Digitising the British Library one page at a time

Lynne Brindley the British Library Chief Executive has been campaigning hard for the cause mass digitisation of content in order to facilitate access for all and preservation – Dame Lynne Brindley challenges Government on Digital Britain

However scanning books to turn them into digital ‘assets’ is not as easy as might be thought. I was lucky enough to be able to visit the part of the library where the work is currently in progress, and was impressed by both the scale and complexity of the challenge.

Recently I came across a YouTube video from German TV which gives a revealing insight into the project.

The BIG and Easy Guide to take a Bright Idea from Drawing Board to Successful Revenue

As a librarian of over 20 years there is nothing I like better than a book whose title describes its contents.

The BIG and Easy Guide to take a Bright Idea from Drawing Board to Successful Revenue is nothing if not informative. However, the fact it is written by Rob Lucas who has helped to develop our e-learning courses in Intellectual Property, and more surprisingly, seems to be a unique publication in covering this important topic, gives it even more value.

Certainly, those better informed on this topic than myself are impressed.

“Whether you are an aspiring inventor working from home or in the R&D department of a major institution, this book is an essential read.  I know of no other book like it”
Dr John Beacham CBE; DSc; FRSC
Former Senior Innovation Advisor to the
Department of Trade and Industry (now the DBERR)

Once again Amazon provides the opportunity to have a peek inside, to see that Rob covers the key topics of confidentiality and when to file for protection.

The best guide to starting your own business?

Thanks to an interview with Crimson Publishing founder David Lester on SmallBizPod late last year, I have discovered what I currently consider to be the best book on starting a business. Using the tried and trusted ‘Ronseal‘ approach, it is called Starting Your Own Business: The Good, The Bad and The Unexpected.

As you can see from the cover shot, it begins as it means to go on, being frank and honest. David doesn’t shy away from the difficulties pretty much all new business face, and includes plenty of examples from his own experience. He even starts the book with a health warning in the section “Do you really want to start a business?”

He talks about both the highs and the lows:
“…business highs are up there with some of the best feelings we can have. I will never know what it feels like to score a winning goal in a cup final, but I’m sure the best moments running your own business come pretty close. You should  expect your own business to also deliver possibly the lowest lows you can imagine, too. … To start your own business and seek those highs, you need to be willing to face those lows and come out the other side.”

You can read a few sample pages from the book to help make up your own mind using the look inside feature on Amazon.