UPDATE: Scott Kelby's latest book: The Digital Photography Book, Vol. 3 is up at Safari Online. Hey it just came out - that was fast.
Okay, so only four people "read" my blog. My wife, my aunt, and... I read it. Okay, so only three people "read" my blog. Maybe it will catch on before 2039.
Joe McNally has a newish book out. It is called Hot Shoe Diaries. About three months ago, I put the book on hold at the Phoenix library. Two days before it had to be back, I started to read it. I already owe my library too much in fines, so I returned it. The waiting list is long, so it will be about a year before I can check it out again (really).
I am poor, and can't afford to buy the latest and greatest book from Scott Kelby when he publishes some "I am a Photoshop Genius" book. However, books like those from McNally and Kelby I read online for free.
I read them online through my library. McNally's books are available through an online company called Safari Books Online. I have library cards to several libraries (nerdy, I know). My Glendale, Arizona library card gains me access to Safari Books Online. Safari Books carries titles from heavy weight publishers in the areas of technology. For example, they have books from publishers such as O'Reilly Media, Peachpit Press, Adobe Press, New Riders, Cisco Press, Microsoft Press, Sams, and IBM Press.
From home, Using my library card number I can log in to Glendale's online services and as a result, Safari Books Online.
Here is a sample of books offered:
- MCTS: Windows® Server 2008 70-642 Q&A By: Pierre Askmo DTI Publishing Publisher: Course Technology PTR
- The Digital Photography Handbook Vols 1 and 2 By: Scott Kelby Publisher: Peachpit Press
- Adobe Flash CS4 Professional for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide By: Katherine Ulrich Publisher: Peachpit Press
- Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual By: Lesa Snider King Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
- Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual By: David Pogue Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
- The ActionScript™ 3.0 Migration Guide: Making the Move from ActionScript 2.0 By: Kris Hadlock Publisher: New Riders
- SCJP Sun® Certified Programmer for Java™ 6 Study Guide: (Exam 310-065) By: Katherine Sierra; Bert Bates
- Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS): (CCNA Security exam 640-553) (Authorized Self-Study Guide) By: Catherine Paquet Publisher: Cisco Press
Oh, and all the books I have used are searchable (you can't do that in print).
Public libraries pay a lot of money to have access to these databases. There is information about getting scholarships, Chilton's car repair books (I actually had my laptop out in the driveway while reading the step by step guide during a successful attempt to replace the broken driver's side window of my car), phone number look-ups, language learning software like Rosetta Stone or Auralog, sample ACT, SAT, GMAT, LSAT, Civil Service exams; the list is endless.
Two Libraries I have used that have Safari Online access are the San Francisco, California Public Library and the Glendale, Arizona Public Library (I don't think Phoenix, Az or Maricopa County do - they use overdrive, and while it has great books too, it doesn't offer the same quantity of tech books).
