The Espresso machine is not new news, but I just read an interesting article from the Boston Globe that touches on a program that allows On Demand Books, the company that produces the machine, to make 85,000 titles from publishers like Simon & Schuster an McGraw Hill available to the Espresso machine.
“When the machine is connected to an expanded online catalog of titles later this year, Morrow [manager of The Northshire Bookstore] said, the bookstore will be able to offer customers an ‘ATM for books’ that will provide access to millions of works.”
“The newest version of the Espresso, about half the size of the one in Northshire, costs between $79,000 and $95,000 and is available for lease for between $1,250 and $1,650 a month.” Emily and I saw this newest version in action at BEA and watched as two books were printed. I’d say the slim titles we saw took about 5 minutes each to print and bind. I was in awe while watching the process happen for a single book… my favorite part was when it dropped out of the machine and we could pick it up, literally, hot off the press. The ink on the cover was still a little sticky!
Other bits: currently the machine can access any public domain title; local authors who want to self-publish are approaching the store for printing (“Northshire provides an a la carte menu of editorial and design services from a network of providers. Copy editing costs 1 cent per word; book design services, $40 an hour”).
Northshire Bookstore is credited as the first indie bookseller to use the machine, but I feel as though I’ve heard of others. Can anyone confirm?
What are your thoughts on the imact this will have on publishers?
Ok, my up-and-coming media professional friends, here’s an invite to a networking opportunity from Media Bistro! Be sure to RSVP if you decide to go!
Students, interns, and recent grads are invited to to meet fellow future media stars who share your interest in the industry!
Tuesday, July 7, 6:30-8:30
Turtle Bay
987 2nd Ave
(b/w 52nd & 53rd Streets)
New York, NY 10022
–Kristina
Simon & Schuster sent out a text message that may cost the company up to $90M.
In an age where publishers are trying to ride the digital wave of future, this lawsuit could frighten some into jumping ship… did I just mix and match a metaphor? Oh well.
In 2006, S&S sent a text message promoting Stephen King’s book The Cell through Nextel. They assumed that since they were an “affiliate” of Nextel they were covered in the clause that people checked to allow texts from Nextel and affiliates when downloading a free ringtone. Apparently, in order to be considered an affiliate the S&S must be owned or controlled by Nextel.
Other issues at hand: whether a text message is considered a “call” under the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), and whether sending a text that says, “The next call you take may be your last” is an okay thing to do… this isn’t really an issue in the case, but I thought it was interesting.
Thoughts?
–Kristina
You like how I did that, rhymed the title of this post? Clever Kristina, that’s me.
Tor has created a “publisher agnostic” online store that will sell sci-fi, fantasy, popular science texts, comics/graphic novels, and art texts. Blogger on the site can pick their favorite titles, thereby creating a virtual hand-sell. Kinda cool.
Thoughts on creating a store that includes other publishers? I think it’s smart, but am not a fan of the design… c’mon Tor, you’re selling to sci-fi fans make the site cool.
Galley Cat reports that this is groundwork for Tor’s individual store tk (that’s ‘to come’ for you newbies).
-Kristina
From June 12-July 12 Ink Illustration (a London-based art collective) is hosting an exhibit of book covers for books that don’t exist except in the fictional realms between the covers of real books.
Confused?
Here’s the run-down… we’ve all ready novels where a book is mentioned (a character is reading it, or they’re discussing the contents, etc.), but the book that is mentioned doesn’t actually exist. Well, apparently there are “imaginary literary scholars” who collected the titles of all these non-books. Levi Stahl and Ed Park collected a ton of titles and called it the “Invisible Library”. The exhibit in London features 40 of the titles.
The first and last pages are actually being penned by bestselling writers. What’s REALLY cool is that gallery attendees can actually check these books out from the gallery and add to the story by actually writing on the blank pages within! So these non-books are turning into 40 real books, collectively-written by a variety of people.
Anyone up for a trip to London in the next month???
-Kristina
Invisible Library
Simon and Schuster has created a teen Site where teens can read one book a month for free online, and earn points (by posting, writing reviews, etc.) to win prizes (like free books and “other cool stuff”).
The Site features a blog and message board. What do you guys think? Worth the time and effort to keep the site up and running? They previously had about 3,000 members of an “advisory board” who they sent galleys to to get teen reviews.
-Kristina
So, Penguin started new online content called “From the Publisher’s Office”. It has audio, video, and excerpts. I like the idea. What I like even more is that the CEO composed, played, and sang songs for the site. I haven’t listened to them yet… I’m at work… but I LOVE that David Shanks got into the spirit of things and created his own original content to add to the site. Well done, Mr. Shanks!
Click on the link below and scroll toward the bottom of the page (past the book jackets) to listen to the songs!
-Kristina
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/screeningroom/0609/penguinstorytime/episode1.html#vmix_media_id=4593589
Emily Lyman
kristinaradke