be recycled). Just because a technology has been around for centuries doesn't mean it isn't appropriate.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Books are an Appropriate Technology
Think about it. They are useful, affordable and durable. They can withstand the harsh conditions of the developing world, and don't pollute the environment (indeed they are made from renewable resources and can be recycled). Just because a technology has been around for centuries doesn't mean it isn't appropriate.
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2 comments:
they are also probably the most underused technology. most of them sit on people's bookshelves after only one or two readings. it would be good if there were more mechanisms to share books with developing countries. the second hand book market is exploding (even though "new" book stores are struggling). Somebody should create some mechanism for people to donate books to developing countries....
Thanks Glenn! I agree that books are underused. (Do you remember that a couple of years ago UNESCO burned 100,000 books that it had published and not sold, rather than give them away!
Yes the second hand book market is exploding, and you can now easily find a book you want second hand via the Internet. This is part of the long tail phenomenon -- you no longer have to depend on books sufficiently popular to be worth stocking at the local book store.
There are also book swaps or exchanges (Google the terms) that allow you to exchange your book for another online free or at low cost.
There are book donation programs that send books to developing nations, but the good ones tend to focus on books that can be used in schools -- text books in at least classroom size lots. It is expensive to ship books abroad and to accept them for a library.
The local Friends of the Library has a great used book store that accepts donations and sells the used books at low prices to raise money for the county libraries. I wish there were a way to send the books to Africa or South Asia to make them available in similar shops where the price would be only enough to pay the rent and electricity.
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