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Public Domain Code Book (PDFDrive)
Public Domain Code Book (PDFDrive)
DOMAIN
CODE BOOK
www.publicdomaincodebook.com
Tony L aidig
(Explorer and Treasure Hunter)
New York
Copyright © 2010 by Tony Laidig
Published by:
This book is presented for information and research purposes only and was designed to
provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It
is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering
legal, accounting, or other professional advice. The material contained within also does not
in any way constitute professional advice and should not be perceived as such.
If legal advice or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent pro-
fessional should be sought. The reader is also advised to consult with an appropriately qual-
ified professional before making any business decisions related to the information con-
tained herein.
The author, Tony Laidig, does not accept any responsibility for any liabilities resulting from
business decisions made by purchasers of this book. We make no claim that you will earn
any income using this book whatsoever. Income results can vary based upon the reader’s
personal business practices, hard work and other benefits or strategies. You must assume
the risk that you will not earn any income from this product or its use.
Contained within this wordsearch are 24 Public Domain website addresses. The websites represent
a variety of different types of Public Domain resources that are available. And, as an added twist to
the wordsearch, a few of the websites hidden in the wordsearch are only revealed in the puzzle. You
will not find them listed anywhere else in this book. Some of the websites will be obvious, some not
so obvious. So have fun...and good luck!
I
have always been fascinated with treasure and treasure hunting. I do not know if it
was about the money, the thrill of the hunt or the excitement of trying to solve a mys-
tery. I remember spending hours trying to solve the 1885 Beale Ciphers—one of
which allegedly states the location of a buried treasure of gold and silver estimated to
be worth over 20 million US dollars in today’s money.
I also think back on my trip to New York City, convinced I had solved the puzzle in the
1984 release, “Treasure: In Search of the Golden Horse,” where I had hoped to discover
the 1 kilogram golden horse that was buried in a box somewhere on public land within the
continental United States. Of course, I didn’t solve the Beale Ciphers and I didn’t find the
golden horse (although I spent a lovely day digging around under the Queensboro Bridge).
But those disappointments never quenched the fire that burned within me to discover. I
know that passion for hidden treasure will always be a part of who I am. I AM a seeker
of secrets…a solver of mysteries and a revealer of the hidden, and I believe those pas-
sions have become the foundation for my love of the Public Domain.
The Public Domain, in my opinion, represents the ultimate treasure hunt. It literally
contains more treasures than you or I could ever discover and enjoy in several lifetimes.
Perhaps you are wondering, “Well what exactly IS the Public Domain, and where do I
find this treasure?” I’ll explain what the Public Domain is in just a moment, but first, I
want to let you know that the “where” is in your hands…right now.
My introduction to the Public Domain began 20 years ago when I started reproduc-
ing old maps to sell. I managed a commercial printing company at the time and had
access to all the printing equipment I needed to create quality reproductions. The maps
sold well, and that experience led me to reproduce other “old” items like photographs
and artwork. The demand was amazing. We didn’t have the benefit of the Internet in
those days and our “Ebay” was an outdoor flea market in Smithsville, New Jersey. But
during those times, our “Public Domain” sales really helped pay the bills. We made
thousands of dollars!
It wasn’t until the past few years that I reconnected with Public Domain content. I
believe it was an article by Joe Vitale that rekindled the flame in me…and so the search
began once again. I noticed how different Internet marketers would talk about the Public
Domain and what you could do with it, but they never REALLY told you where to find it.
Sure, they provided a few websites to search, but it seemed to me that the really GOOD
ones were being kept secret. I began to spend hours pouring through search engine
results and following rabbit trails. I wanted to find the sites that the gurus were not talk-
ing about. It became an obsession. I spent hundreds, perhaps even, thousands of hours
of research and made amazing discoveries. I came across websites where I would think,
I wonder why the gurus don’t talk about this website...it’s awesome. Then it hit
me...”they” have to know about this one...this must be another one of the gem sites.
So after spending months on my quest for the secret sites, I have compiled my discov-
eries into this book you are now reading. I have found websites that NO ONE else is talk-
ing about…sites that have NEVER been mentioned in any other Public Domain resource
(I own nearly all of them). And, with a count of over 200 websites, The Public Domain
Code Book is also one of the largest collections of Public Domain links anywhere—online
or offline.
“The public domain comprises the body of knowledge and innovation (espe-
cially creative works such as writing, art, music, and inventions) in relation to
which no person or other legal entity can establish or maintain proprietary inter-
ests. This body of information and creativity is considered to be part of the com-
mon cultural and intellectual heritage of humanity, which in general anyone may
use or exploit. If an item is not in the public domain, this may be the result of a
proprietary interest as represented by a copyright or patent. The extent to which
members of the public may use or exploit an item in relation to which proprietary
interests exist is generally limited. However, when copyright or patent restrictions
expire, works will enter the public domain and may be used by anyone for any
purpose.” (emphasis added)
(Wikipedia Website; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain; Accessed 3/7/06)
What that means for you and me is that when the copyright or patent expires on a
creative work (book, work of art, etc.), anyone may freely use that work LEGALLY in
any manner they choose without the obligation of paying royalties to the creator of the
work. This is HUGE…it’s like legalized stealing except that it IS legal, so no trips to con-
fession are required.
Now…as you would imagine, there are some parameters you have to work with-
in…some laws that define just what is and what is not considered Public Domain. But
don’t let that scare you. We have included a quick reference guide to help you deter-
mine easily whether or not your discoveries are indeed in the Public Domain. We have
also included some excellent information sites at the end of the book where you can
learn more about the ins and outs of the Public Domain.
T
he first stop on our journey into the treasure fields of the Public Domain is the
Book Collection Links. This section is the largest in the book, and for good rea-
son..remember there are over 85 million books in the Public Domain. The links
represented on the following pages will lead you to tens of thousands, perhaps even
hundreds of thousands of Public Domain books, all waiting for discovery. While the huge
quantity of available online books should be more than enough resource material to
keep you busy for a very long time, please bear in mind that all those books combined
still only represent less than 5% of all the books actually in the Public Domain.
The truth is, if you took all the Public Domain books currently available online, and
added them to all the Public Domain books you can find on Amazon.com, Abebooks.com,
Alibris.com, Ebay.com, and the other online book sites, you would STILL only be scratch-
ing the surface of books available in the Public Domain. Perhaps you are beginning to
understand now that this massive treasure field deserves your focused time and attention.
Now...before you go running off into the nearly endless field of downloadable books, let me
give you a few words of advice...a few points to bear in mind as you head out.
FIRST: You would be wise to determine right now the type of books you want to find.
What niche markets are you working in? It is much easier to determine WHERE to
search if you know WHAT you are looking for. In other words, if you want to find old
books on Massage Therapy, you will not want to waste your time searching on the web-
sites that only have classic literature. Make a list of topical keywords and keyword
phrases related to your niche so that you can approach the sites with some direction
and focus. Remember, since you do not know exactly what books await you, smart
preparation beforehand will save you A LOT of time. It will also help you identify books
for your niche more quickly. Believe me...having spent countless hours looking for those
treasures, I speak from experience.
SECOND: Having actual book titles or author names related to your niche would make
life even easier, wouldn’t it? Well there is a great tool to help you identify those books
and authors based on your keywords and keyword phrases, and I want to take a little
time here to talk about it. This tool has proven invaluable to me.
Imagine finally being able to perform Public Domain keyword, author or title searches
using your choice of 37 different search options in over 20 different databases (including
being able to check book copyright details) to give you FAST access to books, photos,
audios and videos and MORE......regardless of your niche! But that's not ALL! The Public
Domain Toolbar 2.0 ALSO includes a separate search feature SPECIFICALLY for finding
images! You now have, at your fingertips, the ability to search through literally tens of mil-
lions of Public Domain images using 19 Different Image Databases to help you locate the
photographs, illustrations, graphics and artwork you need for product creation, graphic
design and MUCH more.
This powerful NEW addition to the Toolbar makes it a perfect research tool for graphic
designers, website designers, Photoshop experts, scrapbookers, filmmakers...and
yes...information product developers! As a Graphic Designer and Media Expert who needs
a LOT of images, I've found this feature invaluable and a massive time-saver! This NEW
Feature Alone Opens a Whole New World to You for Product Creation and Design...Talk
About Saving LOTS of Time and Money!
In addition, the "Public Domain Expert Toolbar 2.0" now provides you with INSTANT
access to over 500 Public Domain-related websites...way beyond the reach of this e-book!
So before you begin going to the book sites, put your bookmark in this page, head over
to the website (www.publicdomaintoolbar.com) and pick up your own copy of the soft-
ware...we’ll wait for you to return. Okay, do you have it now? Good job!
THIRD: If you’re like me, you might also want to just spend time browsing through the
titles listed on the websites. It’s kind of like rummaging around in one of those old used
bookstores...something I love to do. Nothing beats the feeling of finding that nugget while
searching through page after page of books. Searching by keyword IS quicker, and using
the software above can make your exploration lightning fast. Sometimes, it is okay to just
relax and have fun with it. Sure...the object of the hunt is to find those treasures...and time
IS money...but also remember that there is joy in the journey.
