Bestsellers and the British book industry

The article considers the concept and significance of bestsellers in British publishing. There is a brief historical summary, noting the trade's objections to the idea. This was overcome in 1979, whenThe Sunday Times started to publish a weekly list. The methods used to compile it are described. The successive improvements to the methods, and their limitations, are analyzed. The authoritative lists published inThe Bookseller since 1979 are analyzed in terms of format, authorship and subject. It is concluded that paperback is the principal medium for popular fiction, but that hardback is still more important for nonfiction. It is further concluded that the range of subjects of bestsellers is limited, and predictable, leading to the creation of formula books. A link between popular television programs and media personalities and successful books is noted.     

The trade book publishing industry in South Korea

Publishing Research Quarterly -     

Analysis of book circulation data and a book recommendation system in academic libraries using data mining techniques

The use of data mining modern technology in library management systems and information centers is of great importance. With the increasing availability of a large quantity of information, traditional tools and practices without wasting time and cost cannot respond to users accurately and quickly. The present study aims to analyze book circulation transactions and discover the user's book loan patterns to develop a recommender system. The data included 109,639 transactions and information from 8636 user records. Microsoft SQL Server and Matlab software were applied to analyze the data. Item-based collaborative filtering algorithms and decision tree methods were also applied. The results led to the extraction of rules for suggesting books to users. Analysis of the circulation data could be applied to address many issues like evaluation, collection acquisition policies, allocating funding for materials, and suggesting approaches to deselecting and allocating physical space for materials.     

华文书业的新蓝海:非洲

近年来,中非文化交流日益升温,民间层面的除了艺术、体育等交流外,还有一种书业交流正悄然而起。在金融危机横扫全球的背景下,广阔的非洲如今拥有较为可观的出版资源和读者市场,华文书业挺进非洲成为可能也显得有所必要。本文探讨了非洲的出版资源、中非书业往来和进军非洲的策略,以便业内人士参考,进而促进华文书业的做大做强。     

对书业面对金融危机某些观念的质颖

面对金融危机,一些出版业内人士作出了许多较为乐观的认识和分析,笔者认为有误读这场危机的可能.本文针对书业中一些人认为"书业有可能在危机中因祸得福"、 "出版企业化程度低可以规避经济危机"和"金融危机将是书业发展的大好机遇"提出了质疑.     

便携式数据采集器在图书现采的应用

文章论述了便携式条码数据采集器特点及其在图书采购工作中的应用,进而提出采集器在现购中存在的问题。     

Feeding the dinosaurs: Economic concentration in the retail book industry

While bookstores play the vital role in book distribution, little attention has been paid to concentration and conglomerate ownership in the retail book trade. In 1958, one-store book firms accounted for nearly 80 percent of book sales; by 1982 that figure had fallen to 26 percent even though single-store retailers continue to account for a majority of all bookstore outlets. Today the chains control at least 54 percent of bookstore sales. Buoyed by discriminatory discounts and publisher-subsidized advertising campaigns, the chains’ dramatic growth seems likely to continue despite the fact that they are less profitable than independent booksellers. The chains’ marketing orientation fits well with changes in the broader publishing industry, as publishers seek to rationalize operations in order to improve the bottom line. As books become just another commodity, sold through increasingly centralized and monopolized channels, access for alternative and minority voices is being for-closed.