A book is an artistic medium for recording data in the form of text or images, usually written on a single page bounded together with a slip cover and closed at the front. The technical term for such an arrangement is codex. The term ‘parable’ refers to a book whose cover has been damageably impaired or lost. In comparison to the valuable physical media of print, e.g., a printed book, a digital book, e-reader or other digital media, a book is quite difficult to lose.
A book, therefore, is more difficult to destroy than is the media of paper and ink. But how hard can it be to make a copy of a book? Is it not easier to make a photocopy? Certainly, not for one needs only a normal computer with a word processor and a scanner to copy a book. But one may ask – why bother when there are easier ways to copy a book.
When one wants to copy a book, he generally searches for some special equipment that is capable of performing the copy. However, technology has made the use of ordinary desktop printers and scanners more convenient. How then to make a photocopy of a book? How long should one leave the bookbinder(s) to make a photocopy before surrendering the original book to him? How much does it cost?
If one owns a computer and some free ‘office software’, he could make a photocopy of any book of his choice for ‘home use’. In order to do so, one needs to open the digital book, save it to some suitable destination and run the copy function. One would be required to enter the book title and the page number(s) in order to produce a ‘hardcopy’. One can also opt for producing a ‘softcopy’. Since a ‘hardcopy’ is not digital in nature, one has to worry about the quality and even the format; for this reason, the softcopy is recommended.
One would require some special equipment in order to make copies of a book on a computer screen. The most important requirement is the graphics program. However, since almost all computers come with a graphics card, one can also use the card to make some photocopies. Some software packages come with pre-installed graphics cards which make the job even easier.
If one is making photocopies of books for his own personal use, he needs to have either a laser printer or an inkjet printer. For the former, he only needs to have a computer with an ink-jet printer. However, for the latter, one would need either a standalone printer or a copier. Some people prefer to use copiers because of the quality of the output; however, they need to ensure that they also have a fast and reliable internet connection.
It may not be necessary for one to use the actual book itself in making the copy. There are many programs available on the market today that allow one to create a facsimile copy of a book from just a CD or an audio CD. Such programs work by using digital imaging technology. These techniques allow one to produce high quality facsimile copies. In fact, even the original copy of a book can be made into a facsimile using such technology.
Today, many libraries offer borrowing services for certain books. However, for some people, making copies of books is more convenient. Since the technological situation today is constantly changing, one can find it very convenient to make copies of certain books at home even without spending money on the real book. This can be done using one’s computer or a photocopy machine. Once the work is done, it can be handed over to the library for their care.