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Bob Brown envisions a hypothetical reader
Brown wrote about "a simple reading machine which I can carry or move around, attach to any old electric light plug and read hundred-thousand-word novels in 10 minutes." Wikipedia contributors. (2020, February 20). E-reader. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:15, February 24, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=E-reader&oldid=941718143 Photo: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-readies-for-bob-brown-039-s-machine.html -
Vannevear Bush envisions the memex
In 1945, Vannevar Bush described the “memex,” an all-encompassing device that would contain entire libraries in its tiny surface area. Bush, V. (1945, July). As We May Think. The Atlantic. Retrieved from www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/07/as-we-may-think/303881 -
Launch of Project Gutenberg
In 1971, The Declaration of Independence became the first item digitized on the newly created Project Gutenberg. Wikipedia contributors. (2020, February 6). Project Gutenberg. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:53, February 24, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Project_Gutenberg&oldid=939439805 Photo: Public Domain -
Crawford's fictitious "Pre-ALA Conference" Summit
Crawford describes a fictitious meeting of library experts that changed the trajectory of written material. At this meeting, Crawford jokingly speculates, all of the library experts of the time concluded that digital readings would "inevitably" supplant print. Crawford, W. (1998). Paper persists: Why physical library collections still matter. Online 22(1), 42-48. Retrieved from
http://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/199928085?accountid=143640 Photo: Public Domain -
Librarian predicts shrinking of the print market
Crawford (1998) writes that "one academic library expert anticipated that the market for information printed on paper would shrink by 50 percent within five years." Crawford, W. (1998). Paper persists: Why physical library collections still matter. Online 22(1), 42-48. Retrieved from
http://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/199928085?accountid=143640 Photo: Public Domain -
1992 prediction falls through
According to Crawford, "by the end of 1997, the market for information printed on paper was substantially larger than in 1992." Crawford, W. (1998). Paper persists: Why physical library collections still matter. Online 22(1),
42-48. Retrieved from http://dialog.proquest.com/professional/docview/199928085?accountid=143640 -
Sony releases the Librie
In 2004, Sony released the Librie, which employed "electronic paper." Wikipedia contributors. (2020, February 20). E-reader. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:15, February 24, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=E-reader&oldid=941718143 Photo: Public Domain -
Moving Online in the Library
The American University Library “took the plunge” to offer online journals only, rather than online and print materials (Dygert, 2005). Dygert, C. T. (2005). Going online-only with journal content: American University Library takes the plunge. Against the Grain 17(6), 22. Retrieved from
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/atg/vol17/iss6/6/ Photo: Public Domain -
Amazon releases the Kindle Reader
In 2007, Amazon released its first Kindle, unleashing a slew of other e-readers. Wikipedia contributors. (2020, February 20). Amazon Kindle. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:39, February 24, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amazon_Kindle&oldid=941771207 Photo: Public Domain -
Amazon exceeds print book sales with e-books
Dewan (2012) reports that, “In July 2010, Amazon claimed that they were selling more e-books than hardcover editions” (p. 28). Dewan, P. (2012). Are books becoming extinct in academic libraries?, New Library World,
113(1/2), 27-37. doi: 10.1108/03074801211199022 Photo: Amazon Logo
