Slashdot directed us to report on a new $50,000 machine that can print books on demand. It can print up to 550 pages and bind it in seven minutes. It will debuting in some U.S. libraries this year. 2.5 Million books are now available, within five years, On Demand Books will be able to reproduce every volume ever printed.

It is very exciting. Such technology will allow bookstores to sell virtually any book by generating it on request, thus reducing inventory required in stock. For libraries, content now in the public domain and other information can be given out to patrons.