The UNESCO book production statistics

UNESCO’S Statistical Yearbook annually provides figures for the production of books in English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian. A detailed analysis of these data show that the lack of responses to questionnaires is the primary contributor to gaps in the statistics. If nonresponding countries had provided the requested information, the statistics would have shown increasing production of books in these languages. The 1987 questionnaire is reproduced in the Appendix. Gretchen Whitney is an assistant professor at the Graduate Library School of The University of Arizona and author ofLanguage Distribution in Databases. She teaches in the fields of information science and information policy.     

Who reads nonfiction?

A survey of readers of nonfiction estimates the size of the market, compares the demographics of the survey group to those of readers of “literature,” and describes the respondents' reading habits: how much they read, what other kinds of books they read, what magazines they read, and where they read. It then examines how these readers select books and what influences their choices. Their reasons for reading serious nonfiction are also explored. Finally, these readers are compared with two other groups that have been studied in depth: readers of romance novels and female readers of self-help books. Beth Luey is director of the Scholarly Publishing Program at Arizona State University and author of Handbook for Academic Authors (3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, 1995)     

The impact of technology on publishing

Technology today more than ever has a disruptive impact on publishing. The Internet, printing-on-demand and the e-book are the main drivers of change, impacting all aspects of the publishing value chain—from the way books are published (authors can go direct to the reader), distributed (electronic marketplaces), sold (e-tailers) and read (electronic books). The author examines the context of the publishing industry in which these changes are occurring, describes the main drivers and impacts of these changes and illustrates them with an example from the information publishing industry. This paper is based on a presentation made during the conference ‘Blinded by the E-Light’ sponsored by Vista Computer Services (www.vistacomp.com) on June 15, 2000 in New York, NY.     

Measured markets: Limited edition publishing and the Grabhorn Press, 1920–1930

In the postwar prosperity of the 1920s there burgeoned a new interest in fine book-making, which typically featured handcraft production, luxurious materials, “worthy” texts, and—virtually by definition—limited editions. A small but socially prominent community of bibliophiles and wealthy collectors consituted an eager market for these elite books, distinguished by their visible repudiation of mass culture and “commercialism.” This article examines the publishing enterprise of the Grabhorn Press, one of the foremost producers of finely printed books in twentieth-century America. It analyzes the press's editiorial and design strategies, pricing and marketing policies, and general business practices in order to better understand the cultural paradoxes of producing such books both “for love” and for profit.     

The South’s torturous search for the good books

The story of the book in Southern history is the story of the perception of dangers associated with reading, of the problems in establishing the communications system essential for making books available, of the differing meanings of books to different groups in Southern culture. This article traces that story from the colonial era through the present, paying special attention to friction between North and South, the role of religious orthodoxy, the dominance of oral culture, deficiencies in the library system, and the rural nature of the region. It ends with a discussion of Southern writers and their role in the development of a book culture. Charles Reagan Wilson received his bachelor of arts (1970) and master of arts (1972) in history at the University of Texas at El Paso and his doctorate in history at the University of Texas at Austin (1977). He has taught at the University of Mississippi, where he is professor of History and Southern Studies, since 1981. He is the author ofBaptized in Blood: The Religion of the Lost Cause, 1865–1920 (1980) and coeditor of theEncyclopedia of Southern Culture (1989).     

Children and Young Adult Readers in Morocco

The development of the publishing industry for children and young adults is very recent in Morocco. Indeed it was in the 1980s that people became aware of its importance for future generations. The first national publications were mainly in Arabic language, stories were very short, books were of paperback format and the subjects were very much dominated by moral, social and religious didacticism. In the late 1990s, publishers started being more and more concerned with the appearance of the book (size, cover, illustrations, topic, etc.) and there are nowadays two publishers specialized only in children’s books—Yanbow al Kitab and Yomad—who produce books that respond to international norms. They are both very active in promoting reading and especially allowing children from disadvantaged social backgrounds to have access to books, price being a main constraint for those children. But there is still a lack of publishers specialized in children’s books in Morocco (two publishers for the whole country), not enough pleasant reading spaces and no real government policy to allow mass access by making books cheaper.     