FOURTH: There is just one last thing to take care of before you get started. This treasure
hunt can be extremely addicting, and before you know it, hours will have passed. So
before you travel to the next section and begin your search, you will want to prepare your-
self for the journey by following these important treasure hunting steps:
2. Put on some comfy clothes. Hey, you might as well be comfortable, right?
3. Get a sandwich and your favorite beverage. You don’t really need this but...okay,
so you do really need it...sorry. (While you’re at it, eat a candy bar for me!)
4. Get a notepad and pen. If you’re like me, you will not remember everything you
discover as you head down those rabbit trails...and yes...you will find rabbit trails.
You might even find a rabbit hole or two. But just how far down the rabbit hole
are you willing to go? Just ask Alice...she’s in the Public Domain!
5. Fire up your iPod with some good tunes or the latest teleseminar. You CAN multi-
task, right?
Finally, as you begin to work through the Code Book, you will notice that I have pro-
vided screenshots of some of the sites along with some additional comments on items
to check out while you are on the site. Pay attention to these. They are provided to help
you maximize your visit to those sites. Also, I provided a section for each site to add
your own comments. Some of these sites will not fit what you’re looking for. Others may
become a goldmine for you. So make sure you take notes. That way you don’t have to
wonder which site was the one where you saw that book you wanted.
6. Turn the page and GO FIND SOME BOOKS! I’m happy for you...you’re going to
have a blast!
4Literature
http://www.4literature.net/
4Literature is a web site devoted to the read-
ing, writing, and discussion of literature.
4Literature has more than 2,000 books, sto-
ries, poems, plays, and religious and histori-
cal documents that can be read online.
Save yourself some time and effort—
buy the CD!
Athena
http://un2sg4.unige.ch/athena/html/athome.html
Athena endeavors to provide the Internet users with good educational texts, useful databases, accurate
information and valuable links. Thus there are many of megabytes of files.
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Authorama
http://www.authorama.com/
Authorama features completely free books from a variety of different authors, collected here for you to
read online or offline.
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Avalon Project
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm
The Avalon Project is dedicated to providing access to primary source materials in the fields of Law,
History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.
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Bibliomania
http://www.bibliomania.com/
Free Online Literature with more than 2000 Classic Texts, Literature Book Notes, Author Biographies,
Book Summaries and Reference Book. Read Classic Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Short Stories and
Contemporary Articles and Interviews. Research Reference Books, Dictionaries, Quotations, Classic
Non-fiction, Biographies and Religious Texts.
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Books on Demand
http://www.lib.umi.com/bod/
Nearly 150,000 out-of-print books are at your fingertips with this Web-based program. Their vaults con-
tain thousands and thousands of copyright-cleared books, ready for black-and-white reproduction the
minute you place your order.
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Classic Bookshelf
http://www.classicbookshelf.com/
You’ll find classic literature here for free.
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Classic Reader
http://www.classicreader.com/
Classic Reader offers a large collection of free classic books by authors such as Dickens, Austen, Shakespeare
and many others.
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Eighteenth-Century Studies
http://eserver.org/18th/
This collection archives works of the eigh-
teenth century from the perspectives of liter-
ary and cultural studies, including novels,
plays, memoirs, treatises and poems.
Eldritch Press
http://www.eldritchpress.org/
Everything at this site has now been placed in the public domain with a Creative Commons deed (except
two or three pieces copyrighted by others and used by permission).
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Forum Romanum
http://www.forumromanum.org/index2.html
Forum Romanum is a collaborative project among scholars, teachers, and students with the broad pur-
pose of bringing classical literature out of college libraries and into a more accessible, online medium.
Toward this end, we host a number of materials for students of the classical world, including texts, trans-
lations, and other pedagogical resources.
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Free Library
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/
A website of classic books by famous authors, all of which are in the public domain.
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Humanist Texts
http://www.humanistictexts.org/
Multicultural extracts that portray the wit, wisdom, and poetry of individuals as they reflect on ethics,
philosophy, knowledge, and human relationships.
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Internet Archive
http://www.archive.org/
The Internet Archive is an ‘Internet library,’
with the purpose of offering permanent access
for researchers, historians, and scholars to his-
torical collections that exist in digital format.
Knowledge Rush
http://www.knowledgerush.com/Books.htm
Knowledge Rush lives up to its name…they
have a massive collection of books listed in
alphabetical order by title.
Literature Network
http://www.online-literature.com/
The Literature Network offers searchable
online literature for the student, educator, or
enthusiast. They currently have over 1200 full
books and over 2000 short stories and poems
by over 250 authors.
There are also over 8,500 quotes here to use in
your Public Domain or Information products.
Literature Project
http://www.literatureproject.com/
Literature Project is a collection of classic books, poems, speeches, and plays.
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Luminarium
http://www.luminarium.org/lumina.htm
The Luminarium Anthology covers Middle, Renaissance and Seventeenth Century English Literature.
Very well-organized.
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Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/
Project Gutenberg is the oldest producer of
free ebooks on the Internet. This is the place
to start your search. They have over 17,000
free books in their catalog.
RareBooks.Info
http://www.rarebooks.info
This site features the largest bibliography of
rare books in facsimile in the world.
Read Print
http://www.readprint.com/
The Read Print website offers thousands of free books for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast.
Listed by author.
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Renascence Editions
http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/ren.htm
An online repository of works printed in English between the years 1477 and 1799.
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Rosetta Project
http://www.editec.net/
The Rosetta Project is the largest collection of illustrated antique children’s books available online.
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Universal Library
http://tera-3.ul.cs.cmu.edu/
A significant collection of literary, artistic, and scientific works that has been digitally preserved and made
freely available for our education, study, and appreciation.
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Victorian Web
http://www.victorianweb.org/
Literature, history and culture from the Victorian age.
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Wiretap
http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Classic/
A Gopher index collection of classic texts.
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B uilding on the success of the Public Domain Code Book for teaching you how to find proven content from
the Public Domain, Public Domain Profit Centers takes it to the next level but introducing you to even
MORE websites packed full of valuable content! In a sense, you could say that Public Domain Profit Centers
is the sequel to the Code Book...Volume Two...except with a ton of new and helpful content. Here is just a
sampling of what you will discover within the 200+ pages of Public Domain Profit Centers:
• Gain access to over 230+ new websites not included in the Public Domain Code Book! Some of these
new sites are smoking hot with amazing Public Domain content!
• Discover how to spot hot marketing trends and then find Public
Domain content to fully exploit those opportunites.
• I share over 40 powerful ways you can use Public Domain content
to create stellar products for your online or offline business.
• I reveal how to test your product ideas before releasing them to
know whether they have a chance at succeeding.
• How to break through mental roadblocks that hinder you from
product creation success!
• The best methods I personally use for niche market research to pin-
point exactly the best markets to dive into.
• Learn everything needed for Copyright issues, including how to perform copyright searches using a
simple, step-by-step process.
• I break down the product creation process, step-by-step into an easy-to-use checklist to guide you.
• Leverage the power of social media for niche research...tap into new customers in real time who are
searching for the answersd you have!
• Gain access to FREE software to use for your entire product creation process, from the product
design and image creation to website construction and multi-media tools.
• My favorite research method for finding the best Public Domain content. This strategy has reveal
more of the best content for products than any other research method I use.
• The best print-on-demand resources available for producing physical products and explode your
market in new ways.
• And MUCH, MUCH, More!
www.publicdomainprofitcenters.com
Write in your new Public Domain Book Collection link discoveries here:
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T
he Publisher Links section will be an important part of your Public Domain
research. While you will not find books or other resources to download for free on
these sites, the information they offer may be even more valuable in some cases.
Here is what to look for as you visit these pages:
1. Take a look at the products they are selling. Many of these are based on Public
Domain resources, and in some cases, might even be exact reprints. The products
they offer will give you a good idea of just what is available...think about it...there is
a reason why THEY are selling it, right?! And it certainly aids in your quest to have
actual titles for the books that fit your niche.
2. Pay attention to the information they offer about the books or products they are sell-
ing. This is the same information you can use to locate your own copy. Often they
will include the title, author, year of original publication and more. Take that infor-
mation and head over to Abebooks or Alibris and search for the book there. Or you
can even plug the info into your favorite search engine. Who knows, the book may
turn up being online. But since it is hard to locate a book you don’t know exists,
don’t be afraid to dig around. Remember, there are 85 million Public Domain books
out there.
3. Use these resources as a bibliography to discover obscure titles by authors that are
perhaps not listed anywhere else. I found a complete listing of titles for one of my
favorite authors on one of these sites, and it was the only place that listed some of
the titles. I then used their list as a checklist to find what I was looking for on Ebay,
Abebooks and used bookstores.
4. In some cases, the books produced are exact reprints, meaning the pages are
scanned from an original book and printed exactly, and as such, are still in the Public
Domain. What is so great about this is that you can purchase a copy of the book
from the publisher, scan it yourself (or have it typed), run it through OCR software
and you have your e-book. This is especially helpful when the original for the book
you want is selling for hundreds of dollars. I have used this exact strategy with great
results!
5. You can discover excellent resources for images, documentaries and movies. Most
CD’s or DVD’s you purchase from a publisher WILL be protected by license. BUT
(and this is a BIG but), they had to get their source material from somewhere! Very
often, they found it online. Again...you cannot find something if you do not know to
look for it. I have located many of the source material websites these guys are using
for their own products. I’ve included all those links in this Code Book, so have fun!
