 |
| Rhea Hawke emerges from EBM |
During the days of packaged content, leading storytellers
were journalists writing for newspapers and magazines and authors published in
traditional publishing houses. Now distribution channels matter less and anyone
with an appropriate device or channel of distribution can be a storyteller. We
follow individuals we trust…not “the experts” we don’t know. This includes
bloggers, indie writers, and self-published authors.
Now the Toronto Public Library has the Espresso Book Machine
(EBM), a cool device that can create an entire book in five minutes. The EBM has made it worthwhile to write.
 |
| Using the EBM computer to start the process |
“It puts the tools of creation back in the hands of people
who have the imagination or the creativity in the first place,” Dawn Connelly
of Toronto Public Library’s Asquith Press
told CBC Radio reporter Lisa Naccarato in a recent interview about the
library’s new Espresso Book Machine (EBM) and Asquith Press.
The Smart Car-sized EBM dominates the centre of a tiny room
tucked in the back of the Digital Innovation Hub of the Toronto Reference
Library just off of Bloor and Yonge streets. Because its sides are made of
Plexiglas with a good visual of the machine’s inner gears, rollers, cutters and
clamps and multi-colored wires, the EBM more resembles a prototype of some
industrial AI than a printing press. Indeed, that’s not so far from the truth;
once green-lighted, this elegant fully automated machine with onboard computer
performs the entire book-making process within a few minutes and with minimal
human intervention. The EBM is really three machines in one: a Xerox high-speed
copier that prints the text block; an Epson color printer creates a high resolution
cover; and the robotic machinery does all the cool stuff of assembling and
putting them together to produce and deliver a final perfectly bound book.
 |
| Cover of Metaverse emerges from EBM |
I first saw the Espresso Book Machine in action at New York
City’s BEA in 2009 and was very impressed The EBM is the fastest and most agile book-to-market distribution
channel, according to Lightning Source staff, who smugly demonstrated their
printing machine/computer to an excited audience. The EBM, which was named by TIME
Magazine in 2007 the "Invention of the Year," is essentially an
ATM for books. It automatically prints, binds, and trims perfect bound
paperback books on-demand, at point of sale. I saw the thing in action and
thought it was slick. So, it didn’t give me coffee; it gave me the next best
thing—a printed book in four minutes! The Fiction Writer—my textbook on
how to write—became one of the first titles offered by the Espresso Machine,
which eventually found itself
in major retail bookstores and libraries throughout North America and abroad.”
 |
| EBM binding Metaverse text and cover |
The Toronto Public Library and Asquith Press have joined
many bookstores and libraries that offer print on demand books worldwide. In
Canada alone, the following have an EBM: University of Alberta, University of
Waterloo Bookstore, McMaster University Bookstore, University of Toronto
Bookstore, Simon Fraser University Bookstore, Edmonton Public Library,
University of Victoria, McNally Robinson Bookstore in Winnipeg, Chronicles of
Crime in Victoria, Oscar’s Art Books in Vancouver, Books Inn in Miramichi, and
the Edmonton Public Library.
 |
| EBM trimming Metaverse |
While the EBM provides an efficient book-to-market
distribution channel, the Toronto Public Library is focusing on the machine’s
rapid printing service for creative people and groups wishing to self-publish.
The press offers quality and affordable paperback book
printing for anyone wishing to self publish; whether it’s their own work of
fiction, a dissertation, group anthology, conference proceedings, family
history or memoir, a cookbook, journal or collection of pictures. The list is
really endless.
Unlike most printing companies, Asquith Press can produce as many or as few books as you want. As
long as it is formatted perfectly, the book will come out store-quality. The
press can print books of all sizes and width. Ten copies of a 150-page book
would cost $145. At about $15 per book, that’s a lot less than most book
printers charge. Asquith Press also offers a proofing service on your first
printed copy. The library also provides access to resources that you need to
learn about producing a professional looking book. This includes an information
session and a book-printing demo and free workshops on the use of
Microsoft Word and Photoshop.
 |
| Nina proudly holding newly printed Metaverse |
Dawn invited me to participate in the June 9th unveiling of Asquith Press and I was delighted when they agreed to print the
latest book of my science fiction trilogy, Metaverse, published by Starfire. I witnessed the Smart Car-size EBM literally
create a store-quality book from two files on a jump drive. I peered through the Plexiglas sides as the
machine printed and assembled the pages, created a professional quality cover
then glued the book block and bound it to the cover with a final trim to all
sides. Within five minutes the completed book slid down the end chute of the
machine in a peremptory clunk. I snatched the book and examined it—I couldn’t tell the difference from what the printer for my USA publisher produced and this wonderful thing in my hands—and grinned.
This was very cool!
Learn How to Create a
Professional Book Interior
I am teaching several workshops through the library on how to format the interior of your book with Microsoft Word so it can be printed on
the EBM and will look professional.
To register for a class, contact the Digital Innovation Hub
at the Toronto Reference Library or call the library at 416-393-7007. Classes
are free.
Contact: Dawn Connelly; AsquithPress@torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Nina Munteanu is an
ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and
essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the
University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.
