In May this year, I could no longer tolerate the Hong Kong government's arbitrary removal of books and its trampling on Hong Kong's history and culture. Thus, I decided to establish the "Hong Kong DeCentral Library" (HKDCL).
In the article titled "Hong Kong DeCentral Library", I stated:
For now, HKDCL will focus on one thing: scanning Hong Kong’s physical books, newspapers, and magazines. After all, this task alone could probably take a lifetime. I will purchase a professional scanner and hire part-time workers to digitize books and publications for friends, facilitating long-term preservation and paving the way for further development. For example, with the permission of copyright holders, the scanned electronic files are only one step away from being published as NFT books and sold in “off-the-shelf bookstores.”
After publishing the article, I never mentioned HKDCL in the weekly newsletters and turned down several interview requests. I rarely declined journalists' requests, not because these media outlets were of poor quality; on the contrary, they were all reputable and professional. However, after careful consideration, I realized that I had already penned down all my thoughts at that time. There was nothing additional to share in the interviews. Instead of beating around the bush, it's better to take action immediately. I responded to every inquiry email, proactively reached out to likeminded individuals for discussions, brainstormed ideas, and focused on making a difference—even if it wasn't a significant move, at least try every possibility.
Now, after more than three months, I believe it's time to update everyone on the progress made during this period.
HKDCL alpha
Ever since graduation, I have been working with "intangible" matters. The companies and organizations I've been involved with have no inventory, and rarely have logistics needs. I've been living with fewer and fewer tangible things and more and more data. Recently, while preparing for the "physical" initiative, HKDCL, I've been meeting people, purchasing equipment, understanding various binding and scanning solutions, as well as handling and moving books every week. Interacting so closely with paper has made me feel like I'm traveling back in time, relearning the essence of a "material life."
In short, over the past three months, HKDCL has established two nodes, hired two part-timers, refurbished two old computers, coordinated with three scanners, and recruited four volunteers. These few words might seem brief, but the process was filled with challenges and chaotic situations. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Alice and Bob for providing the venue, Carol for lending a computer, Dave, Eve, Frank for their assistance with post-production, and Grace for her generous technical support. And thanks to everyone else who offered help or shared invaluable insights. Thank you all. 🙏🏼
The first scanner purchased by HKDCL was the CZUR ET24 Pro, a rather popular choice. A quick online search would reveal many recommending this brand, often favoured in reviews and presented nicely in numerous demonstration videos. However, after intensive usage, I began to wonder if CZUR's real strength lies in content marketing.
Unlike the typical scanners integrated with printers available in the market, CZUR labels its series as "smart scanners". Its main selling point is the ability to scan books without unbinding them. By simply opening the book butterfly-style under the camera and flipping the pages, the software scans each page, splitting and straightening the two-page spread, even erasing the thumbs holding the book down. Ideally, this sounds fantastic, yet our hands-on experience revealed that the software frequently misjudges, resulting in inconsistent page sizes and often necessitating rescans. Both the efficiency and results were disappointing.
If a book costs HK$100, the additional costs incurred by using this smart scanner to avoid unbinding a book far exceed the book's price. Unless the book is out of print, has a high resale value, or is physically unavailable, it's more cost-effective to unbind the book and use an auto-feed scanner. I wouldn't say CZUR is deceptive; the potential of AI in smart scanning is immense. However, currently, this type of scanner isn't suitable for bulk scanning of regular books. It's better suited for rare collections or large-format documents like newspapers.
One commendable feature of the CZUR software is its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) function. After testing over ten different software applications, including paid, free, online, and offline options (even the monthly subscription-based Adobe), CZUR's OCR, especially for vertically arranged Chinese texts, came out on top. As a result, even when using another scanner, we sometimes import documents into CZUR software for OCR, making the workflow quite complicated.
Considering these findings, I turned my attention back to traditional multifunctional devices that print, scan, and fax. After some research, I settled on the ordinary Brother MFCL2750DW, which provided satisfactory results. I initially wanted a higher-end model, as compared to hardware, the real cost lies in labor and time. However, after searching, I found that while high-end models might offer durable toner, faster printing, and larger paper storage, the scanning capability doesn't vary much. Considering the space they would occupy, I opted for a mid-range machine. I believe software plays a critical role, so I tried to compare scanning software from various brand websites. However, without the corresponding hardware, it was challenging to evaluate them, leaving me uncertain if other brands outperform Brother.
All the above might seem tedious, but instead of calling it an experience, it's more of a record of trials and errors. It's shared here as a reference for those who come later. I started being clueless about physical books and had to dive in due to circumstances. If you are an expert in this field, especially with scanning and binding experience, please share with me your insights.
HKDCL beta
After the introduction of the alpha version, let me simply and solemnly announce that the HKDCL beta version is officially launched today.
