In another deal linking subsidized on-demand publishing with a major book wholesaler, Baker & Taylor has announced a strategic alliance between Replica Books, B&T's on-demand print division, and Xlibris, a Web-based, on-demand publisher specializing in author-subsidized on-demand titles.
The alliance provides B&T's Replica Books, which specializes in OD reprinting of out-of-print titles for the library and retail market, with an OD firm experienced in "first-time" publishing and an inventory of more than 700 self-published authors. The deal also provides Xlibris's author-subsidized titles with a traditional and national ordering, sales and marketing channel into online and real-world stores through B&T.
The deal continues to raise the profile of on-demand publishing and follows on the heels of Barnes & Noble's 49% stake in Ingram partner iUniverse, a Web-based, on-demand publisher.
However, David Hisbrook, v-p/ communication for Xlibris, called the two deals "very dissimilar." Xlibris (www.xlibris.com) often emphasizes that it is not a publisher, but a publishing-services provider that will publish any book for a $450 fee. Hisbrook emphasized that Xlibris's specialty in "first-time authors" is a "complementary business to Xlibris's reprint business. We also both use Xerox on-demand technology." While Xlibris books are available through its own online bookstore and in some stores, Hisbrook said, the deal "gives our authors a national sales and marketing channel through B&T."