Go create your own products.
6. Many of these publishers offer their books through Amazon.com. Find a title you are
interested in on one of these sites, then go to Amazon.com and do a title search for
it. Check the book’s Amazon.com Sales Ranking to get an idea of whether there is
interest in that title or author. A focused search on Amazon.com can also show you
if others are publishing the same title. Don’t forget to do an author search while
you’re there. You may find even more books by the author, or related titles that are
also into the Public Domain.
Whatever you do, do NOT underestimate the value of this section. Many of my great-
est Public Domain discoveries were made on some of these sites. So take time and get
to know them...research them. You just might strike gold!
A2ZCDS
http://www.a2zcds.com/
A2ZCDS is the world’s largest and fastest growing innovative multi-media library. Through its vast and
unique distribution network, the company provides historical and educational CDs and DVDs covering
thousands of topics to every corner of the globe.
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Bartleby
http://www.bartleby.com/
The preeminent Internet publisher of literature, reference and verse providing students, researchers and
the intellectually curios with unlimited access to books and information on the web, free of charge.
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Cornerstone Books
http://cornerstone.wwwhubs.com/framepage.htm
A non-profit site dedicated to providing free access to some of the very best inspirational/self-improve-
ment books ever written. Featuring the full texts of over 100 complete books available to read free online!
A great reference resource as well.
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Cyder Press
http://www.cyderpress.co.uk/
The Cyder Press is a small press that reprints long out-of-print or little-known works by the Dymock
Poets themselves, and by other writers with cognate regional, literary or period connections. Each volume
is introduced by a contemporary scholar.
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Donald G. Carty
http://www.lulu.com/donaldcarty
Donald Gordon Carty, is an internationally known author, personal training and development consult-
ant, motivational speaker, and the president of the Personal Development Institute. His site contains
many classic Public Domain books.
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Dover Publications
http://www.doverpublications.com/
Dover Publications has built their reputa-
tion by offering remarkable products at
amazing prices. They primarily publish
books no longer published by their original
publishers—often, but not always, books in
the public domain. Over 8,000 titles.
Take advantage of Dover’s collection of catalogs.
Euriskodata
http://www.euriskodata.com/
Euriskodata offers a wide selection of educa-
tional and historic reference material. Their
products include collections on CD-ROM
as well as immediate downloads on selected
items.
Food Books
http://www.foodbooks.com/facsimil.htm
Now you can own an exact replica of authentic American and British classic cookbooks. They are better
than the original because they are printed on acid-free paper, contain scholarly introductions, glossaries
and indexes. Originals of some of these books are so prohibitively expensive only museums can own them.
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Hidden Knowledge
http://www.hidden-knowledge.com/
Hidden Knowledge publishes new books, never published before, and they re-publish old books that you
can’t find anywhere else in six different electronic formats.
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Horizon Books
http://www.horizonbook.com/
Horizon Books is operated as a mail order business and a Web store, specializing in books on Travel &
Exploration, Natural History, Plant Hunting and Gardening.
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Kessinger Publishing
http://www.kessinger.net/index.php
Kessinger Publishing utilizes advanced tech-
nology to publish and preserve thousands of
rare, scarce, and out-of-print books. They
produce a vast collection of books from the
Public Domain.
L & S Trading
http://www.luckowgroup.com/l&sbooks.htm
The Luckow Group publishes books pertaining to the Stock Market that are from the Public Domain.
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Metaphysical Concepts
http://www.metaphysical-concepts.com
Metaphysical Concepts publishes books on alternative medicine, natural cures, metaphysics and more,
many of which are from the Public Domain.
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PaleoPublications
http://www.paleopubs.com/
PaleoPublications specializes in antique, rare, and used works related to the natural sciences.
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RDMc Publishing
http://www.rdmc.net
RDMc Publishing publishes reprints and reproductions of rare and out-of-print books; mostly religious
titles.
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Seek Publishing
http://www.seekpublishing.com/IE/index.htm
Publishers of the “Remember When?” books and other nostalgic products based on Public Domain materials.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
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Vintage Cuisine
http://www.seasonalchef.com/history.htm
Vintage Cuisine presents a survey of cook-
books from the 19th and Early 20th
Century.
Wennawoods Publishing
http://wennawoods.com/users/wennawoods-cgi/listpage?store=books
Wennawoods Publishing specializes in books, maps and much more focused on 17th and 18th century
Eastern American frontier history.
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Y
ou are going to spend a lot of time on these sites if you are interested in buying
books. But with so many millions of books out there, it can be a nightmare to find
what you are looking for...especially if you don’t know the title or author. There
are some great search techniques that will help you filter through all the books you don’t
want so that you can focus in on the ones you do want...the Public Domain books.
My favorite bookseller in this section would have to be Abebooks.com. They are one
of the largest websites when it comes to searching for used books, with listings from over
13,500 book dealers selling over 80 million books. Their listings are so massive that, if
you cannot locate a book on their site, chances are that it will not be listed on ANY site.
There are a number of ways to effectively use the Abebooks.com website to uncov-
er Public Domain books. One way that we’ve already discussed in another section of
this book is to use the powerful software, Public Domain Explorer
(www.thepublicdomainexpert.com/explorer). This software’s search engine actually ref-
erences the listings on Abebooks.com and provides you with clickable links that take
you right to the book you are interested in. I cannot stress enough how valuable this
software is.
Apart from using the software, there are also some sneaky ways to filter through all
those myriads of books to find those Public Domain gems. I will walk you through the
process. To begin, launch your web browser and go to the Abebooks.com website. You
will see a typical search tool. If you know the title or author, you can just type it in and
click on “Find Book.” The site will provide you with books that fit your search terms.
But chances are you will NOT know the title or author, so the most effective type of
search you can do is to use keywords. But also remember that we want to locate books
that are in the Public Domain. Just using a keyword alone could land you thousands of
book entries that are completely useless to you. You’ll lose a lot of time trying to file
through them all.
To narrow down your search, try this: Click on the “Advanced Search” link. You will
notice that you are provided additional search parameters along with the ones from the
basic search. The parameter we are most interested in is the section that allows us to
define the “Published Date.” This is where we will be able to narrow the search to the
books only found within the years of Public Domain availability.
You will notice in the
screen image here that I
have entered “1700” for the
“min” value and “1922” for
the “max” value. I chose
“1700” just because it is an
arbitrary low year...the goal
being to get every listing
before and including 1922.
Of course, I chose “1922”
as the max value because
we know that every book
published before 1923 is
definitely in the Public
Domain. Once you have set these parameters, type in your keyword and click “Find
Book” to get your results. Now, EVERY book that comes up is in the Public Domain,
with perhaps only a few exceptions that might have been published in another country.
Now another trick I usually do at this stage of the search is to sort the results so that the
highest prices are shown first. This is a great way to identify some of the more difficult
to locate books within your niche. It can also help you identify, relatively quickly, some
titles that may be the most ideal to republish or repurpose.
Once you find a couple titles or authors that interest you in the higher priced listings,
use that information to perform a new search. You may be fortunate enough to find the
same book or author listed at a lower price. You may also want to consider using Google
to perform a item-specific search. Who knows, you may find that expensive title online.
Again, you cannot search and find something if you do not know to look for it!
You can use similar search techniques on most of the websites listed in this section.
The object of the game is to save time and simplify where possible, AND find some
great Public Domain books! Have fun. Oh, and by the way, pay attention to the book
titles that are revealed during your searches. They are a great source for relevant key-
words related to your niche market.
Abebooks
http://www.abebooks.com
Abebooks™ is the world’s largest online marketplace for books. They makes it simple and safe to find
and buy—or list and sell—new, used, rare, and out-of-print books online, with a variety of over 70 mil-
lion books offered by more than 13,000 booksellers.
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Alilbris
http://www.alibris.com
Alibris connects people who love books, music and movies to thousands of independent sellers around
the world. Our proprietary technology and advanced logistics allow us to offer over 50 million used, new
and out-of-print books to consumers, libraries and retailers.
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Bookmaven
http://www.bookmaven.net/
Search or browse their inventory of
Antiquarian, Vintage, Out of Print, Rare &
First Edition books. Most of our stock is 19th
or early 20th Century and will attempt locate
books they do not carry.
Bookseller World
http://www.booksellerworld.com/
This site aims to be a complete one-stop
resource site for all your book needs.
Bibliographies, articles, collectors guides,
book dealers and shops + much more.
I n “Public Domain Explained,” I explain exactly how I work with Public Domain content and why it's SUCH a
big deal. What's different about my approach this time is that the coaching is in video form. I show and explain to
you exactly where to find the content, how to check the copyrights, and perhaps the MOST exciting of all...I reveal
the Advanced Strategies I'm using in my business right now with Public Domain content. Some of these projects are
still in development and will be released soon...so you are getting a true, "behind-the-currents" peek into what I'm
doing with Public Domain content RIGHT NOW. The short of it is simply this: There is no theory here, no using
other people's examples, no inventing stupid niches for illustration purposes. I show you my actual products, my actu-
al websites, my actual niches that I'm making actual MONEY from.
