It seems like just a few months ago . . . the Book Industry was believing that printed books, as we have known them, would pretty much endure for ever. Even despite the periodical economic fluctuations and the new threat of the e-books, it seemed sacred.
Some of us, at the risk of being zealots expressed concern (see my blogs: 2/13/08 Kindle Evaluation; 2/14/08 Digital Printing & the Future of the Book; 2/27/08 Twilight of the Books; 4/10/08 In Case You Haven't Noticed. . .; 6/27/08 Bill Gates, PC's, & Textbooks) Some ignored it completely; most were in between.
Enter an unprecedented economic collapse in 2008, in the midst of growing Kindle & other e-books use. Follow that with electronic delivery of intellectual material, and throw in a $40 million multi-year contract, for a computer-based teaching system, between Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & the Detroit Public Schools, and there is realization that the Book is in crisis.
The economic problems will moderate at some point, but better minds than I (PRIMIR) say that the "handwriting is on the wall." The Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR) states that the e-book is already affecting the College textbook market as is the electronic delivery of content. Now with the Houghton contract in Detroit, the way is shown to drastically affect the El-HI textbook market.
Printing Industries of America (PIA) has recognized this & is sounding the call. Book Manufacturers Institute, of which I am a member, has accepted the importance of the entire digital workflow. They are establishing a Digital Roundtable where members may gather to share their questions, answers, and other information on the whole workflow. I was fortunate enough to have been asked to facilitate this endeavor, and look forward to assist in creating our new future.
Where does this leave us? Well, as I stated in the "Twilight of the Books", almost 2years ago: "...we should be willing to change ourselves, & the way we look at things, and do them. Why? Because it is the right thing...and the status quo will kill us."
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