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The print-on-demand process is a method for printing books efficiently and cost-effectively, one copy at a time. From start to finish, the entire process takes under 5 minutes. The technology also makes books available in all electronic formats. Barnes & Noble and IBM have been working with a pilot group of publishers over the past few months, and Barnes & Noble intends to bring its range of digital services to the entire publishing community early next year.
Barnes & Noble’s arrangement with IBM will also support its recently announced investment in iUniverse.com, the publishing portal. Barnes & Noble has a 49-percent ownership interest in iUniverse, whose portal offers recognized authors and first-time writers editorial services, marketing support, distribution, and print-on-demand technology.
“Our agreement with IBM enables us to offer publishers a solution for both keeping their entire publishing lists active and bringing back into print titles whose low sales prohibited them from keeping inventory on the shelf,” said Ken Brooks, vice president of digital content for Barnes & Noble. “We can also provide state-of-the-art text processing and conversion services, so it all adds up to a complete turnkey solution for publishers. Barnes & Noble chose IBM because its print and server technologies produce the highest quality and enable us to store and manage massive amounts of content in a completely secure digital environment.”
IBM will provide Barnes & Noble and barnesandnoble.com with a comprehensive integrated solution made up of Infoprint printing and workflow technologies, scalable servers, and a software infrastructure. This integrated solution manages the entire process from store or online order entry, through secure library storage, the print-on-demand book printing process, electronic-book formats, and delivery. This critical infrastructure also supports retail store printing, and electronic-book management and distribution. More information about the IBM Printing Systems division is available at http://www.ibm.com/printers.
Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc., New York, 212/633-3300; http://www.bn.com.
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