Don't get it wrong. We don't have the elegance of a ribbon-cutting ceremony or celebratory toasts. There's no HKDCL in Tin Hau nor the App Store (I just checked, and it directed me to Hong Kong Disneyland). I haven’t even got the time to update it on the website hkdcl.org yet. The only thing we've set up so far is an email address, book@hkdcl.org.
With the launch of the beta version, HKDCL has begun accepting commissions to scan Hong Kong's books, newspapers, and magazines. If you have materials that need to be digitized, please email us. After assessing feasibility, we'll arrange a handover, scan the materials with the consent of the copyright holder, and then return both the digital files and the original materials.
Given our limited resources, HKDCL will prioritize the delisted books from public libraries. As previously mentioned, getting a complete list of these delisted books is logically impossible unless obtained internally. Thankfully, the community has been proactive, and thanks to Mr. Song Chor On, a Chinese literature teacher, for initiating a survey on "Books Disappeared from the Hong Kong Public Library". This has resulted in a list of "disappeared books", currently counting 324. While the actual number is certainly higher, this is the most comprehensive list available. HKDCL will use this as a reference for priority. If you own any of the listed books and are willing to donate or lend them, please contact us. The people of Hong Kong will thank you.
Although I once said that the only thing HKDCL would do is scan publications, after some hesitation, I have moved from indecision to ambition, throwing the promise of not starting new things behind my mind. If we receive more resources, beside scanning, I would like to expand our services:
Supporting organizations and individuals in setting up scanners and software: Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them a fish. It's better to help you set up a scanner than to scan for you. Distributing resources to multiple nodes is a decentralized approach. Centralizing everything on me might be efficient, but it will just make me another central point. A vulnerable entity might collapse, repeating the tragic cycle of history.
Assisting copyright holders in archiving digital content: Whether it's a scanned paper version or native digital, digital content is fragile, even more so than paper. Thus, HKDCL aims to support the community by using decentralized technology to archive digital content to prevent loss.
Publishing e-books for booksellers, institutions, and independent authors: Many out-of-print and delisted books are treasures. They are worth republishing if the copyright holders agree. However, in most cases, reprinting in physical form is too costly, and a digital version is more appropriate. If copyright holders lack experience in this area, HKDCL can help.
Nurturing an ecosystem favorable for the preservation of books, newspapers, magazines, and documents: No matter how hard HKDCL tries, if copyright holders refuse to grant archiving permissions, our hands are tied. Hence, HKDCL will continue to advocate for DRM-free distribution, Creative Commons licensing, and other methods that promote both horizontal transmission and vertical preservation of cultural heritage.
The above conservation efforts are reasonable extensions of HKDCL's mission. However, due to limited resources, we can currently offer only very limited services. If you have related needs, please contact book@hkdcl.org, and we will do our best.
Rescue the lost books together
I've always believed that many people are willing to contribute to society, but often lack a clear path to intervene. Over time, their enthusiasm fades amidst the hustle and bustle of life. To facilitate everyone's involvement, here's a list of ways the public can help, ranging from simple gestures to more active participation. Choose whichever fits best for you.
The easiest way to support is to help refine the list of missing books. If you notice any delisted books that aren't included, please fill out Teacher Song's form for books removed from the Hong Kong Public Library. If you have any other relevant information about delisted books, please contact us. Rest assured, your personal information will remain confidential.
If you have any of the delisted books, please "donate generously". If you wish to keep them longer, lending them is also an option.
While visiting independent or second-hand bookstores, if you come across any delisted books, consider buying and donating them to HKDCL. This way, you're also supporting bookstores, publishers, authors, and the whole ecosystem. After purchase, there's no need to take them with you; just leave a note and email us to pick them up from the bookstore.
If you're an author, publisher, or copyright holder, please consider granting permission for HKDCL to archive your work. Ideally, consider using open licensing to allow others to legally preserve your creation.
If you're a reader (which I assume you are), please financially support great works and tell your favorite authors that even if their content isn't locked behind a paywall, you'd still support them monetarily.
If you're part of student unions, literary groups, or other organizations with materials related to Hong Kong's history and culture, ensure they are well-preserved and discuss archiving solutions with us.
Whether you're an individual or organization, if you have a spare few thousand Hong Kong dollars, a computer, and half a desk space, consider operating an HKDCL node to aid in the digitization and archiving of Hong Kong's historical culture.
Lastly, thank you for your kind intentions. HKDCL does not accept public donations. This is mainly because I don't intend to operate with high transparency, have no plans to explain expenses, and might not disclose details like the list of processed books. Just like personal privacy, decisions on what to share and how to share are entirely mine. If you find value in my writings and actions, please subscribe to the newsletter. Your support keeps me going. However, this is different from donations; I won't be explaining where the income goes.
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