Tad Crawford

The preliminary settlement agreement between the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild and Google regarding Google’s Book Search project and its alleged copyright violation has been heralded by the parties involved as a victory. Other publishers and industry analysts also have voiced optimism over the settlement’s impact on the industry. But as the date of the final settlement review (the Fairness Hearing) approaches (June 11), many still are investigating the agreement’s details. Others have voiced concern and suggest the settlement demands some significant changes.

Make friends everywhere you can. Sure, it’s simple advice your mother probably gave you, but this and other pointers given during an hour-long look into the world of book publishing partnerships at the Book Business Conference and Expo helped shine a light on the increasing importance of collaboration throughout the industry. Merriam-Webster President and Publisher John Morse took the reigns of the afternoon session that included Tad Crawford, Allworth Press’ president and publisher, and David Borgenicht, president and publisher of Quirk Books. The panel launched into a step-by-step breakdown or how to care for and feed partnerships. From working with cell phone companies to

Publishers rely on the Internet or classified ads to spread the word about new positions, but how can you guarantee you will attract people with the best or even relevant skill sets? Furthermore, the more important question may be: Exactly what skill sets should you be looking for in today’s constantly changing publishing environment? Beyond the obvious characteristics any publisher would want in a new hire—intelligence, loyalty, enthusiasm, writing and editing skills, an eye for layout, business and marketing savvy, and so forth, publishers may wonder if they should expand the perimeter of the required skill set to prepare for embracing the multimedia

A strange thing happened while creating this issue. Whereas we normally find book publishing industry executives to be open and willing to discuss industry issues and their own strategies, our writers had a difficult time getting people to comment for their stories this time around. At first we thought the holiday season was to blame, that people were, understandably, just too busy to respond. And then some people did respond, but many declined to comment. This is a strange experience for our writers, and some of the people who declined really surprised me. One story that met with a number of closed doors was

Offshore sourcing is becoming increasingly popular among publishers who are looking to get cost-effective, quality printing and other publishing services. Forty percent of book publishers said they had worked with an overseas printer in the past year, according to a July 2006 study by the market-trend research company TrendWatch Graphic Arts. Yet, as they say, buyer beware. Global sourcing has its advantages as well as its pitfalls. To successfully navigate an offshore partnership, experienced publishers and printers offer these 15 tips. 1. Research a reputable partner. Do your research to find the largest and most reputable printers available. Tad Crawford, president and publisher,

From keeping staff motivated to staying out of debt to generating new revenue, the different aspects of publishing management are often difficult in even the best of economic environments. How do publishers survive the ever-changing world of book publishing? BookTech Magazine interviewed several industry leaders to get their tips. Keith Weiskamp is publisher and president of Paraglyph Press Inc. (www.ParaglyphPress.com). He and a partner formed the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based publishing company in mid 2002 from an offshoot of what he describes as a much larger company that ran into financial hardship. Its flagship books are the "Degunking" series started in 2004 with the best-selling title