When people (re: students) complain about the outrageous cost of higher education, they're usually referring to astronomical tuition increases, seemingly endless student fees, and of course, multi-million dollar bribes to get Junior into his party school of choice. What is often overlooked at first is the inexcusable cost of textbooks, which have risen by more than 88% just … [Read more...] about Textbook Prices Continue to Rise Despite Digital Access
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Children Prefer Print Books…Are We Still Surprised?
In unsurprising news, yet another study has concluded that children prefer, interact with, and retain information better when reading a print book instead of an ebook. In this recent study, the example cited was actually toddlers, and the data demonstrated in some way that the children interacted more readily and more profoundly with the text when holding a print book instead … [Read more...] about Children Prefer Print Books…Are We Still Surprised?
Our love affair with ebooks is over
Digital books were once heralded as being a replacement for print and everyone in the bookselling and publishing industry were scared. It looks like our love affair with ebooks is over, primarily due to stagnant sales and a resurgence of print. Independent bookstores are the places where you drop in for the latest paperback, listen to a reading from a favorite author or find … [Read more...] about Our love affair with ebooks is over
Social Reading Just Got a Lot Sweeter
In what has to be one of the best viral feel-good stories in recent weeks, the internet is going crazy for a woman who reads children's books aloud on Facebook Live. The woman isn't just a book lover with a social media account, though, she's Belinda George, a long-time educator and first-year elementary school principal from Texas. For some background, Texas falls well … [Read more...] about Social Reading Just Got a Lot Sweeter
Is the Dream of a Traditional Book Deal Dead?
There was a time when self-publishing your book through a vanity press was the kiss of death for any hope of a writing career. It was considered tacky and desperate, and not something any worthwhile author would ever consider. Then, with the self-publishing and digital publishing revolution, the notion of having more control over your work trumped much of the negativity … [Read more...] about Is the Dream of a Traditional Book Deal Dead?
Pearson Sells Off Digital Textbook, School Courseware Division
Widely-known educational publisher Pearson has been giving hints and reports since 2017 that it had plans to get rid of its digital textbook division, and now that deal has finally been announced. The company will sell off its K12 school courseware product--which distributes digital textbooks, among other things--to Nexus Capital Management, as announced this … [Read more...] about Pearson Sells Off Digital Textbook, School Courseware Division
Audiobook increased by 37.1% and ebooks declined by 3.6% in 2018
Since 2013, downloaded audio has been the trade book format with the greatest percent growth. In 2018 it grew by 37.1%, adding $127.1 million in revenue compared to 2017. eBooks declined slightly during the same period by 3.6% and generated over $1 billion dollars. Revenue for trade book publishers was $7.49 billion in 2018, an increase of $341.5 million (4.6%) compared to … [Read more...] about Audiobook increased by 37.1% and ebooks declined by 3.6% in 2018
Hachette Proclaims eBooks account for 7.9% of their revenue in 2018
Hachette has just disclosed their yearly financial results and report reported that total sales in its publishing group fell 1.6% in 2018 compared to 2017, dropping to €2.52 billion. On the digital side of things the publisher stated that ebooks accounted for 7.9% of 2018 their publishing revenue, up from 7.1% in 2017. Digital audiobooks represented 2.7% of revenue, up from the … [Read more...] about Hachette Proclaims eBooks account for 7.9% of their revenue in 2018
New RD Salinger ebooks are coming out this year
The son of JD Salinger has confirmed that the estate is getting ready to publish a bunch of ebooks that have never been seen before. The author died in 2010, leaving behind a small but perfectly formed body of published work that has not been added to since 1965’s New Yorker story, Hapworth 16, 1924. It is rumored that one of the new books will star Holden Caulfield. In an … [Read more...] about New RD Salinger ebooks are coming out this year
Amazon is running a Spend $20 and Get $5 Kindle Book promotion
Amazon is running their first big campaign of the year and it was designed to expand your Kindle library. Get $5 back in eBook credit when you spend $20 on eBooks between Jan 22 and Jan 28, 2019. In order to qualify for this promotion you have to activate the offer. The great thing about this program is that there is no curated pool of titles you choose from, it applies to … [Read more...] about Amazon is running a Spend $20 and Get $5 Kindle Book promotion
2018 Set New Records for Library eBook Lending
If you haven't borrowed an ebook from your local public library, it's time to catch up with the trend. For those readers who have borrowed an ebook, especially in the past year, you're part of a record-setting number of digital adoptees who are accessing new content and keeping their local communities supported with library usage. OverDrive, the leading supplies of digital … [Read more...] about 2018 Set New Records for Library eBook Lending