In Public Domain Explained, you will discover:
• Why the Public Domain is the best source for PROVEN content.
• How to easily determine if a work is in the Public Domain. I take you through step-by-step.
• Types of works in the Public Domain. We’re not just talking books here!
• The types of products you can create using Public Domain content that your customer will love.
• The BEST ways to profit with Public Domain works. You have probably not considered some of
these effective methods before now!
• Real-world examples of Public Domain-based products. I share the actual niches and actual products
I’m creating that are making money.
• And MUCH, Much More!
In this brand-new video training course, I ALSO pull back the curtain on 12 of the advanced strategies
I'm using with Public Domain content to build my business. Some of these strategies you may have heard
before or, perhaps, even use yourself (perhaps not like how I teach them though...grin) But there are a few
new strategies that you seriously want to add to your arsenal of creativity. As a matter of fact, a few of these
strategies I never shared before except with one or two high-level IM friends.
These 12 powerful advanced strategies include:
• 5 video strategies for creating physical and digital products based on Public Domain content. It's like-
ly you never considered using a couple of these!
• 2 clever uses of CMS sites (content management sites) to sell Public Domain-based products
• Physical product strategies I'm using in several niches to silence my competition and make a lot of
money in the process!
• Strategies to re-purpose Public Domain content in some highly profitable ways. One of these strate-
gies could set your business up for life! just this ONE added thousands to my bank account.
To Get Started, Visit the Website Below for More Details:
www.publicdomainexplained.com
© 2010 - Tony Laidig • All Rights Reserved - 55 - www.publicdomainblog.com
The Public Domain CODE BOOK
E
phemera refers to written and printed matter published with a short intended life-
time. In the world of collectors, common types of ephemera include letters,
advertising trade cards, cigarette cards, posters, postcards, baseball cards, tick-
ets, greeting cards, stock certificates and photographs. Decks of the Most-wanted Iraqis
playing cards are recent example of ephemera because they will probably lose their
original purpose and interest in a relatively short time.
I’ve seen some creative uses of Public Domain ephemera developed into new prod-
ucts such as reproductions of original tobacco cards and postcards, reproduction broad-
sides (you’ve all seen the “Wanted: Dead or Alive” posters, right?), Greeting cards made
from classic old pictures (some of these are brilliant), scrapbooking papers from clas-
sic ephemera and much more. Use your imagination. I’ve included a couple links below
to get you started.
US Historical Documents
http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/
This site features a collection of United States historical documents, from the “Declaration of
Independence” to a variety of speeches from our Presidents.
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I
am thrilled to include this section on art and photography because it reflects a large
part of who I am, being a graphic artist by trade and having worked as a commercial
photographer as well. I LOVE art in all its forms. And because of my passion in this
media area, I have located some really excellent resources for you to discover for your-
self just how beautiful the world of the Public Domain can be.
If you spent any time searching through the Publisher Links section, you will have
seen some fantastic uses of classic art and photography, from collections to reproduc-
tions and all points inbetween. I do want to caution you however not to allow those sites
to limit your creativity. Very often, we will see art or photography used in a certain way
that appeals to us, so we set out to do our OWN version of what someone else has done.
That’s okay, and you may be successful with it, but why not move beyond what others
have done to create new and exciting possibilities? The only thing stopping you is YOU.
A note about formats: As you begin to discover images you want to save and use, you
will notice that they will be usually be available in one of a variety of file formats. The most
common formats used are JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, JPEG2000 and MrSID. To successfully
work with some of these formats, you will want to have image processing software such
as Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. You can easily open and manipulate the JPEG, GIF,
TIFF and PNG file formats right out of the box. To view JPEG2000 and MrSID (you’ll find
files using these compression schemes on the Library of Congress website and others) in
your web browser, you will want to download the freely available plug-in available from
LizardTech called ExpressView Browser Plug-in. You can download it at the LizardTech
website (http://www.lizardtech.com/download/index.php).
There is also a standalone MrSID browser available for download at the Library of
Congress website (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/help/download_sid.html). I would high-
ly recommend using this browser for MrSID images because it has a feature that allows you
to export the images at full resolution as TIFF images...a very important feature if you want
to take advantage of those high resolution scans available on the LOC website.
A free JPEG2000 plugin for Photoshop and Paintshop Pro is also available from Lead
Technologies. You can download the plug-in from the Lead Technologies website at:
http://www.leadtools.com/utilities/psplugin/PhotoShop_plug-in.htm. This is extremely
handy to have if you use Photoshop or Paintshop Pro since it enables you to open and
save files with the JPEG2000 file format. In other words...go download it.
Money-saving tip
As I mentioned earlier, to work with images you will need an image-processing pro-
gram like Adobe Photoshop Elements. And if you want to take some of those images
and stylize them as digital paintings using digital natural media tools, you will need a
software package like Corel Painter Essentials. These programs each sell for around
$85-$90...and that’s a pretty good deal. But here is a better deal: The Wacom Graphire4
4x5 USB Tablet features a cordless pressure sensitive pen AND a cordless mouse. It is
totally amazing and sells for less than $90. What sweetens the deal even more is the
bundled software. You’ve guessed it...it comes with copies of both Photoshop Elements
AND Painter Essentials, along a number of other excellent programs as well. For the
cost of just one of the programs, you can actually pick up both and the tablet for the
same price. This is really a no brainer purchase! Get you own tablet at The Graphics
Expert (www.thegraphicsexpert.com). And while you are there, make sure you check
out their excellent selection of tools needed for working with all types of Public Domain
media.
Hortus Nitidissimis
http://www.kew.org/hortus/default.jsp
A year in a brilliant garden of exquisite flow-
ers represented in beautiful pictures. This a
classic horticulture book available online.
Morgue File
http://www.morguefile.com/archive/
This site provides the public and creative community with free raw photo materials. Don’t let the name
fool you. There are a lot of great images here. They are NOT in the Public Domain but ARE still free to
use privately and commercially.
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You can find the historic maps here, but there are also
many other gems to be mined on this site as well.
The links page will net you even more photos in the
Public Domain.
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PhotoGraphic Libraries
http://www.photographiclibraries.com/index.php
The stock images, film and photo archives listed provide a creative source for television producers, adver-
tising agencies, libraries, education centers, picture researchers and Photojournalist researching visual
communications—contains national and private photographic collections.
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Pictures Catalogue
http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/picturescatalogue
This catalogue contains descriptions of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and three-dimensional
objects held in the Pictures Collection of the National Library of Australia. The Pictures Collection con-
tains approximately 45,000 paintings and over 600,000 photographs; most of this material has been cat-
alogued with individual descriptions or collection summaries.
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Shigitatsu
http://www.shigitatsu.com/
Rare antique illustrated botanical and natural history books, original antique botanical and natural his-
tory prints, Digital art and fine art reproductions.
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Ward Maps
http://www.wardmaps.com/index.htm
Ward Maps is your online source for authentic antique and archival prints of urban maps.
They specialize in the digital restoration and archival printing of neighborhood maps of American cities.
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Yoto Photo
http://yotophoto.com/
Yotophoto is the first internet search engine for finding free-to-use stock photographs and images. Now
indexing over 150,000 Creative Commons, Public Domain, GNU FDL, and various other ‘copyleft’
images.
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Start Profiting From Public Domain Images TODAY By Clicking the Link Below:
www.easymoneypictureproject.com
© 2010 - Tony Laidig • All Rights Reserved - 68 - www.publicdomaincodebook.com
Audio / Video Links
R
emember that classic Bugs Bunny cartoon where he goes head-to-head with the
airplane gremlin? I love that cartoon...Bugs Bunny rocks! Did you know that car-
toon and many others are in the Public Domain? It IS and you can download it
right now, burn it onto a DVD and sell it, along with Sherlock Holmes movies, and a
huge number of other classics. But classics are not the only types of video or audio files
that await you in the Public Domain. Much of the video footage shot by our government
and government agencies is also in the Public Domain, along with audio recordings of
speeches, interviews, congressional hearings, etc. It’s all out there waiting for you.
Perhaps you are thinking, “Who would buy DVD’s or CD’s of Public Domain media?”
You have a point. I mean, after all, I am sure by now you have been to a Dollar store and
have seen DVD’s for a buck. Or maybe you saw cheap DVD’s in the check-out line at
Walmart. So if Walmart is selling them for a buck, then they can’t be worth much right?
Trust me...you are asking the wrong question. The question to ask is this: “Why is Walmart
even bothering in the first place?” There’s a good reason for it and the answer is sim-
ple...because they sell. Look around on Ebay or check out some of the Publisher Links
listed earlier in the book. You will see some inventive uses for Public Domain audio and
video media. Check out some of the vendors who sell the stuff on Ebay...like classic video
collections. Track their sales. You will see what I am talking about.
My challenge to you again is to use your imagination. There are many terrific
resources out there waiting to be discovered. Find them and create something people
will want. Use them as bonuses, or to boost back-end sales. Create a site where people
can view streaming versions of the shows. Pull together collections of thematic docu-
mentaries, or use excerpts along with original video. The possibilities are endless.
