This document discusses the divide between libraries and publishers in the digital information age. It explores how librarians and publishers see the world differently, with librarians focused on patron access, funding, community, and volume of information, while publishers focus on intellectual property protection, innovation, and sustainability. The document also examines issues facing publishers like access, discoverability, community, and quality control in the digital environment. It argues that libraries and publishers should change their outlooks and take on aspects of each other's roles, with publishers using reader data to enhance digital experiences and libraries engaging in publishing initiatives using their archives and community connections.

1. Digital Disruptions
The Intersection of Libraries and Publishers
in the Digital Information Age
John Rodzvilla
Senior Digital Publisher-in-
Residence
Emerson College
Bending Boundaries: Libraries as Publishers, April 16, 2014

2. Two Cultures, One Goal
Cover from Library Journal, May 1, 2009

3. Part 1:
The Divide

4. How Librarians See the World
Image from http://www.metafilter.com/111332/to-explore-better-ways-to-create-and-deliver-the-formal-
published-record, last accessed 4/10/2014

5. Library Issues
1. Patron Access
2. $$$
3. Community
4. Volume of Information

6. How Publishers See the World
Association of American
Publisher’s General
Annual Meeting 2014
“The Next Chapter in
Protecting IP: Policy,
Disruption, Innovation and
Sustainability”
Image originally from: www.flickr.com/photos/jdawg/1300241735/, last accessed November 2010

7. The Publishing Reference Desk
Image from Binghamton University Libraries https://www.flickr.com/photos/binglib/2343356578, last
accessed 4/10/2014

8. What Publishers Do (Simplified)
Editorial
 Developmental
 Copyediting/ Proofreading
Production
 Interior Design
 Cover Design
Sales/ Distribution
 Markets and Distro. Agreements

9. Number of Publishers
The Big 5
 PenguinRandom House, HarperCollins,
Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and Hachette
300 - 400 Mid-sized publishers
86,000 small publishers
Source: “The U.S. Book Market,” German Book Office (http://www.buchmesse.de/images/fbm/dokumente-ua-
pdfs/2013/buchmarkt_usa_market_updated_november_15_2013.pdf_40487.pdf)

10. Number of New Titles Published by
Traditional Publishers, 1999-2011

11. Traditional vs. Self-Published,
2002-2011

12. Sales

13. A Note on Digital
Two truths
 Most publishers = content providers
 Frontlist is easy, backlist is $$$
THE TRIPLE A

14. Publishing Issues
1. Access
2. Discoverability
3. Community
4. Quality

15. Access
1. Digital Rights Management (DRM)
1. Control
2. Every book, its (one and only) reader
1. HarperCollins: 26 lends per e-book
2. Overdrive’s long reliance on Adobe Digital
Editions
2. “Readers don’t like DRM” is not a
legitimate criticism.

16. Discoverability
1. How do people find a book?
1. Shelf space vs. number of books published
2. Reviews
3. Oprah, come back!
4. Online social recommenders to the rescue!
Amazon is Discoverability!

17. Community
1. Community= Readers= $$$$
2. Please talk about our book, but don't
share.

18. Quality
 Who is doing quality
control?
 Why isn’t there more
outcry?
 Is it just me?
 Or are readers just not
reading?
Image of Casual Vacancy from http://gigaom.com/2012/09/27/j-k-rowlings-new-book-on-kindle-literally-
unreadable, last accessed 4/10/2014

19. It is Time to Change Our
Outlook.

20. The Publisher as
Librarian
Data on Readers and Usage
Image by christopher_ brown, https://flic.kr/p/doietL Some Rights Reserved

21. The Publisher as Librarian
 “Data will continue to go more mainstream
in the book world, impacting every aspect of
the book publishing process, and data
insights will push change onto all parts of the
book publishing supply chain.”
~Dominique Raccah, Sourcebooks CEO
Publishers are looking at ways to use data
from readers to make an more enriching
digital experience.

22. The Librarian as
Publisher
Editing Patrons and Archives
Image from National Portrait Gallery, http://npgportraits.si.edu/eMuseumNPG/code/emuseum.asp?
rawsearch=ObjectID/,/is/,/61909/,/false/,/false&newprofile=CAP&newstyle=single, PD

23. Things to Think About
The Editorial Process
Project Management
Copyright
ROI
Professional Quality in Design and Layout
Marketing
Distribution

24. Inspiration
 Sacramento’s I Street Press
 Los Gatos Public Library
 Provincetown Public Press
 Library Publishing Directory
 The Library Publishing Toolkit

25. Ideas and Opportunities
Archives
 In-house content being ignored.
Community Press
 Patrons and underserved populations.
Small Presses and Publishers
 Independent Publishers of New England
Digital Distributions
 Amazon, B&N, Apple, Bookbaby, Vook,

26. Ideas and Opportunities
Ingram Content Group, Liibook, Inkling,
Aerbook, 52 Novels, Smashwords, Wattpad,
Werdsmith, Arcade Sunshine, Atavist,
Unbound, Slicebook, issu, Maz, Bibliocrunch,
Lulu, Booktango, eBookit, Pressbooks,
Booktype, Adobe Publishing Suite, Scribd,
Noisetrade (audio), gumroad, espresso book
machine, xlibris, iUniverse, Lightning Source,
Blurb

27. Questions? Comments?
Please contact me:
John Rodzvilla
Senior Digital Publisher-in-
Residence
Emerson College
John_rodzvilla@emerson.edu
Twitter: @rodzvilla