Hello from your new Beaufort intern! That’s me, Lauren. A little about me: I just graduated from Colby College (it’s in Maine!) and, of course, I love books. I told my aunt I got an internship in book publishing and she said something to the tune of, “There won’t be a career to be had there soon.” I’m sorry, but the printing-press was possibly the most world-changing innovation this side of the birth of Christ (i.e. the Common Era) and I don’t think a little thing like the inter-webs is going to wipe out the great past-time of print.
Perhaps I underestimate the power of the internet (I do). E-books and kindles and Nooks and such are enjoying great success in the modern age. And if that’s your preference, I stand in no one’s way. I only mean to say that I don’t believe e-books mean the end of print. One might point to such events as the closing of Borders or the downsizing of many print newspapers as evidence of the demise of print. Yes, print has taken a hit, but it is far from gone. Besides, I always wonder about how the ever-growing ether of the internet has given rise to this mass transfer of our whole lives into an intangible sphere, and what happens when the internet just explodes? Where do our whole internet lives go? This is why I love paper. Remember when everyone stocked up on food and supplies in fear of Y2K? That was funny.
Anywho! Print/e-book debate aside, one of my main interests is promoting literacy (thus, my interest in publishing and shaping new books to put on the shelves!). I want everyone to love reading as much as I do! So, here’s an event I just learned about that seems totally awesome! World Book Night! Sounds cool, right? I know. The idea is that on April 23, 2012, across the nation, 50,000 volunteers will be handing out a total of 1 million free books to anyone and everyone that will take them. The volunteers are being called “book givers” and they will be handing out one of 30 popular titles (listed on the website), like print-superheroes mysteriously emerging from the shadows in the night to revive the secret pleasure of falling into a good book. So cool.
Until next time,
Your New Beau.
Tags: Borders, e-books, Gutenberg, printing press, World Book Night