This volume provides an innovative and detailed overview of the book publishing industry, including details about the business processes in editorial, marketing and production. The work explores the complex issues that occur every day in the publishing industry.

There are many industries which aim at sustaining the societal needs for information and entertainment. Industries involved in television, periodicals, music, film, publishing are a few major examples. They capture attention of the public by creating interest and delights in them. Documenting one’s own ideas, thoughts, experience, skills, proficiency, knowledge and wisdom is known as publishing. It forms the fundamental elements of intellectual and informative system of any country. Newspapers, journals, magazines and books are the dominant examples of industries involved in publishing. Unlike other media, the print media not only emulates the aspirations of the dominant class but also gives an opportunity to address the issues of all layers of the society. It is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information i.e., the activity of making information available to the general public. Despite, different forms of publishing companies exist; books are considered to be the best in terms of systematic and logical presentation of collected ideas or information.

First Published in 1996. This encyclopedia is unique in several ways. As the first international reference source on publishing, it is a pioneering venture. Our aim is to provide comprehensive discussion and analysis of key subjects relating to books and publishing worldwide. The sixty-four essays included here feature not only factual and statistical information about the topic, but also analysis and evaluation of those facts and figures. The chapters are significantly more comprehensive than those typically found in an encyclopedia.

Presents industry reviews including a section of "trends and forecasts," complete with tables and graphs for industry analysis.

Includes Part 1, Number 1 & 2: Books and Pamphlets, Including Serials and Contributions to Periodicals (January - December)