Frankfurt Book Fair: Under the sign of the e-book
E-books, apps, self-publishing: Against the backdrop of rapid technological change, the Frankfurt Book Fair opened its doors on Wednesday.
The future of books in the age of cloud computing and virtual bookshops dominated discussions at the world's largest industry gathering, with publishers and booksellers looking for new strategies. "People are trying things out everywhere," said Ina Fuchshuber from Neobooks, a self-publishing platform of the Munich-based publishing group Droemer Knaur. According to the book fair organizers, 7307 exhibitors from 97 countries have registered for the fair, slightly fewer than last year (7384). Of these, 39 percent (2849 exhibitors) come from Germany. Great Britain is represented by 745 exhibitors (previous year: 761), the USA by 616 (606). Around 300,000 visitors are expected in the exhibition halls by Sunday. This year's Guest of Honor at the Book Fair is New Zealand.
Play and borrow
Even if e-book sales only account for two percent of the overall market: The book trade has fallen into crisis under the pressure of the electronic offer and is breaking new ground. For example, the bookstore chain Thalia announced on Wednesday that it would be setting up toy departments in 140 of its bookstores before Christmas. The German Publishers and Booksellers Association wants to set up a lending library on the Internet. 1000 titles are to be made available for the online bookshelf of the future.
Nothing is lost yet
According to Claudia Paul from the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, publishers are also adapting better and better to electronic competition. "They are working very hard to accompany the digital revolution. They are expanding their areas of work and changing their processes". So far, competition has not yet had a negative impact on the industry. The number of publishers affiliated with the Börsenverein has remained constant for years at just over 1800.
Star guest Schwarzenegger
According to a study by the University of Hamburg, e-book readers continue to buy printed books. "There is hardly any cannibalization of printed books," write the authors from the Institute for Marketing and Media. According to the study, 22 percent of e-book users buy at least three printed hardcover books a year. But will this still be the case for the next generation? Hardly any children's book can still do without additional electronic offerings, as the focus on children's and youth media at the book fair makes clear.
And where is the literature at the book fair? Arnold Schwarzenegger, of all people, caused the biggest stir when he presented his autobiography "Total Recall" to hundreds of curious visitors. Bestselling author Ken Follett ("Winter of the World") also did the honors. (Stephan Maurer/SDA/DPA)