The lady goes to court: Paperbacks and censorship

Arguing that the First Amendment does not allow for the suppression of ideas, constitutional scholars and historians have long been concerned about legal attempts to censor books in the United States. In this article Kenneth C. Davis explores the complex relationship between pivotal court cases on censorship, congressional committees, various movements, and secular and religious organizations in attempts to curtail the publication and distribution of certain types of books in this nation. Davis's trenchant analyses enrich our understanding of censorship and the history of the book in the United States. Most of the publishers engaged in this sordid competition operate in the field of cheap reprints selling [for] from 10 to 75 cents. —Reports of the Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials (1952)It is not so much the publisher's right to publish that needs protection as the reader's right to read. —Douglas M. Black, President, American Book Publishers Council (1952) Kenneth C. Davis is the author of the definitiveTwo-Bit Culture: The Paperbacking of America in which this article originally appeared.     

FOR THE PERIOD APRIL-JUNE, 2004

ABSTRACT

The history of Christian censorship up to the sixteenth century reveals scattered attempts to censor works of individual authors, but neither a systematic effort to formulate rules for regulating printers, booksellers, and authors, nor an effort to compile a comprehensive list of prohibited books. The first such attempt was made by the Council of Trent, which formulated a set of rules for printing, selling, and censoring books. These “Tridentine rules” were accompanied by a list of forbidden books, and together they formed the first Index Librorum Prohibitorum (1564). The Index underwent many revisions, the most important being the 1900 edition of Pope Leo XIII, which replaced the Tridentine rules with a set of Decreta Generalia on censoring and prohibiting books. Publication of the Index continued until its abolition in 1966. The reasons for its demise include the triumph of the Reformation and the rise of the nation-state, mass literacy, and mass communications.     

Writting for today’s child

Judy Delton, who has written numerous children's books, provides an author’s view of trends in children's literature, the role of series books, the importance of timing, the need for honesty in writing for children, and the rewards of being a children's book author. Judy Delton is the author of more than one hundred books for children and adults, among them thePee Wee Scout series,The Condo Kids, andAngel. She has four children who are also writers and artists.     

Electronic Copyright Rights: Do You Have What You Need?

Publishing agreements have long operated with certain assumptions about what books are and what publishers do. These assumptions are increasingly at odds with the new technological forms in which books are created and marketed, from e-books and Kindle 2 read-aloud works to so-called “vooks” that incorporate on-demand streaming video and other internet-based features in conjunction with hard copy books. Publishers’ contracts need to be re-thought in light of these changed circumstances. Specifically, publishing contracts today should focus on the activities in which the publisher may engage, and not the form in which the work may be presented, a point that was made clear several years ago in the Random House v. RosettaBooks litigation. In defining these activities, contracts should track the language of the exclusive rights enumerated in §106 of the Copyright Act. Finally, to the extent that books are becoming “audiovisual works” publishers may be able to shift to a work-made-for-hire model for obtaining ownership, rather than relying on grants from individual authors.     

Understanding Visitor Comments: The Case of Flight Time Barbie

Many museums use comment cards, visitor books, and bulletin boards to capture the reactions of visitors. Whether they are collected, counted, skimmed, read, or simply filed, the utility of these documents is rarely questioned. This paper suggests some pros and cons of comment systems and presents an analysis of the comments on an exhibition, Flight Time Barbie, at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, DC. The responses to this exhibition included judgments about the subject matter of the exhibition, opinions about its presentation, and remarks regarding its appropriateness to the museum. The paper concludes by suggesting a practical approach to the analysis of visitor comments.     

Children’s book-reading habits: A new criterion for literacy

Conclusion No reasonable person could argue against learning to read. The point of this article is that learning to read is not just a matter of mastering a few simple skills, nor is literacy just a matter of passing a reading test. Learning to read must involve acquiring the reading habit. Literacy must be viewed as the regular exercise of reading skills through reading books. The time-honored reasons why children should read books are now bolstered and supplemented by new research evidence that book reading can make a unique and powerful contribution to children's reading development. Our society, then, must provide all possible encouragement and opportunity for children to read books. Access to books is a necessary condition for becoming a good reader. Reading itself is the key to literacy. Helping America's children build lifelong reading habits must now be regarded as a true national priority. Education…has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading —George Macaulay Trevelyan, English Social History Good habits gather by unseen degrees—As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas. —John Dryden, Ovid, Metamorphoses Professor Richard C. Anderson is the center's director. Their research assistant     

The Franco-American book trade in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries

