Publishing in the Humanities: The Challenges and the Possibilities in New e-Book and d-Book Technologies

Abstract

Publishing in the humanities occurs in one of two major ways. The first is through conventional commercial academic channels which are skewed towards longer production run 'general' books; which often produce an outrageously expensive final product; and which usually return little or nothing to authors. The second is through subsidised, highly localised publication, which often does not have the credibility of conventional publishing, nor the breadth of distribution. Dramatic shifts in technology have the potential to address some of these difficulties. These shifts are centred around internet accessible e-books (electronic files downloadable to personal computers, hand held book readers etc) and d-books (books printed on demand at the moment of online purchase). This paper reports on a research project which explored the cultural and commercial potentials in these developments. It also briefly discusses an experimental mixed medium Creator-to-Consumer (C2C) publishing system in development at Common Ground Publishing, including experimental academic (www.theHumanties.com ; www.theLearner.com) and literary (www.WorldWriting.com) sites. The research project upon which this paper reports consisted of a two-tiered survey of the publishing, printing, bookselling and information management sectors. This research revealed a range of shifting dynamics across the whole breadth of what once was called 'book publishing'. A set of such proposed responses, as well a model electronic platform for content creation and dissemination, was made to the Government in our March 2000 report. This paper will conclude by discussing the implications of this research for academic publishing in general, and publishing in the humanities in particular.