Mary Jackson Pitts, Ph.D.

mpitts@astate.edu

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Chapter 3

Early Timeline of the Book

b   1456        First Gutenburg bible

b   1638        First printing press in the colonies

b   1644        The Whole Book of Psalms, first                           book printed in the colonies

b   1732        Poor Richard’s Almanack

b   1765        Stamp Act

b   1774        Common Sense

Early Timeline of the Book  cont.

b   1800        Continuous roll paper

b   1811        Steam-powered printing press

b   1830        Improved pulp making

b   1884        Linotype machine

b   1885        Offset Lithography

The Cultural Value of the Book

b   Agents of social and cultural change

b   Important cultural repository

b   Windows on the past

b   Sources of personal development

b   Sources of entertainment and escape

b   Mirrors of culture

Categories of Books

b   Book club editions

b   Elementary/ high school

b   Higher education

b   mail order

b   Mass market paperbacks

b   Professional

b   Religious

Categories of Books cont.

b   Standardized tests

b   Subscription reference

b   Trade

b   University press

Trends in Book Publishing

b   Convergence

b   Conglomeration

b   Commercialization and demand for profits        Subsidiary rights                                           Instant books

b   Growth of small presses

Trends in Book Publishing

b   Restructuring of book                                             Retailing                                                                    Chains                                                              Independents                                                     Online buying

b   Changes in Readership