Educational Media Reviews Online

Are books dead? Is reading finished? These and other questions are explored in this wide-ranging documentary that features experts in all areas having to do with the written word. Narrated by Meryl Streep, the film mixes commentary by CEOs, professors, authors, archivists, librarians, artists, journalists, and teachers with scenes in schools, libraries, bookstores, and focus group discussions.

The speakers definitely take points of view as questions about the viability of books as physical objects, the future of bookstores and libraries, and the act of reading are addressed: Are online bookstores guilty of predatory pricing? Does Internet use lead to less reading? Are libraries being supplanted by technology?

Ray Bradbury appears, relating his story of how he wrote Fahrenheit 451 in a library. Jeff Bezos of Amazon tells how his company combines technology and book sales. Author Scott Turow argues the Authors Guild opinion of digitizing books.

These and other experts examine in detail everything from the publishing process to the sales of books to the use of books by all ages. The film even solicits the expertise of brain researchers, who have studied how reading on screens is different from reading books, and psychologists and professors opine on whether students are reading deeply and if they can evaluate the information they are finding on screen.

The value of the wide scope of this film is that there are opinions that viewers will agree with and those they will not, which makes this documentary potentially useful in many areas.

Out of Print combines the highest of production values – beautiful and varied visuals, excellent sound, interesting but not intrusive music – with a fascinating subject that could be the springboard for discussion in college classrooms, book clubs, or any of the organizations represented here, including publishing companies, libraries, high schools, and research departments.

The outtakes consist of, for the most part, more talking heads and group discussions. They are not mistakes, as outtakes usually are, but additional information which is well worth viewing.

This award-winning film would be a valuable purchase for both academic and public libraries.

Awards

• Best Documentary Feature, New Hope Film Festival, 2013
• Best Documentary Feature and Grand Jury Prize for Feature Documentary, deadCenter Film Festival, Oklahoma City, 2013
• Audience Choice, Indie Fest, Indianapolis, 2013