Let me even challenge you with one more possibility: iPod® Video. There are a num-
ber of sites included in this book where you can grab hundreds of movies and documen-
taries. You can convert them to play on Video iPods® then sell them to that market
(which is growing quickly, BTW). Again, the possiblities are endless.
Now there are a few tools of the trade that you will want to consider adding to your
arsenal if you plan to work with audio or video media. I suggest you take a look at some
of Sony’s excellent products (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/) such as Sound
Forge Audio Studio 8 for working with sound files, or Vegas Movie Studio+DVD 6 for
working with the video files. You can learn more about these excellent tools on the Sony
Media Software website. Plus, they will cost you less than a hundred bucks each. I have
been using the pro versions of this software for years and can attest to how easy they
are to use. I guarantee you will be having fun with new creations in no time.
BuyOut Footage
http://www.buyoutfootage.com/
Buyout Footage is a full service stock footage house featuring the very best in contemporary royalty free
stock footage, full-length public domain films and archive film stock footage.
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Digiview Productions
http://www.digiviewus.com/pages/productshome.html
Digiview Productions was established in January of 2004, launching itself into the value priced DVD
sales world. Our mission is to lead the distribution of DVD’s to the retail market with favorite screen
writes and animations from assorted genres.
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Festival Films
http://www.fesfilms.com/
Festival Films has been in business for over 30
years selling 16mm Films, Videotapes, Movie
Posters and now DVDs and has the largest
public domain collection in the world. Best
quality from 1” Masters.
Scroll down to “Video Masters” then to “Gallery of
Movie Posters of Public Domain Films!” for a cool
surprise.
Film Chest
http://filmchest.com/
Film Chest’s programming is professionally transferred from library masters in both PAL and NTSC for-
mats. Our public domain content may be utilized for broadcast, duplication or resale without restriction
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LibriVox
http://librivox.org/
LibriVox volunteers record chapters of books
in the public domain, and we release the
audio files back into the public domain.
OpenFlix
http://www.openflix.com/
OpenFlix provides a directory of movies commonly thought to be in the public domain, related resources,
and a discussion forum. In addition, OpenFlix works with copyright holders who wish to gain widespread
distribution of their works through the Internet.
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Prelinger Archives
http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger
Prelinger Archives remains in existence, hold-
ing approximately 4,000 titles on videotape
and a smaller collection of film materials
acquired subsequent to the Library of
Congress transaction.
Have fun digging around on this excellent, and while
you’re at it, be sure to visit one of my favorite sections,
Film Chest Vintage Cartoons.
Radio Lovers
http://www.radiolovers.com/
We offer hundreds of vintage radio shows for
you to listen to online in mp3 format, all for
free.
RetroFilm Media
http://www.retrofilm.com/
RetroFilm Media International specializes in providing media professionals with high broadcast quality
programming content for use in broadcast television, film projects, video streaming, distribution, public
television, cable or other professional needs.
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Shokus Video
http://www.shokus.com/
Shokus Video has been a leader in supplying classic 1950s TV shows to the home video market since
1979! Now you can relive the golden days of live television all over again with our large library of classic
programming on both DVD and VHS!
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TV Video
http://www.tvideo.com/index.htm
TV Video offers classic programs in many categories including: animated, comedy, crime, documentary,
drama, sci-fi, war, western and others.
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I
could have gone through the links pages in this section and just listed every webpage that fea-
tured Public Domain media, but why rob you of the joy of the hunt, not to mention it would have
taken me a very long time...yikes! The fact is, there are thousands of links to pour over and dig
through on the following pages. Some are thematically related, others are not. Also note that not
ALL the links you find will lead you to Public Domain materials. Make sure you read copyright
notices and terms of use statements.
These types of pages are
for those of you who love to
sort through pages of links like
the example you see at left.
(you are working through this
books so you must like it
some). Rabbit trails can be fun
but also time consuming. I like
to think of it more as panning
for gold. So go dig out your
digital pan and hit the streams of data to pan for gold. Depending on what you are look-
ing for, you might just strike it rich.
R ecently, when working on another project, I had a bit of an epiphany concerning blog content. The solution was
staring me right in the face and it was one that nearly everyone in the internet marketing community has missed.
It appeared to be a perfect solution! Here's why...
• There is a nearly limitless supply of the content. You’ll never need to stress over content again!
• It’s proven content. This content has been written by experts in their field and reviewed by publish-
ers and seasoned professionals.
• It’s free. You can use this content as much as you want, wherever you want without needing to worry
about royalties or hidden expenses.
• It comes in bite-sized chunks. The content is the perfect size for blog posts, ranging from a few, short
paragraphs to just a few pages. That means the content is focused and concise…perfect qualities for
blog posts.
• It’s fresh content. This content source is virtually untapped because most people don’t know how or
where to find it.
• It’s available for nearly any niche. You will be able to find content for just about any topic you choose,
guaranteed!
Curious? I thought you might be!
Limitless Blog Content: Ultimate Edition teaches you how to be successful in using Public Domain maga-
zines to build content-rich blogs, articles and information products.
In “Limitless Blog Content” manual, you will discover:
• One of the largest, mostly untapped resources for blog and article content
• How you can quickly identify the best sources for your niche content
• My step-by-step process for locating and preparing the content for your blog
• How to easily identify and avoid potential pitfalls with certain types of content
• Where to find niche-specific images you can use in your blog posts for free
• How and why you should be using video on your niche blogs
• The best ways to monetize your blog and content
• How you can avoid being labeled as a Spam Blog (splog)
• How you can use Social Networks to drive tons of traffic to your blog
• And Much More!
Never Have a Lack of Content for Your Blogs, Articles or Products EVER Again:
www.limitlessblogcontent.com
Click on the author’s name. You will notice that the resulting page contains a listing of
books by the author, an author biography, links to online works by the author, and much,
much more. It doesn’t get any easier than this, folks!
Okay…hit the “Back” button…let’s look at another
author. Scroll up a bit until you are in the “Fiction” sec-
tion. Click on “Jack London,” another of my favorite
authors. Again you’ll see a massive amount of info
about the author that includes a complete bibliography
and links to many of his books available online. Yes,
this is THAT easy! I TOLD you!
Now, here is another secret for this website: go back up to the web address line and
type in another year and hit <ENTER>. Pick a year, any year. Follow the same instruc-
tions and see what you discover. That’s it…amazing isn’t it?
What is so wonderful about this website is that Answers.com takes a lot of the guess-
work out of identifying outstanding books and authors that are now in the Public
Domain. This is valuable information that I encourage you to explore. You never know
what gem you just might uncover!
Have fun with it! Oh...and make sure you check out the other search sites in this sec-
tion as well.
Continued on page 87
Answers.com
http://www.answers.com
This is a website of answers...and certainly does not disappoint when it comes to finding Public Domain
books, if you know where to look. Make sure you read the introduction to this section for some great tips
to locating books.
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Bibliofind
http://www.bibliofind.com
Bibliofind has combined with Amazon.com to provide millions of rare, used, and out-of-print books
through the world’s No.1 online bookstore. Search for millions of hard-to-find titles from their trusted
community of Bibliofind and Amazon.com booksellers.
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BookFinder
http://www.bookfinder.com
BookFinder.com is the open marketplace for books online—a one stop ecommerce search engine where
you can search through over 100 million new, used, rare, and out of print books for sale.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
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Write in your new Public Domain Book Search link discoveries here:
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T
he United States government is the single largest publisher in the world. Every
year, millions of documents are published by the Federal government, from tran-
scripts of speeches to how-to manuals to legal records. These government doc-
uments can be of tremendous value to journalists and other information gatherers,
because they provide access to more detailed information on more subjects than any
other source. Although some US documents are classified as “top secret,” the vast
majority are available to the public and are in the Public Domain. The FirstGov website
alone features a database of over 30 million documents, and that represents just one
government source of many. Please note that not ALL government items are in the
Public Domain, but most are. Make sure you read copyright notices where available.
Locating media that may be of interest to you is in many case as straight forward
as using a search engine with keywords. What you may discover, however, is that the
report you want will cost you, which, in the grand scheme of things, may not be a big
deal. It would be no different than purchasing a Public Domain book at a used book-
store or online. What I have discovered though is that with some creative searching,
you can often find the document you want for free. Free is better. Let me give you an
example.
The U.S. Government recently released reports
concerning the governmental response to the
Katrina disaster. Both the Office of the President
and the Select Bipartisan Committee released sep-
arate reports. Let’s say you want to locate the
report produced by the Select Bipartisan
Committee. It is titled, “Failure of Initiative.” You
could go to the Government Bookstore website
(http://bookstore.gpo.gov/), do a keyword search for “Katrina” or for the title itself. Click
on the link that the search provides and you can pick up a perfect-bound copy of this excel-
lent report for $27. Pretty easy.
Business.gov
http://www.business.gov/
Business.gov guides you through the maze of
government rules and regulations and pro-
vides access to services and resources to help
you start, grow, and succeed in business.
Government Reports
http://www.govspot.com/news/reports/
GovSpot.com is a non-partisan government information portal designed to simplify the search for the
best and most relevant government information online. This free resource offers a high-utility collection
of top government and civic resources hand-selected by their editorial team for their quality, content and
utility.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Government Reports on
Environment
http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/
environment/gov.html
The University of Washington Libraries col-
lection of Government reports on the envi-
ronment.
Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/index.html
I think this site is pretty self-explanatory. You
can literally spend days going through all the
offerings on this site and not exhaust them.
Look here for images, movies, books, art, etc.
NTIS
http://www.ntis.gov/index.asp
The National Technical Information Service
provides information on more than 600,000
information products covering over 350 sub-
ject areas from over 200 federal agencies.
Science Gov
http://www.science.gov/
Science.gov is a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government
agencies, including research and development results. Enables you to search 47 million pages in real time
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Technical Reports
http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/godc/resguide/techrpt.htm
Technical reports are written as part of government funded research on a variety of subjects. Most feder-
al government funded research is performed by universities, nonprofit organizations and industries under
contract to government agencies. This is a very comprehensive site for this type of Public Domain
resource.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
M
y quest for Public Domain websites has taken me all over the world. I have
learned SO much through this process. While searching for the sites contained
in this book, I came across a few excellent information resources directly relat-
ed to the Public Domain. While this book is not intended to provided an in-depth study
on all the aspects of the Public Domain, there are some excellent resources available
both online and offline that do. The links included below will take you to a few of those
resources. I would encourage you to take the time to learn from these websites. It will
only serve to make your experiences in the Public Domain better ones.
T
he links included here were discovered after much of the book was completed. I
thought that many of these sites were SO good that I wanted to include them for
you as a bonus. They are not sorted or classified but still worth exploring.
Public Domain 4 U
http://www.publicdomain4u.com/
Here is a collection of MP3’s of songs that are in the Public Domain. If you like blues, here is a great place
to find some classics.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Akamac Etexts
http://www.cpm.ll.ehime- u.ac.jp/AkamacHomePage/Akamac_E-text_Links/Akamac_E- text_Links.html
With a focus on texts relevant to the history of economics and social thought, this site provides links
arranged in by author in alphabetical order.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Etext Archives
http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/e-texts.html
This page seeks to collect any and all e-text archives on the Web.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
E-Server
http://eserver.org/
The EServer is a growing online community where hundreds of writers, artists, editors and scholars gath-
er to publish works as open archives, available free of charge to readers.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
CARRIE
http://www.ku.edu/carrie/
A full text electronic library.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Leseratte Library
http://terrenceberres.com/etext.html
A collection of book texts, articles and bibliographies. Also includes links to other Public Domain sites.
Comments / Notes: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
M
y hope for you in purchasing and using this book is two-fold: First and fore-
most, I want you to have the adventure of a lifetime. Not only are you reach-
ing back into the heritage of our past, but you are also building upon that foun-
dation. It’s a great challenge, privilege and responsibility. It is also an exciting journey
back to the past and into the future. Think of it, you have the opportunity to breathe life
again into the words spoken by another decades or even centuries ago. How awesome
is that?
Second, I want to see you prosper from the information contained in this book. If you
do not, it’s only because you do not apply the knowledge contained herein. Many of the
books in the Public Domain have sold thousands, and in quite a few cases, tens and
hundreds of thousands of copies…but here’s the rub…those sales were to another gen-
eration. People are basically the same at their core. They want the same things, whether
the year was 1906 or 2006. Remember that and you will understand the importance of
looking back to look forward.
I also want to leave you with a couple final tips and tricks to bear in mind as you dis-
cover those treasures. Contained within the treasure you discover may be clues to more
treasure. Think about this: Books often contain references and comments in the text
that point to other works. Here are some prime clues to keep your eyes open for:
• Bibliographies
• Footnotes
• Ads for other books
• About the author sections
• In-text references to other books and authors
I remember the first time this approach occurred to me…I was reading an old book
published in 1910. I was really enjoying it, when all of a sudden, something the author
said jumped out at me. He said that so-and-so said in his excellent book…then quoted
the author. I sat there for a moment, and then realized that, if the book was being refer-
enced in a book published before 1923, then the referenced book was also in the Public
Domain. I know…it seems like a “Duh…” thought, but you might be surprised how
many people this would never occur to…perhaps even you! So as you find these treas-
ures, read them and include them as a part of your research. They may be worth more
to you than you realize.
One last thing…DO NOT overlook old magazines. If you find a magazine related to your
niche that was published in 1922, then, guess what…all the authors of all the articles (not
to mention the articles themselves) are in the Public Domain. This is often also true of mag-
azines published in the later years up until 1964. Just be sure to do your copyright research.
I remember the first “old” magazine I purchased on Ebay. The find was triggered from a
search I was doing for a particular author whose books I love, and whose books are all in
the Public Domain. I was doing a search for the author’s name on Ebay and had checked
the box for searching title and description (this is a great tip). That’s when the magazine
turned up. The author was a contributor for that issue. I won the auction, and when the mag-
azine arrived, I searched through it and was nearly jumping up and down with excitement.
Why? Because it was full of treasure: articles, book reviews, advertisements, quotes, pic-
tures and more…ALL in the Public Domain. I’ll be honest with you...this tip is a goldmine
in itself. I should have charged extra for it. So definitely include this strategy as a part of
your treasure-finding abilities.
In closing…have fun and remember that there is joy in the journey. We all want to
prosper, but you might as well have fun doing it, right? Also, don’t forget the next bonus
section. It’s your chance to sharpen your skills as a treasure hunter.
may be the subject(s) of the work or intellectual creation. Issues pertaining to privacy
and publicity may arise when a researcher contemplates the use of letters, diary entries,
photographs or reportage in visual, audio, and print formats found in library collections.
Because two or more people are often involved in the work (e.g., photographer and sub-
ject, interviewer and interviewee) and because of the ease with which various media in
digital format can be reused, photographs, audio files, and motion pictures represent
materials in which issues of privacy and publicity emerge with some frequency.
“The distinctions among privacy rights, publicity rights, and copyright are best illus-
trated by example, as follows: An advertiser wishes to use a photograph for a print
advertisement. The advertiser approaches the photographer, who holds the copyright in
the photograph, and negotiates a license to use the photograph. The advertiser also is
required to determine the relationship between the photographer and the subject of the
photograph. If no formal relationship (e.g., a release form signed by the subject) exists
that permits the photographer to license the use of the photograph for all uses or oth-
erwise waives the subject’s, sitter’s or model’s rights, then the advertiser must seek per-
mission from the subject of the photograph because the subject has retained both pri-
vacy and publicity rights in the use of their likeness. The privacy right or interest of the
subject is personal in character, that the subject and his/her likeness not be cast before
the public eye without his/her consent, the right to be left alone. The publicity right of
the subject is that their image may not be commercially exploited without his/her con-
sent and potentially compensation.
“While copyright is a federally protected right under the United States Copyright Act,
with statutorily described fair use defenses against charges of copyright infringement,
neither privacy nor publicity rights are the subject of federal law. Note also that while
fair use is a defense to copyright infringement, fair use is not a defense to claims of vio-
lation of privacy or publicity rights. Privacy and publicity rights are the subject of state
laws. While many states have privacy and/or publicity laws, others do not recognize
such rights or recognize such rights under other state laws or common law legal theo-
ries such as misappropriation and false representation. What may be permitted in one
state may not be permitted in another. Note also that related causes of action may be
pursued under the federal Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125 (a), for example, for unautho-
rized uses of a person’s identity in order to create a false endorsement.
“While an individual’s right to privacy generally ends when the individual dies,
publicity rights associated with the commercial value connected with an individ-
ual’s name, image or voice may continue. For example, many estates or repre-
sentatives of famous authors, musicians, actors, photographers, politicians,
sports figures, celebrities, and other public figures continue to control and license
the uses of those figures’ names, likenesses, etc.”*
An example of this would be where you have located a Public Domain resource that
contains a photograph of Elvis. Because of Publicity Rights held by his estate, you can-
not use any likeness of Elvis for commercial gain, even if it is in the Public Domain.
*(Library of Congress website; http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/copothr.html, accessed 1/26/06)
Trademarks
Another area to be careful in when it comes to using Public Domain materials, espe-
cially images, movies and music, is the area of trademarks. It is possible to find
resources that are in the Public Domain but are still protected by trademark. A good
example of this would be an ad advertising Coca-Cola from a 1922 magazine. The mag-
azine may be in the Public Domain, but Coca-Cola retains the trademark control of their
brand.
Licensing Restrictions
There are situations where a resource may be in the Public Domain but its use may
still be limited due to licensing restrictions. This is where the owner of the Public Domain
piece—a painting for instance—has the right to limit access to the piece, even though
it is in the Public Domain. Attorney Stephen Fishman provides greater insight into this
in his excellent book, The Public Domain:
“Theoretically, once a work of art enters the public domain it can be copied
freely by anyone for any use. However, to make a copy you must first have
access to the original. And here lies the problem: Owners of works of art in the
public domain are under no obligation to give anyone access to copy the work.
Even when a work of art is in the public domain, the canvas, marble, clay, or
other physical substance in which it is embodied is still owned by somebody—
whether a museum, gallery, or private collector. Since a work of art is a piece of
personal property as well as a work of authorship, the owner enjoys all the rights
of any personal property owner. Copyright protection may expire or never exist
in the first place, but personal property rights attach to all works of art and last
forever.
