Friends, Romans, Librarians: Lend Me Your E-book (Part 1)

In Guest Contributors & Editorial, Resources by Guest Contributor

Today, in the first half of a two-part series on library e-book lending, writer Erik Christopher considers the models offered to librarians by the United States’ two largest e-book retailers, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. By Erik Christopher The digital age has complicated things, especially for libraries. Not only do patrons want traditional services, like books and reference materials, they …

Aussies Get Kobo, Half to Buy E-Readers in Three Years

In Global Trade Talk by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka Kobo is now available Down Under. REDgroup retail launched its Kobo ereader and e-books platform in Sydney earlier this week, reports Bookseller+Publisher. The reader is available at the group’s Borders website and priced at $199. It is is also available at Borders stores, and is expected to be available in Angus & Robertson and Whitcoulls in the …

Will E-books Kill the Remainder Book Business?

In Discussion by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka In today’s lead story, Larry May, director of the Spring Book Show, explains the ins-and-outs of the bargain book business, a lucrative secondary market that most publisher would rather not acknowledge. The business deals in hurts, returns, overruns and books that have been published but gone unsold. But as the industry moves closer and closer to digital …

The Bargain Book Business By the Numbers

In Guest Contributors & Editorial by Guest Contributor

By Larry May, director of The Spring Book Show KNOXVILLE: When I was younger and much more foolish, I studied Judo with a former South Korean Olympic Champion. Quite often, after a grueling round of randori (Judo sparring where he used the bodies of his students to “clean up” the mats) he loved to go out and eat and drink…and …

Global Trade Talk: Borders UK Closing; Moody’s Twitter Story, Germany’s iPhone App Association

In Global Trade Talk by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka and Siobhan O’Leary Black Friday had a different ring in the UK, where The Independent is reporting that the closing of Borders UK’s 45 stores may account for as many as 1,150 job losses.  The Bookseller states that the going-out-of-business sales at the stores will begin tomorrow. Meanwhile, in The Observer, Rachel Cooke says that she doesn’t …

Global Trade Talk: Borders Offers Six Ereaders, Göteborg Book Fair Concludes

In Global Trade Talk by Hannah Johnson

By Hannah Johnson The Bookseller reported yesterday that Borders now carries six different ereading devices in its stores: the Cool-Er eReader for £189.00, Bebook Ereader for £199.00, Bebook Mini Ereader for £179.00, Sony Touch Ereader for £249.99, and Sony Pocket Ereader for £179.99. The Göteborg Book Fair in Sweden took place over the weekend (24 to 27 September) and the …

Top US/UK Trade Talk: Rethinking Contracts; Borders UK at Risk

In Global Trade Talk, News by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka At BookBrunch, Preface publisher Trevor Dolby challenges publishers to use the economic crisis as an opportunity to reassess the conventional publishing contract, one he suggests isn’t so different from the credit default swaps that got us into this mess. “Author advances are the original no-doc mortgages. They base their lending decision on nothing more than a feeling …

Top US/UK Trade Talk: McGraw-Hill Shrinks; Managers Buy Borders UK

In Feature Articles, Global Trade Talk, News by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka McGraw-Hill Education has re-organized it’s elhi division and laid off 335 people (after eliminating 445 people last year), reports Publishers Weekly. The wider McGraw-Hill company is eliminating another 210  positions throughout the firm. Publishers Lunch also focused on the lay-offs, noting: “The company’s announcement, however, simply focuses on ‘creating  achievement-focused preK-12 education group to help students develop …