E-publishing is short form of electronic publishing, which refers to production of any work formatted to be read on a computer or by a hand-held device. This is an area that was never conceivable before the advent of the internet, particularly the web.

1. E-Publishing: Challenges and
Opportunities
Presented at the UN/University Librarian’s workshop
By
Ephraim Mudave
Head Librarian,
NEGST/Africa International University
February 4, 2010

2. What is e-Publishing?
E-publishing is short form of electronic
publishing, which refers to production of
any work formatted to be read on a
computer or by a hand-held device. This is
an area that was never conceivable before
the advent of the internet, particularly the
web.

3. Products
 E-Journals,
 E-Books,
 E-Texts

4. Where to buy e-books
e-Publishers sites
Online retailers (amazon.com, Ereader.com,
Ebookad.com, etc)

5. Players:
 Publishers (University and commercial)
 Technology firms
 Authors
 Third Party institutions (libraries)
 Users/Consumers

6. Reading an e-book
YOU NEED:
 Computers
 PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)
 Hand-Held Devices (Amazon’s Kindle, Sony’s PRS
Reader, Irex, Cybook Opus)
NB: Each device requires different formats (html,
pdf, pdb, MsLit)

7. Traditional publishing
 Hard copy manuscripts submitted to the publisher
(some require digital too)
 If accepted, editors send it back with comments to
author by mail
 For article, it is sent to reviewers who make
comments and send back to authors
 Author makes changes/corrections and mails it
back to publisher
 Editors approve copy and send it for printing

8. E-publishing
 Manuscript sent by e-mail to publisher in a word
processor
 If accepted, it is edited using “Track changes” and
sent to reviewers by email
 Edited copy e-mailed to the author for correction
 Corrected file e-mailed to publisher in word
 The electronic file is transferred to the printer in pdf
 Internet version of the file is formatted to html or
pdf

9. Advantages of e-publishing
 A great encouragement to publish due to low
investment by the publisher. This translates to a
greater willingness to take on untried/New writers
 Faster production –quick communication (reduced
publication delay). But no compromise on quality
 More open peer review procedures-open dialogue
between authors, reviewers and editors. web-based
manuscript tracking accessible by the author
 Writers have the ability to update text often and
easily at virtually no cost.

10. Advantages con’t…2
They link to other resources that help to
complete the message the author wishes to
convey.
Works with low sales can still be kept due to
unlimited archiving as opposed to print that
would be removed from shelves.
No space constraints – large publications on
small gudgets.

11. Advantages con’t…3
Readers can interact fast with the author
Accessible from anywhere at any time to
anyone with an internet connection.
The ease with which text, images, and
graphics are used for scholarly works
For authors: It is easy and cheap to submit
articles and manuscripts for publication

12. Disadvantages of E-publishing
 Proprietary tools are needed for use and they are
too costly
 To date, electronic works sell far fewer copies than
paper books. Either due to lack of awareness or
preference of print copies
 Some publishers leave marketing for e-published
work to writers to market. If they are not good
marketers, however good their works they wont
sell. The advantage of people seeing works through
bookshop windows is not there

13. Disadvantages…2
 If interested in building credentials, e-
published works do not carry the same weight
as traditional paper publishers. However, this
is changing with time as e-publishing becomes
more established.
 Piracy . This remains a major concern in the e-
publishing industry. It is very easy technically
speaking for an e-work to be edited and
duplicated without the author and publisher’s
permission

14. Challenges…1
 The transition from old to new models will not occur
overnight, just as is the case of anything new.
 Resistance in certain authoring communities. Seek
prestige they have come to associate with old model.
Other authors just fear change. Some institutions are
unwilling to change from their traditional publishing
norms which are used to judge the worth of an author’s
work.
 High prices for e-products. Prices are not always
significantly cheaper, even with the lower production
cost. This might be a deterrent to sales. Some publishers
offer same as paperback prices

15. Challenges…2
 Infrastructure- mostly technological: the
majority world has a long way to go. Know
how and economic power
 Marketing to the general consumers apart from
libraries still wanting.
 Finding a unified format and a way to protect
the e-book from being pirated
 Social: there has existed a non-collaborative
culture of scholarship that is not easy to break

16. Opportunities
1. Everyone has a place to publish, and it is easy to
find these places
2. The number of electronic books to commonly
used devices is increasing. This is likely to
increase the number of those using them.
3. New reading devices are in the works. These
provide ease of reading, and multiple other
functions as well.
4. Open access and Open peer review possible,
ensuring quality and reliability
5. Increased access to the internet in the recent past

17. Questions to ponder…
What changes to policies and laws are
required?
What skills are and will be needed?
Which of today's skills will become
obsolete?
What will the costs for the new models be?
How will the new publishing models be
sustained and preserved?

18. Conclusion
The biggest beneficiaries of this model seem to be the
consumers and authors with the free exchange of
knowledge.
E-Publishing is gaining momentum and in my view,
sooner than later, it will be as common as the
traditional publishing. How are librarians, Publishers
and authors responding to this reality?
For greater impact and faster scientific progress,
authors and publishers should aim to make research
easy and quick to access. In this regard, e-publishing
could be the way to go.