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Comment by submeta | Hacker News Reader

With library genesis, who needs Google Books anymore? I buy books physically to support the author/s and download an epub version from said site to my kindle. The physical books I hardly read, they are for my shelf. Although I love the feeling of printed books, but I read in bed, and it‘s easier to hold an ebook. Also I read when I commute. It’s lighter to have my Kindle Oasis with me with tons of books on it.

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Someone needs to scan the book and upload it to library genesis. The article said Google had developed this massively efficient apparatus for scanning (or taking photographs of) books, and most of the article was about out-of-print books.

I personally have actually tried to contribute to libgen a particular difficult-to-find-online book by buying it, scanning it, and uploading it. There need to be more people doing this.

Did you use a scanning service or do it yourself?

I did it myself. A few hours for 500 pages. Surprisingly soothing.

There’s the everything available online for free mindset. But, yes, I’ve basically donated all my books that were in the public domain. And, in general, have been massively purging my book collection of stuff I won’t realistically read again.

I do buy books, to support the authors. And I would encourage anyone to support the authors they like to read.

I agree, but also wouldn't lose sleep for pirating a book of an author that died more than 20 years ago, in most contexts.

Many books aren’t on libgen. It’s been rather hit and miss for me.

how sure are you that library genesis will remain available?

Well, we got a large number of mirrors. Just like scientific hub. But to be honest: We cannot be sure. That’s why I have my physical books as well ;)

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