“Private owners of public domain works of art are under no obligation to allow
anyone into their home to make copies of the art or even to view it. And most
major museums in the United States restrict the public from taking photographs
of their collections.”
“If you want a high-quality publishable photograph or other copy of a painting
or other artwork, you must ask the museum to provide you with one. You will be
charged a fee for this and usually required to sign a license agreement restricting
how you may use the photograph or other copy. Such licensing fees are a major
source of income for many art museums. Moreover, many museums will not agree
to license their works for products that might compete with their own products,
such as calendars and note cards.”
(Fishman, Stephen, The Public Domain: How to Find & Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art &
More (Berkeley, CA: Nolo, 2004), 160-161.)
When many talk about the Public Domain, they usually limit their discussions to
books, images and movies. But there is MUCH more amazing “stuff” that is actually in
the Public Domain. Here is a fairly complete listing of the different types of “informa-
tion” items that are out there awaiting discovery. There are even a few things on this list
you would have probably never considered to be in the Public Domain (like “nature”).
Letters Photographs
Magazines Pictographs
Manuals Playbills
Maps Playing Cards
Menus Plays / Movie Scripts
Money (Obsolete) Postcards
Movies Posters
Musical Scores Programs
Nature Puzzles
Newsletters Recipes
Newspapers Record Albums
Oral Traditions Song Lyrics
Original Art Speeches
Packaging Sports Cards
Paper Dolls Stamps
Passenger Logs (Trains, Ships, etc.) Wallpaper
Periodicals Valentines
Petroglyphs
M
uch of this book is focused on doing your Public Domain research online. The
most obvious reason for this is that it’s easy to sit at your computer and “trav-
el all over the world” with the click of a mouse. However, in order to find some
items, you’re going to have to do your research the old-fashioned way...look for it
offline.
I’ve put together a list of over twenty places to dig around for those lost gems. Yes, it
takes longer to do this type of research, but for me, it’s also much more enjoyable. I guess
it’s the thrill of the hunt...something I love. So in your rush for find the next million-dollar
idea from the Public Domain, MAKE SURE to refer to this list.
I
n developing products, there are a few things you can always count on…People
always love: Information, How-to guides, Nostalgia and the Classics. Keep these
points in mind when looking for potential markets to develop information products
for. That being said, you also need to remember that just because you think something
is cool doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else will. It is seldom a wise decision to
develop a product first, and then go out to find customers willing to buy it. The only way
to truly be successful in developing and selling information products is to follow this
simple 3-step rule:
1. Find a group of passionate people with money to spend, and who will spend it
compulsively.
2. Determine exactly what it is they want.
3. Give them what they want.
Follow that process and success will likely be kicking down your door. Don’t follow
that process and success may be difficult to come by. Let’s look at each point a little
more in depth.
1. Find a group of passionate people with money to spend, and who will spend it
compulsively.
You know people like this, partly because this may describe you, when it comes to
something you love. Here are some topic examples that are considered “evergreen”,
meaning, there will always be a market in these areas…let’s see if one strikes a chord
with you:
• Making money
airplane tickets. So don’t be afraid to jump into the fray! However, creating original
products will always keep you ahead of the game.
Here are 15 niche areas to consider:
Case Study #1
Dover Publications
http://www.doverpublications.com/
D over was established in 1941 by Hayward and Blanche Cirker, who managed the company
through more than a half-century of growth. Over the years, Dover built a thriving business on
making an extraordinarily wide range of intellectual property available to customers with special inter-
ests.
In 1951, Dover broke new ground by introducing one of the first trade paperbacks. Until
then paperbacks were cheaply produced pocket-sized editions selling in drugstores for 25
cents. Dover produced larger, high-quality paperbacks and sold them in bookstores for a
dollar or more. While competitors initially predicted disaster, they soon recognized the
strong market response and got on the bandwagon.
Since their founding, Dover Publications has built their reputation by offering remarkable
products at amazing prices. They primarily publish books no longer published by their orig-
inal publishers—often, but not always, books in the public domain. Many of these books
are of particular historical interest or high quality.
Dover’s policy of cheap (while durable) binding means their books are sold at a low
cost. They are well known for their reprints of classic works of literature, classical sheet
music and of public-domain images from the 19th century. They also publish an exten-
sive collection of mathematical, scientific and engineering texts.
Hayward Cirker, co-founder of Dover Publications once said, “We can take a book on
an esoteric subject and sell more copies of it than anyone believed possible.” This explains
why the New York Times would say, “The shelves of American bookstores, not to mention
those of millions of book lovers, would look very different if not for Cirker’s influence.”
Dover’s offerings include a vast range of subjects such as American History, Americana,
Folklore, Mythology, Children’s Classics, Cookbooks, Nutrition, Literature, Nature, Puzzles,
Gardening and dozens of other subjects, now with over 8,000 books available.
In keeping with their mission to provide classic resources at reasonable prices, they are
utilizing nearly every primary form of information content for Public Domain from books
and clip art books and CD’s to posters and music CD’s.
You will find Dover’s product line online, but they also continue to maintain print cata-
log sales. You will also find many of their products in retail bookstores like Borders and
Barnes and Nobel as well as specialty stores and gift shops. This company has made an
art out of using Public Domain materials and should be an inspiration to anyone with a pas-
sion for classic media products.
Here are a few examples of the thousands of Public Domain offerings from Dover
Publications.
Dover Publications
31 East 2nd Street
Mineola, NY 11501-3852
Fax: 516-742-6953
Case Study #2
A2ZCDS
http://www.a2zcds.com/
A 2ZCDS is the world’s largest and fastest growing innovative multi-media library.
Through its vast and unique distribution network, the company provides historical
and educational CDs and DVDs covering thousands of topics to every corner of the
globe. The ceaseless research and polling process at A2ZCDS constantly identifies and
responds to existing and emergent areas of interests.
They are amongst the pioneers in restoring, preserving and immortalizing audiovisual
media content in CD and DVD formats. This involves an ever-ongoing quest for product
excellence. At the end of these efforts a wide range of clients—academic scholars, scien-
tific and historical researchers as well as movie aficionados—are benefited by A2ZCDS
research and development in innovation. Mentioned below are some of the company’s
most popular audiovisual products:
HISTORICAL CDs
The past unfolds in graphic detail right before your eyes. A2ZCDS has catalogued
popular areas of research and general interest that range from the earliest American
settlers, key historical personages and national evolution to manned space flights.
The CDs are designed and mapped for complete user-friendliness, requiring virtually
no computer skills to explore. Each historical CD from A2ZCDS includes extensive
information on that particular subject, including illustrations, film clips, historic pho-
tographs and documents, maps, etc. in easy-to-read PDF format. The historical CD
range from A2ZCDS has won wide acclaim for its imaginativeness in selection of
material, the sheer volume of content and the care with which it is categorized and
presented. Several leading authorities on American history have extended their
appreciation and regular patronage of these invaluable research tools. A2ZCDS his-
torical CDs are also primary, choice reference material for those with a more casual
interest in matters of historical importance.
DOCUMENTARY DVDs
The world as we know it. The world as it was. The world as it will be. These media
offer an astounding amount of information on any imaginable topic, sourced from the
world’s leading authorities and information banks. Documentary film clips of heritage in
the making. Landmark cultural events. World-changing concepts, discoveries and
inventions. If there is any information anywhere in the world on any of the subjects cov-
ered in these treasure-chests of knowledge, they contain in. Catalogued, indexed, cat-
egorized—and authenticated by all relevant official sources. These DVDs make for lim-
itless hours of fascinating learning experience.
As a result of constant innovation, exemplary products and outstanding customer
service, A2ZCDS is quickly becoming a household name. It numbers amongst the most
trusted, efficient and user-friendly sources of educational and entertainment media on
the market today. They’ve sold over 250,000 CDs to date.
A2ZCDS.com
1618 Camerbur Dr. Orlando, FL 32805, USA
Phone: 1-866-254-8579, Fax: 1-954-337-6215
E-mail: [email protected]
Case Study #3
P at O’Brien was digging around in a back-hills Texas shop and discovered some old
magazines from the 1920’s. They were in decent condition so he decided to buy them.
He thought of his good friend Dr. Joe Vitale and how much he would probably love them.
So Pat brought the magazines to their Mastermind group meeting. Joe was flipping
through the magazines, using the old ads to give the group an impromptu marketing les-
son. That’s when Joe came across an advertisement for Pelmanism. It was like time stood
still. Finally, Joe spoke: “I’ve heard of Pelmanism.” Joe was excited and his excitement
led to a quest to locate the books.
After a few weeks of search-
ing, Pat found a mint copy of
the 1919 books for sale—all 12
of them. Everything was there.
Everything...including the se-
crets to how the huge fortunes
of the 1920’s were created.
After spending 6 hours scan-
ning the books and converting
them into PDF’s, Pat and Joe
put up a website and sent out
an e-mail about their discovery
to their lists. They were given
their customers the opportuni-
ty to pick up this excellent course from the past for
only $19. I know...I got mine!
The rest is history…they sold 1,465 copies sold in
the first three weeks…that’s $27,385 in 21 days. This
is one great example of what is possible with public
domain materials.
