I had the pleasure speaking at the Digital Book Printing Conference co-hosted by Printing Impressions and Book Business magazines on Nov. 19th in New York City. Leading book publishers, printers/manufacturers and industry suppliers were on hand to create a jam-packed event with more than 150 attendees.
Although I spoke about the technical aspects of integrating inkjet printing into their digital printing processes, it was very evident throughout the conference that “printed” books are decreasing. Designers, printers, paper mills, and printing ink and equipment manufacturers should all wake up.
E-book sales have had, and will continue to have, a major impact on how we acquire content. And as Marco Boer of IT Strategies stated, “Printed books are in decline and there are no guarantees that e-books sales will start to trail off any time soon.” This statement really had an effect on me. As I looked at the book printing market from a 10,000-foot view, it was inevitability clear that this impacts all our professions and businesses in a big way.
Now, I am all for progress and what the Internet and digital publishing have given us. Everyone now has access to published knowledge. Students now have the option for their books and curriculum to be electronic form, which I am sure will save some chiropractic bills later on in life.
Crazy thing is, we all know we spend too much time on our electronic devices, but we continue to do it. You know that electronic books impact your business, but still buy the current novel and read it on an e-reader.
I am pro “printed book,” not because I am part of the printing industry, but more because I feel the connection with printed books. If you are in, or supply to, the printing industry stop and think before you buy that electronic book. Step back and think about what you enjoyed about printed books LONG before e-readers came along. Here are some of my favorite reasons:
You get to see what’s popular—When large groups of people sitting around an airport have books open, you can see the covers of what they’re reading. This is a great way to check out what is hot and could be interesting.
Creates verbal communication—Remember that? Asking someone sitting next to you how they are enjoying a title? Actually talking to the person next to you and not having your head buried looking at an electronic device? When someone is using an e-reader, you can’t see the title of the book.
Creates sharing—It is what our moms taught us from the beginning. Sharing is good and books, I imagine, have been the most shared item throughout history (although I don’t know that as a fact). You can share a good book with a friend or donate them to a shelter, nursing home or hospital.
Emotional connection—Books are tangible with an emotional attachment. Reading to your child at night does not have nearly the same impact using an e-reader. You cannot get the touch sensation from the “Pat the Puppy” on an electronic device.
The feel of paper—When a book gets really interesting, I fan the edges of a book or nervously flip the top corner of a page. Though I like the feel of paper, it is also a medium that I can use to release my nervous anxiety and emotional response.
Books are absorbent—Ok, maybe it was just me, but when I read “Marley and Me,” it was the most I ever cried reading a book. I wasn’t at all worried about getting the book wet; the pages absorbed my tears.
Books are a tangible item—Books are permanent. Electronic books get forgotten on a hard drive, but a book goes on your shelf and can be re-read over and over again. Over the years, I have read some of the same books a couple of times.
They are a work of art—Designers work very hard on the creative aspects of a book. From the cover to the layout to creative bindery options, books are their own works of art.
And, in the spirit of the holiday season, they also make GREAT GIFTS. My mom just told me she was giving books this year as gifts, so everyone owes her a big thank you.
What do you most enjoy about printed books and how have they impacted your life?