[GNU/FSF Press] Community-produced free software textbooks for GNU/Linux users

[Peter Brown]

The Free Software Foundation and FLOSS Manuals are joining forces in a
sprint to write a new textbook introducing GNU/Linux beginners to the
command line. Join us as we sprint to release a new book by Monday March
23rd!

You can participate in the online authoring of this new text by visiting
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/book-sprint


    Community-produced free software textbooks for GNU/Linux users

BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Thursday, March 19, 2009 -- The Free
Software Foundation (FSF) and FLOSS Manuals today announced a community
project to collaboratively produce a new free software textbook for
GNU/Linux users, with an text sprint to write the first title in the
series, "Introduction to the Command Line."

At the March 21st-22nd GNU/Linux conference LibrePlanet
(http://fsf.org/conference), the FSF and FLOSS Manuals will be providing
the space and technology to collaboratively write and edit a new
textbook for free software users entitled, "Introduction to the Command
Line." FLOSS Manuals' Adam Hyde said, "This is an exciting opportunity
to work with the FSF and help build a sustainable model for the
production of more textbooks for free software users. I encourage
volunteers to start contributing text and ideas immediately. This new
book will be available online for free download immediately after
LibrePlanet finishes on Monday, March 23, and two hundred copies will be
available for sale in book form from the FSF web site."

FSF executive director Peter Brown said, "By purchasing a copy of this
new book, supporters can help kickstart the production cycle of
additional freely licensed, community-written texts for free software. 
We also hope that our collaboration with FLOSS Manuals will encourage
more volunteer authors to participate in the production free software
documentation".

All material will be available under both the GNU General Public License
and the GNU Free Documentation License, and all editorial contributions
to the book will be recognized in print.

Details are available at http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/book-sprint


      About the Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting
computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute
computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as
in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its
GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF
also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of
freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org
and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux.
Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at
http://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.


      About the FLOSS Manuals Foundation

The FLOSS Manuals Foundation (Stichting FLOSS Manuals) creates free,
libre and open source software documentation for free, libre and open
source software. FLOSS Manuals is a community of free documentation
writers that publish free manuals about free software across multiple
languages. By supporting quality, user-friendly documentation, FLOSS
Manuals aims to encourage the use of this software, to support the
technical and social revolution it enables.


      Media Contacts

Adam Hyde
FLOSS Manuals
address@hidden <mailto:address@hidden>
http://www.flossmanuals.net/about
http://www.booksprint.info

Peter Brown
Executive Director
Free Software Foundation
+1 (617) 542 5942 x25
address@hidden <mailto:address@hidden>