Coming: Librarian Isabelle Fetherston on E as the new large print
Millions of elderly people suffer from fading vision. And large-print books are not always nirvana—not when many retirees also have arthritis, which makes it hard for them to hold the books and flip pages.
With the above in mind, the TeleBlog will soon publish an important essay from Isabelle Fetherston, the reference librarian behind Senior Friendly Libraries, who shares my enthusiasm for e-books as potential life-enrichers for the elderly. May library-related sites and senior citizens’ groups spread Isabelle’s message! Read on, and you’ll see that my own interest in these issues is personal, not just professional. [Update, Dec. 12, 2007: Isabelle's essay is now here.]
The bottom line: Patron choice—and people ahead of medium!
Granted, many in the library community fear that E will drive out P. I myself doubt that will happen soon. Whether it does or not, something counts more than cardboard and ink and glue—and that’s the words, the stories, the facts, the emotions, in books.
Without E available, millions of seniors will be left out of the world of text, given the limits of large-print books, ranging from price to scarcity to their challenges for people with arthritis.
Audiobooks have a place, but they are not for everyone, and it is endlessly frustrating to see libraries in my own city and elsewhere invest in them without also offering e-book services more convenient than the problematic NetLibrary. Perhaps the new Kindle, despite its being a standards abomination, can serve to serve to heighten library interest in E as a potential godsend for elderly patrons.
Too close to home
Coincidentally the vision issue is of personal interest to me. Sunday night I started “seeing” twigs in my eyes, and I have an appointment this morning with an ophthalmologist. As a layperson, I suspect I may well have posterior vitreous detachment. I doubt it will lead to blindness, but I’ll take appropriate precautions, as I’d urge others to do. My possible PVD is yet another reminder that when we look out for the disabled elderly, it’s a form of a personal insurance for us.
Meanwhile perhaps Isabelle’s forthcoming essay will serve to enlighten librarians and policymakers of the folly of ignoring the promise of e-books, and the publishing industry of the need for sound technical standards to facilitate their mass adoption in a way friendly to the elderly, not just younger people. Important social reasons, rather than mere technical virtuosity, are why Jon Noring, I and others have been so passionate on standards issues. If Jeff Bezos and colleagues at Amazon want to be good corporate citizens, I hope they will change courses and fully embrace the IDPF’s .epub standards for the Kindle and other Amazon products—to hasten mass library adoption of E for the elderly and the rest of society.
Detail: Please save your comments for the area associated with Isabelle’s essay, rather than this preview.
December 11th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Has your city tried overdrive? The audio with that service works well with almost any player (except Ipods).
Sorry about your medical difficulties. It certainly does bring home how technology can expand ones reading ability.
Good to see a librarian perspective!
December 12th, 2007 at 4:26 am
Hi, Jeff—thanks for your interest. I’ve just posted Isabelle’s essay and hope you’ll let others know about it (for people new to TeleRead: Isabelle’s a librarian—I’m not). Alexandria’s system has the OverDrive service but only for audio books. I’d love to see the e-book service added.
The diagnosis was what I expected–PVD, a common and minor condition, so I won’t sweat it. Just glad that Wikipedia is around. It isn’t an authoritative source but was helpful in pointing me to other information.
Yes, as we know, being old can be complicated. That’s all the more reason to made medical information available in E, through books and otherwise.
Thanks,
David
December 12th, 2007 at 11:42 am
In this case, I would think Wikipedia can be useful as a source.
The Merck manual is usually what I recommend to patrons who want to know more about an illness. What it provides is the same content a doctor would see. They can read the diagnosis, symptoms, alternative diagnosis, and alternative remedies. I once had a patron come in diagnosed with Delirious tremens and after consulting the Merck Manual she challenged her doctor. Results came back she had the beginnings of Parkinsons. This is online here http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/
Wikipedia can be useful because it can provide any and all possible sources. I wouldn’t act on your own without consulting a doctor, but it provides possible questions for a doctor. Both Merck and wikipedia can create questions. The more the better.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Jeff, thank you for sharing the link to the Merck manual. I did not know that they allow free online access.