Books ... no longer a treasure?

[General Lighting]

they usually get the precedent info off computers these days (TBH this has been the case for about 30 years and was one of the first uses of computers).

criminal law especially has changed so much in the last 20 years that the books have become as obsolete as old computer books - I used to buy them cheaply to try and help squatters, ravers etc but found myself that loads had changed. Certain books which are about specialised aspects of the law which are still valid are valued second hand but go for high prices on Amazon (a relative of mine is a law graduate, and most useful textbooks are sold to the next generation of students when the first lot graduate).

I wouldn't underestimate the value of old books as a support for other items, I've got several here propping up two small loudspeakers so they are just the right height for when I am mixing music. Now you can buy stands for this purpose made of all manner of exotic materials but they are about £70 each, and even if I plan to use something more permanent the pile of books can be used to judge the correct height of everything for ergonomics..

[dryad]

Originally Posted by General Lighting

Certain books which are about specialised aspects of the law which are still valid are valued second hand but go for high prices on Amazon (a relative of mine is a law graduate, and most useful textbooks are sold to the next generation of students when the first lot graduate).

that was kind of my point, there are still a lot of useful ones around that could be of benefit to a student, who let's face it now that uni fees have gone up, have a lot more expense and are either going to struggle or even not be able to go to uni at all..

and yes, i think we've all been known to use books for other purposes too, those large heavy format ones make brilliant steps when you need to reach something just that little bit higher as i often do..

[General Lighting]

many liberal arts / creative media textbooks are still useful. that said I've told several of my young friends to just use the money you'd spend on fees to get the kit for creating whatever you want to, buy the second hand books and not bother with uni..

but with science subjects technology has advanced so much that most books are out of date and only of historical interest. For instance I've got a 1972 tech book on electronic from Siemens and you can't buy most of the components there any more, and its full of stuff like analogue TV circuits for cathode ray tubes....

[max]

i had to have some books covering law on a subject when i was at teck we used to underline what was to change putting a note on that page noting the the alteration