[SCC_Active_Members] Fwd: [CLASSICBOOKS] Classic Computer Science texts - request from Dave Patterson for suggestions

[Paul McJones]

I would make the argument that their fundraising techniques must not 
have a side-effect of hurting their ability to carry out their charter 
of education and dissemination of computing knowledge. I think Al Kossow 
nailed the issue: if they end up "taking private" documents that have 
been available on the web -- with the permission of the copyright holder 
-- then they are doing a net disservice to the world. I've subscribed to 
the ACM since 1971, and to the ACM Digital Library since it was founded, 
and I feel very strongly that they should exist to spread knowledge, 
period, not just to give me a personal competitive advantage over people 
who don't have the resources or savvy to subscribe to the ACM.

Incidentally, I've been having an email conversation with Rick 
Snodgress, co-chair of ACM's History Committee, about making some 
ACM-copyrighted materials available to the general public: first some 
Fortran papers I cite from the SCC Fortran history web site, and then 
the AFIPS conference proceedings Al Kossow volunteered to give to the 
ACM.  The situation with the AFIPS materials is that ACM has owned the 
copyright for years, but doesn't even have a hard copy. Al has been 
acquiring a fairly complete set, and offered the books and scans of most 
of them to the ACM. But the ACM is reluctant to spend the money to 
finish the processing they require for their Digital Library. Snodgrass 
is trying to get the ACM to process the materials and make them free to 
all on ACM's server; he agrees that if that isn't possible, "One way or 
the other, this material should be made available to the world."


Paul

Philip Gust wrote:

> Paul,
>
> I had the same thought when I saw the announcement.  We'd need to 
> think through what would be in it for the ACM and present it that 
> way.  The ACM's charter includes general education and dissemination 
> of computing knowledge.  Unfortunately, it costs money to do that, and 
> they help fund their work through enterprises line the ACM Digital 
> Library.  We'd need to present the case that this is sufficiently 
> important to their education and dissemination mission to make it 
> publicly available outside the Digital Library.  Does anyone have any 
> thoughts on how we could make such a compelling argument?
>
> At 01:28 PM 9/23/2005, Paul McJones wrote:
>
>> Would anyone like to join me in an appeal to make the books available 
>> to everyone, not just ACM members?  To create awareness of computer 
>> science in general, and to help young people get started towards a 
>> career in computer science, it makes sense to make the classic books 
>> available as widely as possible.  In fact, the ACM should be asking 
>> its members for money to put them back in print again, with low-cost 
>> editions available for students and people in countries not as 
>> prosperous as ours.
>>
>>
>> Paul
>>
>>
>> Philip Gust wrote:
>>
>>> I'm forwarding this email for those of you who don't get ACM 
>>> announcements.  I know that we've been discussing classic books in 
>>> conjunction with our work.
>>>
>>>> Approved-By: classicbooks at HQ.ACM.ORG
>>>> X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2657.72)
>>>> X-pstn-levels:     (S:12.19012/99.90000 R:95.9108 P:95.9108 
>>>> M:97.0232 C:98.7678
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>>>> X-pstn-addresses: from <classicbooks at hq.acm.org> forward (org good) 
>>>> [12/1]
>>>> Date:         Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:29:06 -0400
>>>> Reply-To: classicbooks <classicbooks at HQ.ACM.ORG>
>>>> Sender: Classic Books List <classics at ACM.ORG>
>>>> From: classicbooks <classicbooks at HQ.ACM.ORG>
>>>> Subject: [CLASSICBOOKS] Classic Computer Science texts - request 
>>>> from Dave Patterson for suggestions
>>>> Comments: To: "classics at acm.org" <classics at acm.org>
>>>> To: classics at ACM.ORG
>>>>
>>>> Dear ACM Member,
>>>>
>>>> ACM is launching a new initiative to revive classic, out-of-print
>>>> computer science books, with the intent to make the full text 
>>>> available
>>>> online to members via the PDC/DL. I'm asking you to identify the
>>>> books you believe are "classics." The suggestions I've received so far
>>>> can be viewed at http://www.acm.org/csclassics/.
>>>>
>>>> You may also nominate classic computer manuals (for example,
>>>> IBM 360 Principles of Operation, and DEC PDP-11 Handbook).
>>>>
>>>> The book must be out of print to qualify. (A book is still considered
>>>> "in print" if its fourth edition is selling despite the first 
>>>> edition being
>>>> no longer available).
>>>>
>>>> Please submit your comments and candidates for CS classics by
>>>> Friday, October 7, including why you think your nomination(s) qualify
>>>> as classic(s), by filling out the form at www.acm.org/csclassicspoll .
>>>> After this date we will conduct a vote, resulting in the Top 20 
>>>> classic
>>>> books. You will receive another email with instructions directing you
>>>> to the Web site with the online poll.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance for your help. We believe this will be a great
>>>> service to our members!
>>>>
>>>> Dave Patterson, ACM President
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Philip Gust
>>> Nouveau Systems, Inc.
>>>
>>> phone: +1 650 961-7992
>>> fax:   +1 520 843-7217
>>>
>>>
>>> mailto: gust at NouveauSystems.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> SCC_active mailing list
>>> SCC_active at computerhistory.org
>>> http://mail.computerhistory.org/mailman/listinfo/scc_active
>>
>>
>>
>> Philip Gust
>> Nouveau Systems, Inc.
>>
>> phone: +1 650 961-7992
>> fax:   +1 520 843-7217
>>
>>
>> mailto: gust at NouveauSystems.com 
>
>