Case Study #4
T
he Catalog of U.S. Government Publications provides an index to print and elec-
tronic publications created by Federal agencies. When available, links are provid-
ed to the full-text of these publications. Additionally, the locate libraries feature
enables users to find libraries by state or area code that can make print publications
available for their use. Coverage is January 1994 - April 2005.
The Catalog uses WAIS database search software that provides several search
options. There are fielded searches and search terms may be combined by using
Boolean logic. Using either or both of these features yields more precise search results.
The more specific the query is defined, the more relevant the search results will be.
However, if unfamiliar with how records are formatted or how the search mechanism
works, a query can be too specific and yield no results.
Formulating Searches
Begin by choosing the terms you wish to search. A search term may be words, ini-
tials, or numbers. Search terms can be subject terms; an author’s, editor’s, or organiza-
tion’s name; words in a title or series; geographic terms; format terms (such as com-
puter file, database, microfiche, video recording, etc.); or identifying numbers or dates.
Once the search terms are identified, they should be entered in the appropriate field
or combination of fields. For most users the keyword or title search will be sufficient.
The entire bibliographic record is searched when a keyword is used. This is a much
broader search, and likely to produce more results than a title search which only search-
es the title field of the record. Searching fields is recommended particularly when look-
ing for a known item.
Stopwords
Like many database search systems, the WAIS search mechanism employs the use
of “stop words.” These are common words that the system ignores, therefore they do
not have to be included in a search string. The CGP stopword list includes only 10
words.
adj and for nor the an as from or to
Sample Searches
1. Search for Online Titles
Use the Keyword search (online titles) function to create a subset of the CGP that
only includes titles available online. Include PURL or http as part of your search strate-
gy. Combine this with strategies described in the BASIC SEARCHING section to locate
topical information. This strategy can also be used with the name of a Government
agency or to conduct numerical searches, but only records for online titles will be
retrieved.
4. Search by Title
It is not necessary to know the exact title of a Government information product to
use the title field. Results will display records with the search terms anywhere within the
title field. Boolean logic, phrase searching, and other basic search techniques described
above can be used in the title field. When a keyword search results in too many records,
using the title search is a viable alternative. For example, a keyword search of drug*
AND teen* resulted in 78 hits, while producing only 5 as a title search.
kind of publication issued by a Federal agency. It also may be used as a tool to assist
depository librarians refine their item selections.
An example of a Depository Item Number is: 1008-D. Information in parentheses fol-
lowing an item number identifies that the item is available in microfiche (MF), paper (P),
electronic (E), or online (Online). It is not necessary to use these in the search string,
but if used, the parentheses must be omitted.
Simply enter the date range, using four digits for the year, to conduct a publication
date search. To find publications issued in single year, put the date in both date fields.
For example, if the publication year is 1994, use [1994] to [1994]. Do not leave either
date field blank, doing so will produce an inexact search result.
The initial eight numbers refer to the date (yyyy/mm/dd) in which the record was
created by GPO. In this case the date is September 22, 1999. The remaining numbers
represent the time of day the cataloging record was generated.
When using this search strategy the asterisk (*) must be used after the numeric rep-
resentation of the date. This truncation alerts the search mechanism to ignore the time
stamp numbers in the rest of the <005> string. Please note that use of leading zeros is
required for this search, e.g., 09 for September or 08 for the 8th day of a month.
Examples of searches and results:
Search Result
199909* AND PURL Cataloging records created in September
1999 for publications available online
Search Result
1998011* Cataloging records created between January 10,
1998 and January 19, 1998
Interpreting Results
Summary Records
The search results lists present a summary record for each publication. The summa-
ry record includes the title, format (i.e. microfiche, CD-ROM), date of publication, issu-
ing agency, SuDocs Class Number and [[Depository Item Number]]. If the publication is
available online, a direct link is provided. If the title is for sale by GPO, a GPO Stock
Number will also be supplied. See the sample below:
ATF, the youth crime gun interdiction initiative : crime gun trace analysis reports : the
illegal youth firearms markets in 17 communities. 1997] United States. T 70.2:C 86.
GPO stock no.: 048-012-00106-6. [[0971-B]].
http://www.atf.treas.gov/core/firearms/ycgii/ycgii.htm
Rank: 329 Locate Libraries, Short Record, Full Record
Once a publication is identified, a link is available to locate Federal depository
libraries that received that publication. A search for libraries can be conducted by area
code or state.
Record Displays
The Short Record provides a user-friendly display with the basic information one
needs to locate or cite a source.
The Full Record, on the other hand, provides the complete and detailed MARC21
catalog record for the publication. Both displays have direct links to online versions of
the publication if they are available. Looking at the fields in a MARC21 record provides
an opportunity to see the record structure which could prove beneficial in refining a
search.
L
et’s say you want to use Public Domain images to start a product business on
Ebay that specializes in selling artwork like posters, maps, cards, fine art, etc. You
will obviously need to find a cost-effective way to create your products. You
COULD take the images to a commercial printer and have them offset printed, but that
will cost you a fortune, especially if you want to offer a wide variety of art pieces. You
could easily tie up thousands of dollars in producing an inventory that may not even
sell. But before you panic at the thought of needing to take out a second mortgage on
your home, take a deep breath and allow me to direct your attention to a simple solu-
tion—inkjet printers. Using a wide-format inkjet printer is THE answer to getting your
art business up and running, quickly and inexpensively.
A trip to Staples or Best Buy will give you a quick education on the different printer man-
ufacturers that are available out there—HP, Lexmark, Epson, Brother, Xerox, Canon, etc.
Regardless of what those well-meaning sales people might tell you, my experience and
research says that you need to seriously look at the Epson product line of printers first.
Sure, there are other great printers out there (I own three HP printers and a Canon or two
along with my Epson printers). But Epson has mastered the On-Demand delivery concept
with their line of excellent printers and inks. As a company, Epson is serious about quality,
both in their printers and in the prints their printers produce…and it shows. They have the
best software interfaces and printer drivers out there, and their new Ultrachrome K3 inks
are fade resistant for over 100 years. (a fact you might want to point out in your sales let-
ter!) thanks in part to the fact that they are pigment-based. Add to that their printers’ abil-
ity to print on canvas, watercolor paper, archival paper and a host of other mediums and
you end up with a winning combination that will not only make your business run efficient-
ly, but also profitable. Gone are the days of expensive, large run offset print runs (unless
you find yourself needing thousands of copies of the same image. Then it makes sense).
Here is a listing of the latest wide-format printers Epson has to offer (as of January 2006):
Now, if you are a little short on startup cash and want to produce art prints or
posters, you still have a few options available to you. The first solution you have is to
outsource your print production to a company like Kinkos or Staples. Most of their
stores are equipped with large-format printers and can output whatever you need. You
will not make the same profits as you might when producing the prints yourself, but this
option still enables you to get your prints produced quickly and easily. Make sure you
check with your local store to find out what their media requirements and formats are.
They may vary store to store.
Another solution for you to consider is to buy a used printer. Ebay is a great place
to start looking. This option may be a good way for you to get started until you’re mak-
ing enough money to purchase a new printer. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind
when looking for a used printer:
• Do your homework on the printer. Learn what you can about the specific model
you’re interested in. Go to Google and type in the manufacturer and model…you
should find all the information you need to know (such as the types of media it
will print on, print sizes, ink costs, networking options, etc).
• Try to find out the printer’s history and print count if possible. Sellers often list
this if they know it. Don’t be afraid to ask them if they don’t mention it.
• You will also want to watch out for clogged print heads. The little nozzles in the
print heads are smaller than the thickness of a human hair. A lack of care, lack
of use, using generic inks, etc can result in clogging the print heads over time.
They are a pain to unclog, if you are even able to do so.
• Make sure the printer comes with the necessary parts needed for operation. Add-
ons like cables, power cords, print drivers and software, ink cartridges, etc. can
add up.
• Make sure your computer is compatible with the requirements of the printer. You
do not want to purchase a printer that connects to your computer through a USB
port if your computer doesn’t have one.
Don’t forget to consider earlier models of the latest and greatest printers currently
available. You can often find a great printer this way for a fraction of the cost of the
“new” model. Take the Epson Stylus 7800 printer, for example…before this model came
along, there was the 7600, and before it, the 7500 and before it, the 7000. To give you
some perspective on the kind of pricing difference I’m talking about…at the time of this
writing (January 2006), there was a “like new” Epson Stylus 7000 with a Postscript RIP
available on Ebay for $660. That’s an incredible bargain considering the Epson Stylus
7800 with a Postscript RIP will cost you $4,000!
Here’s a complete list of Epson’s new and older model wide-format printers (17”
paper widths and larger)
Power User Tip: Print out your Public Domain artwork painting on canvas. Then,
using a fine brush and some oil paints, add some highlight details to the painting
to compliment and enhance the image. This does NOT require a lot of skill to do.
Plus, investing the few extra minutes of work will not only add texture and detail
to your print, it will also add perceived value! You can easily increase the selling
price (and get it) for your artwork because, now, you are not just selling an art
print; you are selling a custom, hand-embellished gallery print. Adding this type
of embellishment is a pretty common practice in the artist community, so you
might as well benefit from this trick of the trade as well!
STOP!
Only use this key as a last resort.
Knowing where to look takes all the fun out of the search.