This document discusses repurposing content for digital formats like ebooks. It outlines key goals like moving from print to online, monetizing content through multiple channels, and cutting costs. Ebooks are defined as digital books that can be read on devices or computers. Challenges include multiple formats and converting print content for digital. The document promotes using XML to produce the same content across multiple formats like ebooks, websites and learning modules through a single workflow. Best practices discussed are making all content digital, exploring business models, using an XML workflow, automating processes, and testing on actual devices.

1. Pre-meeting Seminar:
Repurposing Content
Society of Scholarly Publishing
2009 Annual Meeting
May 27, 2009
aptaracorp.com

2. Key Business Goals
• Make the move from print to dynamic, online products
• Monetize content in as many ways as possible
• Create new revenue streams & publishing channels
• Drastically cut cycle times & production costs
• Stay nimble in the face of uncertain future competition
Stephen King brought e-publishing to the attention of the
world by publishing his novel, “Riding the Bullet,” exclusively
in eBook form. In the first 24 hours of availability, 400,000
copies were downloaded - more than any other book in
any format!
2 Confidential. Not for distribution.

3. What is an eBook?
• An eBook is the digital media equivalent of a
conventional printed book. Such documents are either
read on personal computers or on dedicated hardware
devices known as eBook devices or eBook readers.
• Key advantages
– simple navigation for easy access to previously
viewed pages
– instant access to the content
– powerful search function
– environmentally friendly, no trees are destroyed
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4. Some eBook Devices
4 Confidential. Not for distribution.

5. Challenges of Present eBook Formats
• Multiple formats, hardware devices…which is best?
• Cost of trying a new format and the risk of competition
• Conversion costs due to a staggered production model
0 4 5 6 10
Manuscript
Ready “P” Book E-Book Companion Elearning
Released Released Website Course
Released Launched
• Consumer expectations
– interactive (audio, video, animations)
– available (anywhere, anytime)
– participative (“I matter and so does my opinion”)
– cost (micro-payments)
5 Confidential. Not for distribution.

6. The Parallel Solution
The alternative…
BOOKS
E-PUB
PUBLISH
AUTHOR COMPOSITION &
SME MANUSCRIPT CONTENT LAYOUT
EDITING ADOBE
XML PDF
INDIVIDUAL
CHAPTERS
TRAINING
DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA DESIGN &
NEEDS ONLINE
TEAM DESIGN PROGRAMMING
ANALYSIS ASSESSMENTS
COMPANION
WEB SITES
WEB PORTALS
6 Confidential. Not for distribution.

7. XML & Parallel Publishing
• Producing the same content or information in more
than one medium, simultaneously
• Using a single source for cross-media publishing
• Integrating production of text and graphics for print
with learning modules and animations for media
• Editing the content once, publishing it multiple times
• Advantages
– reduced “time to market”
– additional revenue channels
– easier maintenance of data
– consistency of data
– overall cost savings
– builds bridges between print & media world
7 Confidential. Not for distribution.

8. The Power of XML
XSL
FO
XML to EPUB
wiki
blog
XSLT
Transformations
8 Confidential. Not for distribution.

9. Some Interesting Book Readers on iPhone
Classics2Go
Wattpad
Classics
Stanza
9 Confidential. Not for distribution.

10. Some Examples of ePub
10 Confidential. Not for distribution.

11. XML & EPUB
• The EPUB content standard allows publishers to
produce and send a single digital publication file
through distribution, and offers consumers
interoperability between software/hardware for
unencrypted reflowable digital books and other
publications
• ".epub" is the file extension for EPUB reflowable
digital books and publications
• EPUB acronym soup
– container: OCF (Open [OEBPS] Container Format)
– markup packaging: OPF (Open Packaging Format)
– markup content: OPS (Open Publication
Structure); XHTML & DTBook
11 Confidential. Not for distribution.

12. EPUB Workflow
Distributo
r or Mobi
Compiler Kindl
e
Adob .Li
e t
DE
eRead
Sony
er
EPUB Read
er Globa
l
Stanz Reade
a/iPh r
one
12 Confidential. Not for distribution.

13. Five Best Practices
1. Make ALL your content available digitally
2. Explore different business models and mediums
3. XML-first workflow is a MUST
4. Automation in digital workflows is critical
5. Quality assurance on actual devices is essential
13 Confidential. Not for distribution.

14. Contact Information
Gurvinder Batra
CTO
Aptara
www.aptaracorp.com
gbatra@aptaracorp.com
703.346.3888
14 Confidential. Not for distribution.