The Franco-American book trade played a vital role in the struggle for mutual understanding during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. That trade is exemplified by the work of three colorful individuals: Joseph Nancrede (1761–1841), who left his native France and became a publisher in Boston; John Hurford Stone (1763–1818), English supporter of the French Revolution who set up his English Press in Paris, issuing works of American interest; and Nicholas Gouin Dufief (1776–1834), who fled the French Revolution and set up as bookseller in Philadelphia. Thanks to the efforts of Nancrede and Dufief, the writings of French thinkers were made available to American readers, and thanks to the presswork of John Hurford Stone, the writings of Barlow, Paine, Jefferson and others were circulated in France. As publisher, printer, and bookseller, these three bookpeople reflected the ups and downs of Franco-American relations and became instruments of international understanding. Madeleine B. Stern, partner in the rare book firm of Leona Rostenberg and Madeleine Stern, has written numerous books on publishing and bookselling history, includingImprints on History: Book Publishers and American Frontiers. She is the editor ofPublishers for Mass Entertainment in 19th-Century America and is currently completingStudies in the Franco-American Book Trade in the Late 18th and Early 19th Centuries     

Use and Non-Use of Choice-Reviewed Titles in Undergraduate Libraries

Many academic libraries rely on Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries when making collection development decisions. This study examines holdings and use for books reviewed in Choice, books designated by Choice as Outstanding Academic Titles, and the general collections for two groups of libraries.     

The new oracle: Self-help books in American culture

The self-help book in America appears to occupy a social niche roughly on a par with that of the legendary oracle at Delphi. Offering wisdom and enlightenment at discount prices, it speaks to a vast audience on a variety of topics, and provides specific directions for achieving love, health, wealth, peace of mind, and any number of practical skills. It is too prevalent and powerful a phenomenon to overlook, despite its belonging to “pop” culture. Inasmuch as self-help books are dispensing advice to millions on matters physical, psychological, and spiritual, they cannot responsibly be ignored by social scientists and health care practitioners. Questions regarding their relative merits and potential dangers deserve careful consideration. This article is an excerpt from chapter 1 ofOracle at the Supermarket, published by Transaction Publishers.     

Children’s Literature in Emerging Indian Markets

Children’s literature is essentially different from textbooks used in classrooms. It was primarily developed in India after the establishment of Children’s Book Trust and National Book Trust in 1957. A truly multilingual phenomenon, Amar Chitra Katha was developed by India Book House and has sold over 80 million copies in some 30 years. The Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan programme started by the Government of India, has done exceptionally well in developing and encouraging the development of children’s literature in regional languages. English being the language of communication is understood in all parts of the country so more books have been published in this language. Reading habits of children have been developed through reading campaigns by Non Government Organisations (NGOs), Children Literary Festivals, Book Fairs, School Book Fairs and Book Clubs. International and Indian Characters have also increased the publishing of children’s books and reading habits of children.     

The University of Chicago Press and the rise of the “Chicago School of Sociology” 1892–1920

The University of Chicago (UC) Press was a major catalyst in the rise of the University of Chicago's Department of Sociology to preeminence by 1920 in American, indeed international, sociology. The role of the UC Press in this development has been overlooked, even though a majority of books and articles written by Albion Small, W. I Thomas, their cohort, and their students in this period bore the UC Press imprint. Editorial control of theAmerican Journal of Sociology, founded by Small in 1895, was exercised within the UC Department of Sociology due to its publication by the UC Press. The University's support through its scholarly press was vital in establishing nationwide recognition and scholarly authority for “Chicago Sociology” within the fledgling discipline. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A05BB023 00003     

The potential for scholarly online books: Views from the Columbia University Online Books Evaluation Project

The Columbia University Online Books Evaluation Project sought to understand both user reactions to online books in the scholarly world and the cost profiles of print and online books. Scholars appreciated the opportunity to use the online format to locate a book and to browse it. However, they sought a print copy for extended reading. Incremental costs of online books are small for publishers. Libraries’ life-cycle costs are lower for online books than for print books. Summerfield and Mandel were both members of the Columbia University Libraries staff during the time of this project. Summerfield was a Project Director and Coordinator of this Project and Mandel was Deputy University Librarian and Director of this Project.     

Juvenile picture books about the Holocaust: Extending the definitions of children’s literature

Despite a variety of definitions, children’s books and picture books generally adhere to certain conventions. Depicting the Holocaust in children’s books challenges these conventions. The authors review the Holocaust literature for children, paying special attention to two picture books: Let the Celebrations Begin! by Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, and Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti and Christophe Gallaz. Their analysis leads them to conclude the books for children that deal with horrific events should be viewed as a category of their own. Virginia A. Walter is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. She has a Master of Library Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Susan F. March is on the faculty of Kehillath Israel Religious School in Pacific Palisades, California. She has a Master of Arts in Education degree from the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and a Master of Library Science from UCLA.