PRIMIR Books Study Points to Morphing Industry Model
It is worth noting that in 2009 most high schools and a handful of elementary schools have laptops in daily use by the school’s total enrollment.
In these situations some schools report that up to 50% of books and related learning materials that used to be purchased in print are now being supplied on CDs/DVDs or through downloaded electronic files.
While it will take years for e-books to penetrate all aspects of the traditional print book market, the handwriting is on the wall. The study concludes with the admonition that without exception in every market that has introduced digital substitutive products, the digital product has driven out the analog one. There is little reason to think that over time the same will not be true for books.
In the short term the economic situation will be the prime driver of change in the book industry. In the longer term the continuing development of electronic competition will become the prime driver of major changes in the book industry’s products which will impact on all elements in the graphic communications industry’s supply chain.
The 300-page report “Trends in Books: 2008-2012” will be distributed exclusively to PRIMIR members later this spring.
Contact Jackie Bland, Managing Director of PRIMIR at phone: 703/264-7211 for membership details.
