New ALPSP Advice Note No.40: Tiered Pricing

Written by Lois Bacon and Ann Lawson, EBSCO Information Services.

In recent years an increasing number of publishers have adopted tiered pricing models for journals, databases, e-books, data sets and other resources. However introducing a new model invites the librarian to review and evaluate a subscription. This advice note outlines the key issues publishers need to take into account to ensure a smooth transition and minimal impact on renewals.

Free to download from www.alpsp.org for ALPSP members

BookVault wins business with cost-saving link between publisher and printer

Press release 21 October

Printondemand-worldwide’s system transfers orders from web shopping cart to production floor

Printondemand-worldwide is bridging the gap between publisher and printer to make the production of books faster and more efficient than ever before.

The leading UK-based digital printer has seen rising demand for its web-based BookVault system, which provides publishers with fingertip inventory management through a virtual library of titles.

Many publishers are seizing the opportunity to have BookVault integrated into their own website shopping cart, so that orders from customers are immediately transferred to the print floor – saving inestimable time, administrative and processing costs. Printondemand-worldwide’s unique technology allows for BookVault to be bolted on to an existing website very easily, but a technical team is also available to manage the process where necessary.

Early advocates of BookVault include Gareth Jarrett, Inventory Manager at Taylor and Francis Books, who said: “We have recently started using BookVault, primarily for reporting purposes, which is very useful, and to check on the status of titles in development. We haven’t yet begun to exploit its full potential but it certainly seems very user friendly and shows a lot of promise.

“We have been working with Printondemand-worldwide for around five years, during which time the company has grown to become one of our key on-demand printers. It enables us to have more titles consistently available, but without the costs of having stock waiting in storage. So the benefit is twofold – you’ve got greater revenue opportunities by making more titles available than would otherwise be possible; and you save on the storage costs of stock.”

BookVault, launched at last year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, enables publishers to upload and store a library of titles, any of which can be summoned for printing, in almost any quantity, within 48 to 72 hours, and then dispatched directly to the end customer if preferred.

Orders through BookVault now account for around 25 per cent of Printondemand-worldwide’s overall business, resulting in around 4,000 books produced each day.

Printondemand-worldwide Managing Director Andy Cork said: “This is on-demand printing in its purest form. With less than half-a-dozen clicks of your mouse, you can instantly order any quantity of books, from a single copy upwards. And whether they are perfect-bound, case-bound or saddle-stiched, full colour or black and white, the production process begins as soon as the order is received.

“It gives publishers direct control at their fingertips and in difficult economic times, that level of flexibility is proving to be a significant advantage.”

Printondemand-worldwide, the leading UK digital printer, serves publishing clients across Europe from its base in Peterborough, near Cambridge. In addition, it has recently created a network of global print partners – in the USA, Asia and Australia – all of which have had the BookVault system installed and can facilitate orders from their own countries to avoid the time, financial and environmental costs of shipping from the UK.

(ends)

Notes to Editors

Advantages of BookVault:

· Save time with easy ordering via web-based simply order system

· Minimise capital outlay by removing the need for stock printing

· Reduce associated storage, distribution and transport costs

· Save money and resources on administration

· A personal data library listing all your BookVault titles

· Real-time reporting as the job progresses through production

· Range of delivery options, including dispatch direct to end customer

· Simple to integrate with e-commerce website via a custom web application programming interface (API)

Printondemand-worldwide is one of the UK’s leading digital book printers, with a workforce in excess of 40, a cutting-edge print production facility in Peterborough, an annual turnover in excess of £2m and global roster of clients.

Printondemand-worldwide will be at Frankfurt Book Fair from October 6-10, Hall 8, Stand A937.

Established 16 years ago, the short-run specialist has taken an innovative approach to directly address the needs of diverse client groups, whether they wish to print one unit or 1,000 units.

The range of services provided by Printondemand-worldwide include Fast Print, which offers user-friendly packages to self-publishers, and BookVault, which enables publishers of all sizes to manage a digital archive of their books and call any up any of them to be printed at any time, no matter how small the volume, at pre-agreed rates.

Advantages of Printondemand-worldwide’s proposition include high quality, cost-effectiveness and flexibility. By overcoming the need for bulk storage, reducing reliance on warehouses, cutting wastage, taking action to reduce its carbon footprint, opting for ecologically-approved facilities and production methods and limiting the use of long-distance freight, the company offers print solutions that are not only efficient but also environmentally-friendly.

Visit www.printondemand-worldwide.com for further details.

For more information or images please contact:

Nick Henderson, Katie McBreen or Richard McCann

Friday’s Media Group, 18 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QL

Telephone: 0845 500 1140

nickh@fridays-group.co.uk, katiem@fridays-group.co.uk or richardm@fridays-group.co.uk

James Murdoch opens Copyright in the Digital Age (8 November, London)

James Murdoch (son of Rupert and Chairman and Chief Executive, Europe and Asia, News Corporation) leads off a very impressive line-up of speakers at the Copyright in the Digital Age: Industry issues and impacts event being run by the Stationers' Company.

The Stationers' Company (or the wonderfully named Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers to give them their full moniker) pretty much invented copyright and were responsible for its enforcement until the implementation of the Statute of Anne in 1709 so it's very appropriate that they should be organizing this debate.

The event will take place on 8 November 2010 at the Stationers' Hall in London. 

More information and online booking.

ALPSP Seminar: e-Learning. Online and Distance Education, 21 October, London

Chair: Oliver Jones, Education Projects Manager, RCOG
www.alpsp.org

This seminar offers a practical look at how organisations can embark upon or develop existing e-Learning Programmes, and more importantly how to do so successfully.

• Why is E-learning publishing different; or is it not different?
• What standards exist in terms of 'E-learning publishing standards'
• Can I publish E-learning if I have no technical expertise?
• How is it possible to keep online content up to date?
• How big would my E-learning team need to be?
• Where are the markets, is E-learning publication successful for other businesses?

Who should attend?
Small to medium publishers and societies without the resources or funds to experiment and research the options but who can see the potential of E-learning, yet don't know where to start
Editorial teams becoming involved in the instructional design of content to be published on the web
Course and events leaders involved in transforming components of a course in to an E-learning or blended learning package
Publications managers requiring advice on the processes involved in E-learning publication
Educationalists who are new to E-learning
Project managers who have experience of product development but who are new to the publication of E-learning
Commissioning editors responsible for ensuring publications are innovative yet educationally robust.

Full details