334. The Chicken and Egg Situation for unknown writers

Friday Jun 23, 2006

Lunch at Han's, Atrium of National Library, Singapore.

I had lunch with KO,her husband and CKO. KO and CKO worked for the National Library at Victoria Street.

"Who to contact to discuss more about putting my writings in the e-book of the National Library (NLB)?" I asked KO. Some time ago, I noted that the NLB has an e-book section, including a miniscule section on Pets.

CKO said, "NLB does not accept any author, especially unknown ones. Give NLB a copy of your printed book for consideration."

I said, "I do not have any book printed. In any case, if the author is a known celebrity, why would he or she need the NLB?"

KO said, "Why don't you give pet related talks at the NLB? Publicise yourself and (become known). NLB is open to your offer of talks to the community."

I said, "What if the writer does not want to give talks but just want to share his "how to" take care of pets for Singaporeans? Isn't NLB interested in having more local content which are more relevant to the locals?"

CKO said, "It's a chicken and egg situation. If you don't get your book publish, how can NLB consider scanning it into a e-book?"

I said, "Must NLB see a printed book before it will consider scanning it into an e-book? Is it not possible to consider a writer who submits the writing in electronic format like PDF files or Word?"

CKO said, "It is hard to consider unpublished authors. It is a chicken and egg situation. Why don't you publish your book first?"

KO advised, "Have you meet Mr Rama of the Book Development Council? The Council helps local writers to publish books. I am sure he will be interested in meeting you."

I said, "From what I read, Mr Rama is interested in fiction. I am thinking of an e-book for Singaporean puppy owners on how to look after their puppies. I doubt Mr Rama is interested in non-fiction. He is probably looking for the great Singapore Novelist."

"How do you if you have not speaken to Mr Rama?" KO asked.

"That's true," I said. "But you still have not got the answer to my query."

"Give your question to the Librarians. Now they are keen on such queries. Sorry that there will be no more prizes for the best question as the contest is over."

I said. "A non-fiction book like taking care of Singapore-based puppies is of interest only to new puppy owners. It is a community education service. I am just asking what terms and conditions would NLB want to get this information into an e-book?

The NLB has a wider subscriber base than if I sell it at pet shops. I estimate that it can sell only 3,000 copies a year if sold at pet shops and certain outlets. At the NLB, the younger generation loves to click and get instant info. So, an e-book will be much easily accessible."

CKO said, "There are issues of intellectual copyrights...Authors and publishers are not in favour of e-books. Even NLB's subscription to Nexus online restricts reading by NLB subscribers to Singapore only. You can't read in London for example."

"What if I don't want royalty and just want the public to have free access to the e-book at the NLB?"

We are going around in circles. Is it really a chicken and egg situation? Is it not possible to talk to the correct authority and discuss further this community service? Is the NLB really interested in increasing the local content of specialised technical knowledge?

"Get your book printed out and give it to the NLB," CKO said.

"It will be thrown into the rubbish bin," I said. Or would it?