Creative Cost-Cutting Strategies

Elsevier has also been reigning in page counts by judiciously putting reference materials onto CDs or ancillary Web sites. “It’s done with the idea that you don’t want to affect the functionality of the book,” says Lori Irvine, book local application manager in the publishing services division.

Recently, Elsevier worked with software developer Modality Inc. to offer educational materials for use with the iPod and iPhone, enabling students to bring reference materials into the classroom. “Sometimes you have to have it in front of you,” Irvine notes of such content, “but we don’t have to put it in the book.”