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Primo Levi explains the importance (and the absence) of ebooks in Public Libraries

67 years ago Primo Levi was deported to Auschwitz. 64 years ago he published a book about that experience titled If this is a man. 24 years ago Primo Levi died. Today Primo Levi reminded me of the absurdity of certain laws and wastes of public money, and how the technology could help culture. Today I met a high school student who, having to read If this is a man to write a report, borrowed in the closest Public Library the copy that you see in these photos.

Citizens education

(this page is part of my Open Data, Open Society report. Please follow that link to reach the introduction and Table of Content, but don’t forget to check the notes to readers!)

Many citizens need education to understand raw public data, in order to put them in contest and to make informed decisions when voting or otherwise interacting with their representatives. Such education should of course start in schools and Universities. Even outside those environments, specific actions to make sure that as many citizens as possible have all the skills they need to really benefit from Open Data are necessary.

When DRM on ebooks works like a bewitched, terribly broken bookshelf

Personally, I believe that copyright has a reason to exist (1) and that copying and sharing online 24/7 every file you can lay your hands on, “just because I can”, makes it easier to pass things like ACTA and therefore is