Online magazine Flaming Hydra has launched a Kickstarter campaign for The Phoenix Project, an initiative designed to give libraries true ownership of e-books through an open-source digital lending system called Lenny for Libraries. The campaign, which runs through November 27, also includes a print magazine celebrating early internet values and a newsletter archiving program.
The project represents Flaming Hydra’s effort to counter what lead editor Maria Bustillos describes as a system in which e-books are licensed from publishers rather than owned, and can be altered or removed. “If you are at the mercy of somebody who can shut the book off, you do not own it,” Bustillos told TechCrunch.
The three-part Phoenix Project includes a one-off print magazine, the Lenny for Libraries e-book lending system, and The Phoenix Foundry Archive for newsletter subscriptions. The Foundry will allow newsletter writers using Ghost (with other platforms to follow) to offer subscriptions to libraries, converting selected posts into EPUB documents for digital lending.
The initiative launches with five e-books from Flaming Hydra writers, including collections from The Awl and essays by Tom Scocca and Bustillos. Bustillos said she is in discussions with library consortiums and author groups, hoping to “change the conversation” around e-books and digital archiving.
Bustillos framed the project as part of a broader push for a “human internet” that protects freedom of information while ensuring artists and authors can earn a living. “AI is not this unstoppable force,” she said, arguing that dedicated human-run publishing pipelines can isolate themselves from mechanistic interference.
The Kickstarter seeks $30,000, with backers including Brewster Kahle and Paul Ford. Bustillos said crowdfunding can better protect the project’s editorial independence and sustainability.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Libraries currently face high costs and limited control over e-book collections; this project proposes a model for permanent ownership and lending without ongoing subscription fees.
- The erosion of digital ownership affects access to knowledge, particularly for textbooks and essential works; the project addresses that by embedding ownership into the library system.
- The initiative demonstrates a crowd-funded, independent alternative to the dominant e-book distribution model, which could influence how other publishers and libraries approach digital content.
Background
E-books are typically sold under licensing agreements that restrict ownership and allow publishers to modify or revoke access. In 2020, Bustillos wrote about a school required to pay $27 per student per year for continued access to “The Diary of Anne Frank,” illustrating the limitations of the current system. Flaming Hydra, an online magazine focused on internet culture, launched The Phoenix Project to create a more equitable model through open-source library tools and direct partnerships with authors.
What to Watch
- The Kickstarter deadline of November 27 will determine whether the project secures initial funding.
- Bustillos’ talks with library consortiums and author groups could lead to broader adoption of the Lenny for Libraries system.
- Expansion of the newsletter archiving program to platforms beyond Ghost could extend its reach.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedThe Phoenix Project reframes e-book ownership through open-source digital lending for libraries.TechCrunch: “Flaming Hydra and The Phoenix Project seek to solve this by letting libraries truly purchase and own e-books. They can then lend those e-books to their patrons through a new, open source “library in a box” system called Lenny for Libraries .”
- SupportedThe Kickstarter campaign seeks $30,000.TechCrunch: “Flaming Hydra seeks to raise $30,000 for The Phoenix Project , with the campaign ending on November 27.”
- SupportedThe project is starting with five e-books from Flaming Hydra writers.TechCrunch: “The Phoenix Project is starting by offering five new e-books from Flaming Hydra writers”
- SupportedThe project includes a newsletter archiving program.TechCrunch: “a newsletter subscription/archiving program that’s also designed for libraries.”
- SupportedFlaming Hydra has launched a Kickstarter campaign for The Phoenix Project.TechCrunch: “That’s the tagline of a crowdfunding campaign for The Phoenix Project , an initiative from the online culture and commentary magazine Flaming Hydra .”
- SupportedThe campaign ends on November 27.TechCrunch: “Flaming Hydra seeks to raise $30,000 for The Phoenix Project , with the campaign ending on November 27.”
- SupportedThe project challenges a system in which e-books are licensed from publishers rather than owned and may be altered or removed.TechCrunch: “Instead, we “license” these e-books from their publishers, and they can be altered or removed at any time.”
- SupportedBustillos said, “If you are at the mercy of somebody who can shut the book off, you do not own it.”TechCrunch: ““If you are at the mercy of somebody who can shut the book off, you do not own it.””
- SupportedThe three-part project includes a print magazine celebrating early internet values.TechCrunch: “a one-off print magazine designed to celebrate “the values and fun of the early internet,””
- SupportedLenny for Libraries is an open-source system through which libraries can own and lend e-books.TechCrunch: “letting libraries truly purchase and own e-books. They can then lend those e-books to their patrons through a new, open source “library in a box” system called Lenny for Libraries .”
- SupportedThe Phoenix Foundry Archive will let newsletter writers using Ghost offer library subscriptions and convert selected posts into EPUBs for lending.TechCrunch: “newsletter writers (starting with those who use Ghost, with support for additional newsletter platforms coming in the future) will be able to offer subscriptions to libraries ... Phoenix will automatically convert whichever newsletter posts the writer wants into EPUB documents”
- SupportedBustillos said, “AI is not this unstoppable force.”TechCrunch: ““AI is not this unstoppable force,” she added.”
