Scrolling Forward: Making Sense of Documents in the Digital Age

This book explores changes in written communications, now that the digital age is upon us. Levy first has a mediation on the uses of a simple retail store receipt to information only available on the computer or via the internet. Although the book was written ten years ago, it well worth reading today. David Levy can wax philosophical but nevers wallows in that space, keeping grounded in the reality of how we have changed over the years. The word document has a far wider meaning now that computer files are called documents, some change from the day when every document seemed official, if not officious. Levy has spent some years doing calligraphy, so understands the physicality of the book and of writing itself with specialized instruments. ( )

A highly accessible overview of the changing meaning of texts. The author engages in a wide-ranging discussion of cash register receipts, printed books, postcards, digital documents, and business technology in an attempt to create a framework for understanding how to read, enjoy, profit from, and preserve written knowledge when that knowledge is increasingly manifested solely in bits and bytes. He brings to the discussion his background as computer scientist, calligrapher, and reader, and since he's not a librarian, there's no library-jargon. He has an abiding concern with libraries, however, and with their mission and future. A bonus for me: he includes an interesting discussion of a book about digital libraries by my former professor, Fran Miksa. ( )

Not an especially deep book, but it had its moments. His concept of 'Documentation' is essentially what I've been trying to capture in my book on 'Information', being that stuff that is captured.

Good material on publishing industry providing a vettin ( )

http://dumbbooks.livejournal.com/1764.html ( )