[ PW Home ] [ Bestsellers ] [ Subscribe ] [ Search ]

Publishers Weekly News

Perseus, Xerox Ink Digital Pact
Calvin Reid -- 2/21/00

The Perseus Book Group has announced an alliance with the Xerox Corporation to install Print-On-Demand technology in its Boulder, Colo., services facility. Xerox will install state-of-the-art POD technology--a DocuTech 6180 product printer and in-line bindery and finishing equipment--at PBG's academic subsidiary Westview Press. Scott Lubeck, v-p and managing director of Westview Press, told PW that PBG's in-house composition systems will be integrated with Xerox equipment to allow transmission of text files for production, to maintain better inventory control and to make possible ultra-short-run printing at costs below standard offset prices. The installation should be complete by mid-March.

According to Jack McKeown, president and CEO of the Perseus Book Group, the agreement marks the implementation of an overall digital archiving strategy and will be used "across the book group and the core backlist." The company is in the process of digitizing its backlist of between 4,000 and 5,000 titles. McKeown enthusiastically pointed to the potential of POD technology. "We'll be able to do reprints of 1,000 copies or less and even ultra-short print runs. This is going to free up cash from printing excess copies; we're saving working capital, gaining digital knowledge for all kinds of digital publishing options in the future." He added that POD printing is able to speed up galley delivery and to economize on academic journal publishing. "We're extremely excited. I've championed the POD revolution for a long time and now it's here," said McKeown.

Lubeck joined Westview Press in October 1999. He is a longtime expert in digital publishing who previously spearheaded a digital publishing program at the National Academy Press before leaving to join the Electric Press. He has also worked as a consultant to Microsoft on its e-book ventures. Lubeck told PW the digitization of PBG's list will allow for repurposing content and creating new digital products to sell. "We'll have an in-house capability to supply instructional manuals, custom publications and scholarly monograph publishing. Westview has nearly 17,000 titles out of print that still have tremendous potential value."

Back To News
--->
Search | Bestsellers | News | Features | Children's Books | Bookselling
Interview | Industry Update | International | Classifieds | Authors On the Highway
About PW | Subscribe
Copyright 2000. Publishers Weekly. All rights reserved.