Association of American Publishers

53% Percentage that the number of RSS users increased between June 2007 and March 2008. Source: Universal McCann $3.4 million Amount of trade e-book sales for April 2008, a 19.9-percent increase over April 2007. Source: Association of American Publishers/International Digital Publishing Forum 82% Percentage of readers who prefer curling up with a printed book to new reading technology. Eleven percent of respondents said they are comfortable reading books in other formats, such as online or with an e-book reader or PDA. Source: 2008 Random House/Zogby Poll $37.26 billion Total book publishers’ net revenues in 2007, up 4.4 percent over 2006’s total. Unit sales

Despite the rising costs and tight supply of paper, increasing fuel costs impacting shipping prices, and growing pressure to cut inventory and increase turnaround times, among other challenges facing book publishers, two Book Business articles reveal positive news for the book manufacturing industry. In the June issue, the “Top 30 Book Manufacturers” feature showed that revenue for 23 of the 30 book manufacturers listed had grown over the previous year. According to Book Business’ 2007 ranking (in the June 2007 issue), just 17 book manufacturers had reported revenue increases. In this issue, in Book Business’ first compilation of leading digital book printers

After helping to promote literacy for the past nine years with its Get Caught Reading public awareness campaign, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) is at it once more—except this time its spotlight is focused on audiobooks. Get Caught Listening is scheduled to launch at BookExpo America next week. A series of full-color posters and pre-recorded, audio public service announcements (PSAs) featuring several celebrities are set to showcase who has been “caught” listening to their favorite books. “It turns up the volume, full pun intended, on audiobooks,” says AAP Vice President Tina Jordan. Jordan spoke with Book Business Extra about the development and implementation

The publishing industry’s intensified movement toward going “green” was highlighted by recent reports from three major trade groups—the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), the Association of American Publishers (AAP), and the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF). In this column, I summarize the major features of each of these reports, as well as note a bit of contention on some of the findings, that point to the why and how of going “green” for publishers and book printers. (For an extensive and very useful backgrounder, check out the article “The Green Team,” by James Sturdivant, in Book Business, February 2008, also

Adult trade publishers with a “change is good” attitude are finding success in today’s market. From promoting literacy to experimenting with new marketing initiatives, such as social networking sites and author videos, and new distribution formats, such as e-books and digital downloads, industry leaders are now acting upon, not resisting, the significant turn the publishing world has been taking. Data indicates that while monthly sales fluctuate, overall, sales are still up, and many publishers are proactively striving to keep them that way. Last month, The Association of American Publishers (AAP) reported that adult hardbound book sales totaled $2.8 billion in 2007, a 7.8-percent increase

After serving for more than three decades as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado, Patricia S. Schroeder stepped away from public service and shifted her focus to the world of book publishing. Since assuming the position of president and CEO of the Washington D.C.- and New York-based Association of American Publishers (AAP)—the book publishing industry’s national trade association currently representing close to 300 U.S. publishers—the former Congresswoman has continued to remain a visible figure as she works in the interest of book publishers across the country. Schroeder recently spoke with Book Business Extra about how the business of book publishing

A recent story from satirical news source The Onion (www.TheOnion.com), entitled “Area Eccentric Reads Entire Book,” read: Sitting in a quiet, downtown diner, local hospital administrator Philip Meyer looks as normal and well-adjusted as can be. Yet, there’s more to this 27-year-old than first meets the eye: Meyer has recently finished reading a book. Yes, the whole thing. “It was great,” said the peculiar Indiana native, who, despite owning a television set and having an active social life, read every single page of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. … Meyer, who never once jumped ahead to see what would happen

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has unveiled its new “Handbook on Book Paper and the Environment.” The “Handbook” was developed by the AAP’s Paper Issues Working Group to assist publishers in navigating issues related to the development of environmental sustainability practices within the book publishing industry. Among the topics covered in the “Handbook” are recycling, including pre- and post-consumer recycled fiber distinctions; forestry certification standards; “chain of custody”; issues facing paper and recycling manufacturers; global practices and economic impacts; and “green” production efforts. The “Handbook” also contains a Frequently Asked Questions section and organizational contact information. According to the AAP, the “Handbook”

2007 might well be remembered as the year when, a few months after the final installment of “Harry Potter” hit the shelves to blockbuster acclaim, the “To Read or Not to Read” report was issued by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The report raised serious concerns about the future of reading in this country: Amount and proficiency are on the decline, the report found, especially among young adults and older teens. Then, there are new U.S. Census numbers, released in December 2007, that show that the number of hours per person spent reading consumer books has been basically flat over the

For the month of October, book sales increased 2.1 percent over last October, according to the Association of American Publishers. Year-to-date sales increased 9.3 percent over the same time period last year. Market segments that posted year-to-date sales increases included: adult hardcover (13.7 percent); children’s/young adult paperback (3.3 percent); university press hardcover (9.7 percent); university press paperback (2.4 percent); professional and scholarly (7.0 percent); higher education (9.0 percent); audio books (29.7 percent); e-books (23.7 percent); and religious books (6.8 percent). Sales of children’s/young adult hardcover books increased the most, by 52.7 percent. Only two segments experienced a decline in year-to-date sales: adult paperback