After almost two years of work, the Book Industry Study Group has issued a policy statement of recommended best practices in assigning ISBNs to ebooks and other digital products, “in order to reduce both confusion in the marketplace, and the possibility of errors.” In general, the focus is on three main factors in deciding how many ISBNs to use: content, format, and usage rights. Substantial content variations–like enhancements–create a work that should have its own unique ISBN. They also recommend one ISBN for each file format. So EPUB, Mobi and PDF versions should have separate ISBNs as well. Finally, they […]
Splitting Off McGraw-Hill Education Will Eliminate About 550 Jobs
McGraw-Hill issued a statement updating investors on their “growth and value plan” after the close of the market on Wednesday. As announced in September, the company is preparing to separate McGraw-Hill Education and McGraw-Hill Financial into two separate companies by the end of the 2012. At MH Education, they expect to eliminate approximately 10 percent of their workforce, or approximately 550 people (while noting that the “executive ranks” will be reduced by 20 percent). Most of the layoffs will occur this month, coming “by the end of the fourth quarter”–which is aligned with calendar year–though “some actions [are] expected to […]
Grand Central Pairs with Little Brown UK for Crime In Translation
Hachette divisions in the US and UK–Grand Central and Little Brown UK–are forming a transatlantic venture to publish crime, suspense and thrillers in translation. They will be part of the Grand Central line in the US, and in the UK will comprise a new imprint, Trapdoor. The partners intend to publish up to six books a year. Mitch Hoffman will run the effect from the US, and Sphere associate publisher Dan Mallory will oversee the UK side. The first announced title is Swedish authors Hjorth & Rosenfeldt’s DARK SECRETS, already sold in 16 territories, the first in a series featuring a psychological […]
Price Check In Aisle Amazon (A One-Day Offer)
In other Amazon news, there’s much consternation over the company’s one-day promotion to encourage people to use their mobile Price Check app. To be clear, the promotion does not apply to books–just to toys, electronics, sporting goods, music and DVDs. The offer, good for Saturday, December 10 only, provides a 5 percent discount (capped at a maximum of $5) on up to three qualifying times. Users must run the latest version of Amazon’s price checking app, and enable the geo-location feature. More broadly, however, Amazon wants to encourage shoppers to “submit” local price data to the etailer, presumably to sharpen […]
Amazon Enters Children’s Book Market By Acquiring Marshall Cavendish’s Trade List
Amazon announced Tuesday afternoon that it has a deal to acquire Marshall Cavendish Children’s Book’s US trade publishing list, comprising more than 450 children’s books. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Amazon will publish the acquired titles “under an imprint of Amazon’s New York publishing unit” under Larry Kirshbaum, who is now described as publisher of Amazon Publishing, East Coast Group, vaulting the company into the children’s book market. Signaling larger intentions, the company says in the announcement “the acquisition creates the foundation for Amazon Publishing to further expand into picture books, chapter books and YA novels.” The deal allows Marshall Cavendish […]
People: Abrams Restructures Editorial Team, and More
Abrams announced a series of changes to its editorial and art & design departments, which will now be spearheaded by svp, publisher Steve Tager. Deborah Aaronson has been promoted to associate publisher, adult trade, with responsibility for Abrams’ adult editorial resources and the adult art and design department. Both Aaronson and publishing director for lifestyle Leslie Stoker will report to Tager. Jennifer Levesque moves up to editorial director, reporting to Aaronson, where she will oversee Abrams Image. Adam Silverman is joining Monsoon Commerce as general manager of Alibris. CEO Brian Elliott says “his appointment reinforces our commitment to developing the […]