The Magic Number of One

Digital printing options have enabled a revolution in book manufacturing, abetted by the growth of self-publishing and other short-run publishing models. The ability to print books economically in very small quantities, or even one book at a time (“print on demand”), has allowed publishers to slash inventories, create personalized editions and take maximum advantage of the “long tail” market in backlist titles. According to a recent report from R. R. Bowker, production of on-demand titles increased 132 percent from 2008 to 2009, the second year of triple digit growth in this segment.