Ken Coburn

Not even a George Clooney sighting could disrupt the 2006 Book Business Conference and Expo, which took place March 20-22 at the Hilton New York. The celebrity was filming his latest picture just feet away from the conference’s registration area and—predictably—attracted all sorts of ogling from attendees and passers-by, but it was the conference and expo that were the stars of the week. Much like the industry it serves, the conference found itself in an unprecedented state of evolution when it kicked off on Monday, March 20. In its 10th year and amid revolutionary changes in the world of book publishing, this year’s conference

If you're considering offshore sourcing, here are some additional words of caution. Milton Batalion, senior vice president of production and manufacturing for Time Warner Book Group, says selecting an offshore printer is much like selecting a domestic printer. But no matter what printer you choose, challenges can arise in managing such a long-distance relationship, primarily in shipping and potential delays. Rail congestion, for example, has been a recent concern, as it is making it difficult for book shipments arriving on the West Coast to be moved on time. "It could be just the peak season, but it's also likely that there is just a

Offshoring has taken on new meaning in recent years. The Web, electronic file transfer, advancements in foreign technology and faster, better ways to communicate globally have all stirred the waters of opportunity for tapping the American marketplace from overseas. A global marketplace has swelled beyond what many expected. For some, this means greater opportunity, savings and growth. For others, it means the promise of more jobless Americans, more abandoned factories, more unfair labor competition. For many book publishers, specifically, it means more options for manufacturing books cost-effectively. It means new options for digital content creation, design and editorial. It means increased profitability, growth