On 12/3/06, Eric Fiedler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Do try to exercise a little restraint when talking about matters you're maybe not quite sure about.
I will, if you will.
In principal, all publishers print "on demand", "on demand", the difference being the size and frequency of the print runs. Our print runs average between 300 and 400 copies, which, while certainly not in the same league with the big boys, can't really be described as "print on demand."
I did not use the words "print on demand" as a demeaning phrase, or in pejorative sense. So if you were offended, my apologies. Maybe a less offensive phrase would be "non traditional publisher methods" would be less offensive. But no matter how we define such desktop publishing; it's not the traditional method of how editions are published. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print_on_demand discusses this new trend in desktop publishing; and was my point in reference in asking my question in the first place, which was---- do such desktop publishing editions benefit from having an ISBN. That's what I was unclear about. Does having that allow your editions more exposure? Numbers aren't the only issue that defines a traditional versus a non-traditional publisher. From what I've been told: print on demand/non traditional publishers do not allow returns from vendors or distributors; and they also tend to have a much higher mark up versus the more traditional methologies: all of which makes it harder for such editions to get into the mainstream distribution system. Again---that's based what I've been told. If anyone else has a different experience, that's great. I hope the market opens up for smaller houses and non traditional publishers, because a lot of the material that matters to most of us, isn't being printed by "the big boys."
Also the editions are distributed by Harrassowitz in Wiesbaden, while "print on demand" publishers usually deal more or less directly with the customers.
The library staff at Columbia University told me that any print on demand publisher that gets an ISBN or ISMN stands a good chance of being picked up by a distributor, especially if they have material they know they have customers for. I was specfically told about Harrassowitz. So no, while generally what you said can be the case, it's not always. Just as apparently you can sell directly to distributors without having ISBNs or ISMNs (according to comments here). Thanks, Kim _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list Finale@shsu.edu http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
