Espresso Machine Brews Books on the Spot

Not too long ago, the book company I work for bought an Espresso machine. No...not the fancy coffee-making apparatus, but an Espresso Book Machine (EBM). Marveling at its size, I was reminded a bit of the old-school photocopiers. But this expansive mass of mechanical marvel prints books on the demand.

An Espresso Book Machine on display at the London Book Fair, 2009.

image source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

This month, the Brooklyn Public Library ordered its own Espresso Book Machine. Printing and binding an entire book in less than five minutes, the machine allows library patrons to hold in their hands obscure titles that they wouldn't otherwise be able to get. It also makes self-publishing possible for those who drop by to use it. "People are doing quite a lot of self-publishing," said Linda Johnson, president of the Brooklyn Public Library, in an interview with 1010WINS. "Because Brooklyn does have a lot of writers, it wouldn't surprise me if that was one of the biggest uses." The Espresso Book Machine is accessible in the Grand Lobby of BPL's Central Library, at 10 Grand Army Plaza.

To read more about the Brooklyn Public Library getting an Espresso Book Machine, check out this CBS New York article.