Google and On Demand Books Bring 2 Million Titles Back Into Print
As a result of an agreement with On Demand Books, Google will bring more than 2 million book titles in its digital library back to life as paperbacks. Google has granted On Demand, the maker of the Espresso Book Machine, immediate access to these files.
The Espresso Book Machine is a high-speed, automated book-making machine that can print, bind and trim a paperback book, with a full-color paperback cover, in a few minutes. The machine is available in about a dozen locations worldwide, including libraries and trade and campus bookstores, and already offers about 1.6 million titles.
"With the Google inventory, the EBM will make it possible for readers everywhere to have access to millions of digital titles in multiple languages, including rare and out-of-print public-domain titles," says Jason Epstein, chairman and co-founder of On Demand Books.
"… In a matter of minutes, you can get a paperback book identical to the one you can get in a store at point of sale," adds Dane Neller, CEO and co-founder of On Demand. "In addition to readers, On Demand Books will bring substantial benefits to authors, retailers and publishers. It has the potential to change the publishing industry."
According to the Associated Press, On Demand and Google each will get $1 of every sale; Google says it will donate its proceeds to charity. The books published by the Espresso Machine will have a recommended sale price of $8 per copy; however, the final pricing decision will be left to each retailer.
- Companies:
- People:
- Dane Neller
- Jason Epstein