Publishing veteran Peter Osnos describes a breakthrough experiment in publishing that will be unveiled next spring: the simultaneous publication of books in five different formats—hardcover, paperback, digital (for desk, lap, and hand computers), audio, and large print.
For the past year, I have been working in partnership with a group of publishing industry colleagues on a project we call Caravan, supported by the MacArthur Foundation. Each of the seven contributing publishers (leading university presses and other nonprofits) is going to be releasing books in the Caravan demonstration phase next spring in every way technology will permit. About two dozen books will be released simultaneously in the traditional printed version in hardcover or paperback supplemented, if necessary to keep the book in ready supply, by the latest version of print-on-demand technology. At the same time, the book will be available in digital formats for reading on computers (desk, lap, and hand) either in full or in parts. An audio version will be read by its author or a professional reader and downloadable on to your favored listening device. Finally (at least so far) the books will be rendered in a large-type format.
Hallelujah.
1 comment so far ↓
[...] The eminences grises emeritus [emeriti ??] of the industry have been thinking about it, however. There’s Peter Osnos, whose Caravan project I mentioned here (it envisions a simultaneous multi-platform release for all books: print, digital, and audio), and Jason Epstein, whose On Demand Books enterprise I mentioned here most recently. Both of them have a vision and are doing something about it. What’s more, they have a lot to say, and it makes sense. If only someone, or a few someones, where paying attention. [...]
Leave a Comment