It seems like there’s always something new and exciting for book lovers to totally geek out over — and from e-books to on-demand book printing, cool innovations for readers are almost as exciting as new books themselves (I said almost.) Plus, with the merging of digital technology and the world of print, books and all things book-related are more accessible than ever. If only Johannes Gutenberg could see us now.
Now, I’ll admit that I’m not the most tech-savvy of readers. I arrived very late to the e-reader party, was wary of audio books for years, and am still convinced the bathtub book holder to be the best of all the literary inventions (nobody likes a soggy book, amirite?) But with that said, after dipping just one toe into the literary innovation pond, it’s hard not to finally dive all the way in. There are just way too many cool, creative things going on in book publishing to resist trying them all. Including that perfume inspired by the scent of your favorite dead writers (when they were alive, of course, don’t freak out.)
Here are 10 of the coolest innovations for book lovers. And I just put together your entire holiday gift list, six months early — you’re welcome.
1. BookShots
Brainchild of bestselling author James Patterson, BookShots is one of the latest literary inventions setting readers everywhere a-buzzing. The idea behind BookShots, which released the first of their titles on June 7th of this year, is similar to that of your fave Friday night shots (you know, the festive kind.) They’re totally readable, lightening-paced stories, told in 150 pages or less — you get the literary jolt you need in one compact, concentrated shot. Perfect for the busy, on-the-go reader who likes to dive in and out of a story without too hefty a time commitment.
2. Book Vending Machines
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Turns out the book vending machine isn’t as new an innovation to hit the publishing scene as most people think — but suffice it to say the technology has come a long way since Englishman and freedom of the press defender Richard Carlile invented the first book dispensing machine in 1822. The original idea behind the book vending machine was to allow readers to purchase controversial titles without having to put themselves or their favorite bookseller at legal (or social) risk — kind of like that time everyone was hiding Fifty Shades of Grey on their e-readers. Today, book vending machines are largely designed for the reader-on-the-go, and are found in places like train stations and libraries.
Wellman Scofield Public Library 