Types

Print producers

1. books
2. periodicals
3. newspapers
4. documents etc.

Producers of audiovisual/electronic matter

Distinction between the two categories becoming less clear

1. e.g., release of audio book version of Stephen King novel
2. despite dire predictions, print sector remains a vital component of library service

1. reasons:

--still the least expensive means of distributing large quantities of information to many people

--many are uncomfortable with technology-based information sources

--convenience/portability of print sources

2. various formats likely to mutually coexist for many more decades

Facets of industry include:

1. pricing determinants
2. distribution considerations
3. services available to librarians and others

Advantages of being well informed:

1. facilitates cooperative relationship between librarians and publishers
2. easier to identify most likely sources of materials
3. enables one to anticipate changes in quality and format
4. librarians better able to influence decisions about what is published

Supplies the capital and editorial assistance needed to transform ideas/manuscripts into books

6 basic functions:

1. tap sources of materials
2. raise and supply the capital to make the books
3. aid in the development on the manuscript
4. contact for the manufacturing (printing, binding, etc.) of the book
5. distribute the books--including promotion and advertising
6. maintain records of sales, contracts, and correspondence rating to the production and sale of books

Early publishers acted as publisher, printer, and retailer

1. stages of evolution:

1. firms emphasize either publshing or printing; e.g., Lippincott started in 1836 as a bookstore and shifted its emphasis to publishing
2. complete separation of the three basic functions as publishers drop their printing activities

--McGraw-Hill and Doubleday among last major publishers to retain their printing plants

--present situation reveals following fragmentation: specialty publishers, literary agents, trade

journals, sales personnel, jobbers, publisher representatives, etc.

3. publishers go public (sell stock)

--result of need to rapidly raise capital

--this due largely to expansion of educational materials market

--ensuing changes include new material produced, more services offered, increased emphasis on

profitability, and perceived decline in overall quality

4. high profitability makes publishing an enticing option for large conglomerates seeking to diversify; e.g., IBM, Xerox. GE
5. rise of electronic publishing

1. future likely to see a gradual de-emphasis of the print format

  House - family operations

  Trade - wide range of titles with wide sales potential, often with divisions resembling specialty

publishers

  Specialty - restrict output to a limited area, subject, or format

  Textbook

  Vanity

  Private Presses

  University presses

  Academic/scholarly

  Government

  Paperback

1. quality trade
2. mass market

  Newspaper/periodical

  Association

  Reprint

  Small

  Electronic/multimedia

  Writers

  Agents

  Producers

  Jobbers/direct mail/membership clubs

  Retailers/libraries

  Community

  Audience: individual as part of a group - individual

  Idea authorship: company generated - free agent generated

  Group and sequential equipment paced - self/non-sequential

  Cost per concept: high - low

  Selection process in library: usually group - individual

  Cost to enter field: relatively low - relatively high

  Inventory: low - relatively high

  Market: more clearly defined - highly variable

  Potential sales volume: low - medium

  Cost per copy: relatively high - relatively low

  Ease of copying: easy to copy*/high sales price - easy to copy/low sales price

  Distribution: mostly single source - multiple source

  Changes in format and equipment: very rapid with high obsolete rate - relatively slow