Library as Publisher: A Massachusetts Public Library Will Soon Begin Publishing eBooks

The Provincetown Public Library will soon launch their own imprint, the Provincetown Public Press.
From the Cape Cod Times:

Under the new Provincetown Public Press digital publishing imprint, a dozen or so writers and artists will learn this year how to create a digital book of their work and market it on the Internet, library officials announced Thursday.
Provincetown Public Press, a new digital book publishing operation of the public library, is offering writers and artists the ability to create and distribute a digital book on the Internet.
This might be a first in the country, library director Cheryl Napsha said Friday. “We haven’t seen it anywhere. There are some libraries that are starting to print physical books using high-end copiers. To the best of my knowledge, no one has gone digital.”
The library is starting the press as a public service, she said. It will be funded by a $3,000 donation.
[Clip]
In Provincetown the idea blossomed last year when the library wanted to wow judges for a national library service award. Clark created an electronic book about the library — with photos, videos, audio and text. He used publishing software he’d come across after getting a computer upgrade and was captivated by what could be produced. Napsha did the editing and sent off the award application in late January.
The library is still waiting to hear about the award. But the staff wants to do more digital book creations.

Learn More, Read the Full Text Article (Includes Comment from GlueJar’s Eric Hellman)

Filed under: Awards, Libraries, National Libraries, News, Public Libraries, Publishing