November
2, 2005
AAP Files Suit
Against Google
The Association
of American Publishers filed suit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan
October 19 against Google, Inc. on behalf of five publishers, seeking
an injunction to stop the company's illegal scanning of the publishers'
copyrighted works through its Print Library Program. The suit is seeking
recovery of legal costs.
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Participate in
E-Textbook Blog
The Institute for
the Future of the Book has launched a project called "'next/text", a
blog-based online discussion site that seeks to encourages the creation
of electronic textbooks that will replace printed texts. One of the
site's features, called "From Scratch," follows a novice author through
the process of creating a digital textbook. The site is open to anyone
who wants to post a comment. Visit next/text at http://www.futureofthebook.org/next/text/
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Microsoft Joins
Open Content Alliance Book Scanning Project
Microsoft MSN has
pledged $5 million — the cost of scanning 150,000 books —
in support of Open Content Alliance's digital library project, which
will scan millions of public-domain books and offer them through Internet
search engines.
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Texty/McGuffey
Award Nominations Deadline Extended
TAA has extended
the deadline for nominating texts for its Textbook Excellence Award
and/or McGuffey Longevity Award to November 15 to accommodate the new
guidelines stating that the authors of the nominated texts do not have
to be TAA members. The deadline for sending in review copies for the
judges has also been extended to December 15. If you have any questions
about the new deadlines, please contact Janet Tucker, TAA's Managing
Director, at TEXT@tampabay.rr.com
Click
here to download 2006 Publishers Nomination Forms.
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New Form Allows
Online Donations to TAA Foundation
TAA has made it
easier than ever to make a donation to the TAA Foundation by creating
a secure online donation form. The form is accessible through the TAA
Foundation page, the TAA Notes page and the online new member/renewal
form. To make an online donation to the TAA Foundation, click
here. Your donation to the TAA Foundation will be matched $1 for
$1 by a $15,000 matching grant from TAA.
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Beware: work-for-hire
projects are owned by employer
A
question sent to TAA President John Wakefield asked whether writing
projects done while employed by a nonprofit organization are the property
of the employer or the author. In his response, Wakefield regretfully
informed the writer that such projects are considered work-for-hire
and are owned by the employer. He suggested that in the future, the
writer protect herself by separating her personal for-profit activities
from her employers by setting up a home office and working on such projects
away from work. Read the entire question and answer here.
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Nonmembers
Can Now Apply for Texty/McGuffey Awards
For the first time,
non TAA members will be allowed to submit their textbooks for nomination
for TAA's prestigious Textbook Excellence Award or William Holmes McGuffey
Award. Texty and McGuffey Award recipients receive an engraved plaque
and are honored at TAA's Annual Award Banquet held during the association's
annual convention. Press releases announcing award recipients are sent
to the general media as well as specific publications as specified by
the winner. Deadlines for the nomination form and fee by publishers
is November 15, 2005. To nominate your text, contact TAA headquarters
at TEXT@tampabay.rr.com or
(727) 563-0020.
Click
here to download 2006 Publishers Nomination Forms.
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Apply
for TAA Council of Fellows
TAA is calling for
applications for induction into the Council of Fellows, which recognizes
distinguished authors who have a long record of successful and diversified
publications. Any author whose textbooks or academic articles have established
his/her presence in their field over time and who has been innovative
in the presentation of material may apply for the TAA Council of Fellows.
Fellows members receive free lifetime membership in TAA and are presented
with special engraved medallions at the TAA Awards Banquet held during
the association's annual convention. Applications are due November 30,
2005. For an application, please contact Janet Tucker at TEXT@tampabay.rr.com
or (727) 563-0020.
Click
here to download letter sent to members and Council of Fellows criteria.
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Renew
Your Membership Online!
TAA has just launched
a new online member form that will allow members to renew online using
a secure server. The form can also be used by new members. Check it
out in the TAA Member Center here.
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Make a Gift to
the TAA Foundation to Support Research on Textbook Author Diversity
The TAA Foundation
is asking for donations from members towards a $15,000 matching grant
from TAA. For every $1 you donate, TAA will match it. For example, your
donation of $25 will become $50. All gifts are tax-deductible. To make
a donation to the TAA Foundation using a credit card, click
here for the online form. To make a donation by check please mail
to TAA Foundation c/o TAA, P.O. Box 76477, St. Petersburg, FL 33737-6477.
Any questions, please contact Janet Tucker at TAA headquarters at (727)
563-0020.
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New TAA Fax Number
TAA headquarters
switched its phone system over to a new broadband system. The phone
number will remain the same, but the new fax number is (727) 230-2409.
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