CAN A PUBLISHER BE SUED FOR ERRORS IN A BOOK?

Can a publisher be sued for errors in a book? Maybe. The State of Virginia has a problem. Its Department of Education had discovered two books published by Five Ponds Press here in Connecticut that contain so many errors that it is seeking compensation from the publisher for the costs of the books it had purchased.

The two books are "Our Virginia: Past and Present" and "Our America: To 1865." They are used as textbooks in fourth grade history classes in Virginia schools. Five historians examined the books page by page and found errors of wrong dates, factual errors, inaccuracies, false statements, misspellings and punctuation errors.

One reviewer stated he feared the books could "undermine schools' efforts to teach proper language and writing skills."

Author of "Our Virginia" (and five other books by the publisher), Joy Massif, had previously stated she obtained the misinformation on the internet.

What does this portend for numismatic writers? Fact check everything. And don't rely on what you find on the internet. Remember, anyone can put anything on the internet.

Professional publishers demand accuracy from their authors, but also exercise due diligence, seasoned editing, and proofreading before it places anything in print. You don't have that vetting on the web.

You'll find more in the news story: Virginia Board of Education presses publisher of mistake ridden textbooks (www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/jan/13/3/virginia-board
-education-presses-publisher-mistake-ar-772546/)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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