[SCC_Active_Members] RE: Classic ComputerScience texts - request from Dave Patterson for suggestions

[H.M. Gladney]

I believe that our energies can be expended better than in trying to
influence ACM plans on this topic, even though I agree that the objectives
you express are very worthwhile.  That ACM members will identify the books
they believe to be classics is, in itself, a very helpful contribution.
Part of what influences my opinion is optimism about the Google digitization
effort (and the money behind that), which is likely to sweep into its maw
most of the books that ACM will eventually have identified.  (Yes, I am
aware of the Google/publishers controversy over copyright.  We'll have to
see how that plays out, but any ACM on-line books are likely to be
constrained by whatever rules are worked out for Google.)
 
Given these factors, other things we are already doing seem likely to me to
be more cost effective than petitioning ACM, and there are other
possibilities.  For instance, I am considering bequeathing my technical book
collection (which my kids have no interest in anyway) to some needy library
that would be pleased to have them, together with the small number of
dollars necessary to pack and ship them to whatever library I choose.

Yeh, digital stuff is great, but it is too early by far to discount the
value of hard copy versions!

Best wishes,  Henry

P.S. I too already replied to the ACM letter, with a list that few people
will think of, viz., books that laid groundwork for computer science years
before "computer science" was invented, as follows.

Ludwig Wittgenstein, "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus", 1919, with a preface
by Bertrand Russell.  The original German has been translated into English
by Ogden, and separately by Pears and McGuiness.

"Wittgenstein's Lectures on the Foundations of Mathematics: Cambridge 1939".

Rudolf Carnap, "The Logical Syntax of Language", Routledge, 1937.  (Fourth
impression 1954).

Rudolf Carnap, "The Logical Structure of the World", originally published in
German as "Logische Aufbau der Welt", 1928.

Willard Van Orman Quine, "Word and Object", MIT Press, 1960.


-----Original Message-----
From: scc_active-bounces at computerhistory.org
[mailto:scc_active-bounces at computerhistory.org] On Behalf Of Philip Gust
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 1:59 PM
To: Paul McJones; SCC_active at computerhistory.org
Subject: Re: [SCC_Active_Members] Fwd: [CLASSICBOOKS] Classic
ComputerScience texts - request from Dave Patterson for suggestions

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
>>>                    )
>>>X-pstn-settings: 4 (1.5000:0.7500) s GT3 gt2 gt1 r p m c
>>>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


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