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Publishing via e-book and e-zineThe mere word publishing, conjures images of a printing house, a distribution network, a book store and then the reader. The image or the sequence is true and applicable, but this has developed into this practice after years of refining and development. The generic meaning of 'publishing' is making something known publicly. This process of issuing printed materials, such as books, magazines, periodicals etc started when there was a need for extra copies of manuscripts in ancient times. Roman history talks about booksellers ' Horace mentions the Sosii, who were apparently brothers ' and the copying of books was carried out by trained slaves. Printing was introduced in Europe in the middle of the fifteenth century. The initial instances of publishing had the author, the printer, and the publisher - all as the same person. The differentiation has slowly appeared as demand has matured.In Europe, London, Paris, Zurich, Milan, Edinburgh, Florence and Vienna became the centers of publishing, and have continued the tradition into the present. Elzevir family of Holland (1583-1791) established the first important publishing house. Boston, Philadelphia and New York became the centers in United States. With the spread of publishing, more books became available to the people, thus fuelling their interest in reading and about the future. This, increase in demand, in turn, induced the publishers to print more literature. Pamphlets, books and broadsides about religious controversies and arguments were distributed to the people. The late 19th century and the 20th century brought in specialization in book publishing, resulting in some publishing houses specializing in religious books, textbooks, art books, technical books and children's books. Hardcover books were expensive. United States of America started the `Paperback Revolution'. Pocket-sized, paper bound books became popular in English speaking countries in 1930s and 40s. Inexpensive but durable `quality' paperback editions of well-known writers came in 1950s. In United States, 14 percent of all books sold by 1998, were mass 'market and trade paperbacks. Technology is a boon as well as a bane. Advancement in technology adversely affected the business of publishing. Television and databases ensured that the tasks such transmission, storage, and distribution of data did not remain only with the publishers. Copying machines also threatened the privacy of publishers. The advent of computers, internet, storage facilities such as CDs and floppies made copying mush easier. While these inventions assisted publishing the scope of copying electronically published material raised copyright issues. This has led governments to come up with copyright laws that specify the extent to which the material can be copied. Electronic Book' or e-book' is the brighter product of the new technology. Due to this, a large number of books are being digitized. |
