Apparently I’ve had my head in the clouds. I have recently been introduced, through my Media Publishing and Distribution graduate course, to the world of print-on-demand. What a groundbreaking, revolutionary concept! I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t aware of its existence, but I’m ecstatic it does. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term (I hope I am not the only one out there), print-on-demand services, otherwise known as PODs, offer exactly that- printing on demand. When a book goes to print, a publisher normally requires a certain number be manufactured in order to make the job more “worthwhile”. Also, as more copies are printed, the price per book is reduced, so technically, people think they are getting a bargain when they have extra copies made. However, what many people fail to realize, is that most of these copies are never bought. They are printed, and then sent to a warehouse to collect dust, until eventually, like an abandoned toy, the books are thrown away or destroyed. What does this mean for the environment? Well, it’s not good.
Think about all of the unnecessary trees that are cut down and turned into pulp in order to produce these books that are never even opened and read. Think about all of the energy it takes to run the printing machines and the energy consumed and pollution produced from the factories, as well the gas and emissions of delivery vehicles. And think about all of the books out there. For every book in existence, the majority of copies are most certainly not in use. Even for people who purchase books, how many times are they read before they are put on a shelf amongst all of the others?
Print-on-demand services are going, and have begun, to revolutionize the printing industry. Now, not only are these services allowing many writers to self-publish, meaning they don’t have to have their work “picked up” by a publishing company who often buys the rights to the manuscript and then publishes and sells it as it pleases, but they also only print copies of the book as needed. When someone places an order or purchases a copy, the print-on-demand company makes a copy for that buyer. Books are made as they are needed. And you can sell your books electronically through these services as well, which opens up the market to even more perspective buyers.
There are many PODs currently available. Many are very similar, yet many offer certain perks or services that others do not. So, when researching potential companies, it is important you choose the right fit for you. Some, like CreateSpace, an Amazon company, are larger and more powerful. Obviously working with Amazon, you have the ability to utilize its customer base and distribution channels. Others, are smaller.
Xlibris is a pioneer in the industry and has published over 25,000 authors. I was exploring their services and entered my name, email address, and phone number, in order to receive a free publishing kit. The following day, I received a call from one of the Xlibris representatives, who was interested in learning more about my book, and wanted to know how she could help get me published. My point is, is that anyone out there who may be working on a manuscript, or even who has an idea but has been reluctant to pursue it, there are user-friendly services available to assist you every step of the way. I encourage everyone to follow their dreams. You never know- you may very well have a bestseller on your hands or in your head. But, with the advent of PODs, that idea can soon be on paper, and in possession of those who order it- not in boxes in your basement, or warehouses, or a landfill.
And these services don’t just apply to writers and books. Musicians, filmmakers, and business owners can cash in on PODs as well. Riverside Graphics Corporation created and follows a Conservation by Design initiative, which is a 5-step conservation strategy to reduce waste and to recycle what’s left. They use recycled stock paper for their printing and only print what’s needed- nothing more. Next time you have to print a company brochure or anything in large quantities, think first before you place your order. There are more and more companies every day that can, and will, cater to your needs and the needs of the environment. So, two things to take away from this article: follow your dreams, but do so efficiently.
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