RE: manual activism (was: Re: no C-h i m emacs ??)

[Subhan Michael Tindall <SubhanT@familycareinc.org>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+subhant=familycareinc.org@gnu.org
> [mailto:help-gnu-emacs-bounces+subhant=familycareinc.org@gnu.org] On
> Behalf Of Bob Proulx
> Sent: Monday, November 17, 2014 7:30 PM
> To: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org
> Subject: Re: manual activism (was: Re: no C-h i m emacs ??)
> 
> Emanuel Berg wrote:
> > Anyway, I have some book-creating skills, both groff and LaTeX and the
> > physical side to it. So, can I print the Emacs or Gnus manual, make a
> > book of it, and then take it to the libraries of my city and insist
> > they put it somewhere so people can borrow it?
> >
> > Would that be legal?
> 
> Yes.  You can do that.  It would be legal.
> 
> Bob
It may be legal, however, it is likely not going to get you far. Most libraries have a process in place to put books in to circulation.  A donated book is as likely to end up in the 'friends of the library' sale as it is in circulation, and you have virtually no control over that. 
A much better route is to contact your library, find out who curates the computer manual collection, and talk with them first.  A short document explaining what you want to donate and why it would be of use in the collection might be of use also.
I had a war tax protester friend who used to donate books for circulation every year with her tax money. It often took several months to get approval for specific books to be approved for the circulating collection.  Most of the time she ended up just asking the library for a short list of desired books and would work from there.
I don't know about your local library, but here in Multnomah County, OR, our library also has an extensive ebook collection that can be checked out, that might be an easier route to pursue to get such manuals added to the collection. 


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