Blummin DRM

Possibly the longest article in the world, but worth reading:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20060317044847293

Highlights:
Overdrive demand that you install anti-virus software before using their system to
download ebooks

The British Library is going to charge you a per-file rate for their digital archives.

And loads of other irritating stuff. I'm considering taking a hammer to my computer and having done. Grrr.

cool: http://www.librarystuff.net/

cooler: http://borrowme.com

reader2

Also kind of cool, i think
http://reader2.com/

I'm just signing up; looks like their trashy romance section is a tad malnourished ;-)

elibrary

cool bit of kit, for project gutenberg (untested, just looks good)
http://www.jujusoft.com/software/elibrary/

How To: Build a Digital Library

*wishful sigh* if only it did *everything* I want...

http://www.nzdl.org/cgi-bin/howto/library?a=p&p=about&c=howto&nw=utf-8

I've experimented, it is pretty simple, if you have the content to go into the library to start with...

Essentially, it's talking about Greenstone:
http://www.greenstone.org/cgi-bin/library
" a suite of software for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a new way of organizing information and publishing it on the Internet or on CD-ROM"


Alternatively, Open Biblio:
http://obiblio.sourceforge.net/
"...is an easy to use, automated library system written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloging, and staff administration functionality"

The "Free books" post

Short of a library, this is as close as I'm gonna get LOL

Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/

He Walked Among Us
A "Free" Shareware Novel by Norman Spinrad
http://www.scifidimensions.com/Oct05/hewalked.htm

Jonathan Dunn "Ebooks are free for download because of Mr. Dunn's stance on the freedom of information and of human thoughts. Paperbacks are available for purchase"
http://www.e-novel.org

Fictionwise's Free Ebooks (can't believe out of x thousand they only have 23, but hey)
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/freebooks.htm

EHarlequin's free online reads (US site)
http://www.eharlequin.com/cms/onlinereads/readsToc.jhtml
Mills&Boon (UK site)
http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/cgi-bin/millsandboon.storefront/EN/Catalog/1002

Microsoft "Free" category (quite a few of which can also be found in Gutenberg, or are simply extracts, but hey)
http://www.mslit.com/default.asp?mjr=FRE

Perfect bound
Extracts, but decent sized ones; certainly helps me choose what to buy.
http://www.perfectbound.com/

Lulu's free romance offerings...

Classics
Being Chosen by Lisa Carter Romance Classics : At 15, Grayce finds herself set on a path that will see her go from being the daughter of a farmer to the wife of a King, she barely knows, in a ...
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Romance Classics : Melodramatic and full of passion, Wuthering Heights ...

Contemporary
BENTRIDGE MAGICby Autumn McCullah
Build My World by Rebecca Abbott Miller Contemporary Romance : Casey Russo was seemingly happy with the life she and her husband CJ had built for themselves in North Carolina, but her life was ...
Casey's Haven by Autumn McCullah Contemporary Romance : With no family of her own, Casey had worked hard to save for this dream vacation, but now Erik's presence threatened to destroy her stay ...
Cupid Traps by Anusuya Veth Contemporary Romance : Funny, Sensitive & Heartwarming.
Daring To Dreamby Autumn McCullah
Flowers Quickly Fadingby Anthony Barnhart
Jillian's Escape by Jennifer & Morgan Falk (Book) Contemporary Romance.
Lawn Furnitureby Judah Rubin
Morning's Glory by Ann English
Road To Freedom by Sylvia Hubbard Contemporary Romance : Whitney escapes her cruel stepfather's home only to fall into the hands of a man bent on revenge against her stepfather.
Save Me by Rebecca Abbott Miller Contemporary Romance : The Quintessential Series continues.
Shattered Deceptions by Autumn McCullah Description: Dani fights to save her marriage and her reputation, but the ...
Summer's Story by Nancy FamolariSummer's father, a famous horse trainer, is dead. Now she has no home and needs a job, but she has a wonderful horse, Meadow.
Swept Awayby Jerilee Kaye

Suspense
Collins Crossing Chapter One by Wallace Williamson Romantic Suspense & Intrigue: A horrific hurricane meanders slowly along the Gulf Coast, churning the ...
stealing innocence I by Sylvia Hubbard Romantic Suspense & Intrigue : in order to keep the inheritance of ...
Tanner's Devilby Sylvia Hubbard
Dark Facadeby Sylvia Hubbard

Historical Romance (AKA the Payton Lee section hehe)
5 Star Affair by Payton Lee Historical Romance : The fairy tale of a general and a war love.
Bear River Spirit by Payton Lee Historical Romance : Owen Woulfe, a recent widower and Reilly Stewart ...
Conquer My Heart by Payton Lee Historical Romance : Leticia is a strong willed stubborn woman raised in a
Difference Didn't Matter: At Least Not to Them by Michelle N. Onuorah Historical Romance: This story centers around two teens; a slave and the master's son ...
Firedrake of Cumberland by Payton Lee
Geneva's Branch by Payton Lee Historical Romance.
Geneva's Force by Payton Lee Historical Romance : Book Five in the Geneva Romance Series. Payton Lee delivers the love story of Aurora Blue McGillinen, daughter of Ryan McGillinen of Geneva's...
Geneva's Hope by Payton Lee Historical Romance.
Geneva's Promise by Payton Lee Historical Romance : Breena had a crush on Dwayne McGillinen since childhood. All that must end as she begins a new life in Washington City as assistant to a ...
Geneva's Return by Payton Lee Historical Romance : Book three in the Geneva Series.
Smitten by Payton Lee Historical Romance : A handsome Prince seeks life mate.

Futuristic & Fantasy Romance (AKA the Hadnot section)
Archibald Gardener: The Sparks Fly Upward by Victor Darnell Hadnot
Archibald Gardener: (Alternate Version)by Victor Darnell Hadnot
A Brother Of Dragonsby Victor Darnell Hadnot
DIOS SUENO MAQUINA by Victor Darnell Hadnot
Dragon Larsby Abiathar Zadok Hadnot III
Genieby Tee Bee
Higgaionby Victor Darnell Hadnot
In Time To Comeby Victor Darnell Hadnot
The Wheels of God: Alternate Version by Victor Darnell Hadnot
The Dragon Wellby Victor Darnell Hadnot
The Harvestmanby Victor Darnell Hadnot
The Horns Of The Unicornsby Victor Darnell Hadnot
The Land Shadowing With Wingsby Victor Darnell Hadnot
WISP: The Sowing Timeby Victor Darnell Hadnot

Other
The life i got by dena a Other Romance Categories : This is a cooky love story.





I'll try to find more.
If there are any political stances taken by any of these sites, I apologise: they're not my politics. (necessarily).

BBC: "Libraries fear digital lockdown"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4675280.stm

"Libraries have warned that the rise of digital publishing may make it harder or even impossible to access items in their collections in the future. "

BBC: "Publishing makes shift to digital "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4633423.stm"The vast majority of UK research material will be available in electronic form by 2020. "

BBC: "Online archive moves step closer"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4441205.stm

"Free internet access to thousands of clips from public service radio and TV programmes is a step closer after the launch of the Creative Archive Licence. "

Blog-hopping: "Writing, Reading, EDITING, and Rubbish: Kensington - American only - WTF?"

Writing, Reading, EDITING, and Rubbish: Kensington - American only - WTF?

Bee-filled bonnets

So, I have several bees in my bonnet about ebooks, which I LOVE to pieces and am continually frustrated by, left, right and centre.
This 'ere blog's so I have somewhere to vent productively rather than just scream at the internet in general ;-)