[Fredslist] Borders Stores and Bankruptcy

[Ellin Yassky]

Well, today another nail in the coffin of  publishing in the US has been 
hammered in. BORDERS has filed for Chapter 11, closing around 200 stores (yes, 
even some in New York). What does this mean? It means that publishers who have 
delivered books to Borders, and who are owed up to the millions of dollars, are 
between a rock and, well. . . a rock.

Since 2007, more than 23% of the publishing industry has been forced to layoff 
those associated with the industry (editors, artists, designers, etc.). The 
future is moving toward publishing-on-demand and eBooks (one colleague told me 
that they paid a whopping $15.00 to convert a book into eBook status. Where's 
the recoupable profit in that???). Talk about a "Brave New World!" This news 
regarding BORDERS  means even more layoffs and with that, the potential lowering 
of the bar in editorial quality.

So what's the point of this? Well, if you do happen to frequent one of the rare 
book-and-mortar, independent book stores, please buy something. Keep the 
bookstores in business, just for a while longer. Even the book industry is 
admitting (not publicly, of course) that in 10 years actual book stores might be 
like hen's teeth, and you know how hard they are to find.

Some say the recession is getting better, but for those of us in the book 
industry, we're all heading off for a bottle of wine . . . straw in hand!

What are your views on this news?

Ellin

Ellin Yassky, Ph.D.
Medici Editorial Services, LLC
39 Woodbine Lane
Fairfield, Connecticut 06825
203.581.0395
Ellin at MediciEditorial.com
www.MediciEditorial.com


Tu Ne Cede Malis, Sed Contra Audentior Ito
Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them
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http://magazine.fandm.edu/?p=171


      
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