| Electronic publishing has resulted in the gradual | | | | Not everyone is excited about this growth, |
| growth of digital libraries, containing research | | | | however. Books in the Digital Age, a 2005 book |
| materials, online articles and literary works. | | | | by John B. Thompson, explores many of |
| The growth of electronic publishing has introduced | | | | academia's concerns about the standards of |
| readers to new methods of accessing reading | | | | material published electronically. Critics state |
| material. Once with the only option of reading on | | | | concerns that the ease of publishing and |
| a computer screen, there now exists an emerging | | | | distributing materials online will result in lower |
| market for technology associated with digital | | | | standards of available work that can now avoid |
| publishing. For example, in its August 30, 2009 | | | | the many channels of scrutiny and review that |
| edition, Publisher's Weekly reviewed a dozen | | | | hardcopy works face before being approved for |
| devices specifically designed for reading electronic | | | | publication. |
| text. Although relatively new, this synthesis of | | | | Some groups have voiced their concerns that |
| technology and the written word has only begun. | | | | digital publishing devalues both books and reading. |
| Digital publishers offer a wide variety of materials | | | | These opponents state that reading digitized |
| to an even wider audience of readers. With an | | | | words on a screen cannot replace the pleasure |
| untold number of electronic publications, the | | | | that comes from pouring over words and |
| impact of this industry is strong. Many epublishers, | | | | anticipating each turn of the page. Others are less |
| online merchants and individual authors have | | | | concerned about the visceral act of reading, |
| captured audiences in niche markets that would | | | | finding themselves more troubled by the |
| be difficult to reach through traditional the | | | | challenges of technology. For example, some |
| methods of publishing, as well as providing | | | | groups are worried that changing technology could |
| established readers with the convenience of | | | | result in digital libraries with outdated collections |
| purchasing digital publications online for immediate | | | | being abandoned online or that changes in digital |
| download. | | | | formats could result in a host of inaccessible |
| In addition, a growing number of traditional | | | | works. |
| publications, academic journals and other media | | | | With less overhead needed, fewer wasted |
| outlets, too, have entered the world of digital | | | | resources and no concerns about storing surplus |
| publishing with profitable results. From statistics | | | | editions, digital publishing has proven to be an |
| collected by the Association of American | | | | affordable alternative to issuing printed works. |
| Publishers and the International Digital Publishing | | | | Consumers benefit from less expensive reading |
| Forum, U.S. eBook sales have increased | | | | material that can be accessed at their own |
| significantly over time. Sales of eBooks from | | | | convenience. In all likelihood, digital publishing will not |
| 2002 totaled approximately $1.6 million, while 2008 | | | | replace printed works, but its persistent growth is |
| sales reached over $37.5 million. The resulting | | | | a continual balancing act. Digital publishing will |
| sales figures demonstrate that ePublishing is not | | | | continue to establish itself as the connection |
| only an emergent force, but also an established | | | | between the influence of technology and the |
| industry poised to experience continued growth. | | | | power of the written word. |