Overall there is more optimism in the air. Christmas proved to be good for both analogue and digital. Though sales in physical bookshops were badly affected by the snow. Hardback non-fiction sold well as gifts as well as other more ‘novelty’ books. This ties into a general feeling that the books are being valued as a gift. Even if they are not read, as we value them as the object and the feelings they represent. On the digital side of things Amazon sold an incredible amount of Kindles. This led to some of the more savvy publishers out there timing there books to be available as people unwrapped their devices and looked for something to download.
There are predictions that devices like the I-pad will become more common, as like the I-phone, people will become used to them and what they offer. This will lead to more single use devices dying out as people expect more from their technology. The I-pad remains the toy of young affluent males whereas the Kindle picks up the silver surfer end of the market. Possibly a good place to be as at the moment they are the only ones with any money!
Apple has also released i-books1.2 and with that some illustrated art books. Suggesting that Apps are perhaps not the future of book formats. As such, in terms of e-books themselves developers are finding that it’s best not to create too much functionality within a book. As this had led to too much competition with games, something a book is not and fails to compete with. However inroads are being made into digital illustrated books as the new e-pub format enables text and image to work better together. There are also rising concerns about English becoming a universal language as more books get released via the Internet.
The V&A sets a good example of high quality publishing. With a new set of high-end art books being made to each stand out individually. Special attention has been paid to the physical aspect of the design with delicate detailing along each spine. They also have digital plans as they are now developing app guide books for the museum.
In terms of libraries there is a feeling that digital lending is being misinterpreted as a problem. However the pace of change is making it difficult for them to plan for the future.
With this year being the first that the Children’s Bookseller conference discuses digital it is interesting to note that it may also be the last for the pop-up book. New health and safety legislation due to come in by 2013 looks to make pop-up too expensive as a project.
The rate of decline has slowed in the market overall and on the whole it is the same people buying e-books as print books. Both of which are selling mostly from the bestseller list. This has interesting implications for the industry, as despite the change in format they are still yet to attract new customers and revenue streams. Furthermore there is some stagnation in the way in which selling is going to work as an ongoing court case drags out concerning the use of the Agency model.
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