CHAPTERone

Background

Chapter 1

Background IML 601

After completing this lesson, the student will be able to Understand the historical background of book publishing Define books and publications Identify the structures, types and characteristics of books Describe the role of books and publications in an information society

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Background IML 601

Chapter 1

1.1

Introduction
In general, publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information activity of making information available to the society. Publishing is an industry which combines the elements of arts and sciences. Hamedi (1997) pointed that both elements need to be balanced for an established publishing industry. The elements of arts are related to the ability and creativity of the authors, editors, designers, publishers and book sellers. The elements of sciences are related to the technical aspect of publishing. Traditionally, publishing is the process of selection, preparation and distribution of printed matters including books, newspapers, journals, magazines and pamphlets. The scope of publication has expanded to include electronic or digital resources such as electronic books and journals, micropublishing, websites, blogs, video games, etc.

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Chapter 1

Background IML 601

1.2

Historical Background: From Papyrus to Guttenberg

Development of printing from ancient times began in 3000 B.C. in the areas of Tigris and Euphrates (where the modern Iraq is now) The existence of 3 early civilizations of Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians who wrote on clay tablets (tablets made from water-cleaned clay). Clay tablets, incised when wet, then baked until hard are the earliest form of books. Although this writing bricks varied in shape and dimension, a common form was a thin quadrilateral tile about five inches long. While the clay was still wet, the writer used a stylus to inscribe it with cuneiform characters. By writing on every surface in small character, he could copy a substantial text on a single tablet. For longer texts, he used several tablets linking them together by numbers and catchwords as is done in modern books. The Egyptian further developed books by changing their materials From papyrus they made paper, which they inscribed with reeds pen and ink. The ancient world adopted the Egyptian innovations, and portable rolls of sheets joined together to form scrolls were at one time the most common form of books. Animal skins were also used and eventually led to a new form. Sheets of animal skin were much stronger than papyrus, they could be sewn together and folded to form rectangular pages Pressed tightly between wooden boards to make up a book or codex, these were prototypes of modern books The Chinese discovered the art of making paper in the 2nd century. Paper reached Europe in the 12th century and by the 15th century it had almost entirely replaced all kinds of parchment in the making of books. Then around 1436 or 1437, Johann Guttenberg perfected the movable type and produced the first mechanically printed books.

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Background IML 601

Chapter 1

1.3

Books and Publications in an Information Society

Books can be referred to as works of literature, or a major division of such work.

In library and information science, a book is called monograph, to distinguish it from serial periodicals such as journals, magazines and newspapers.

Definition of books: It is difficult to find a definition that would cover every conceivable format, but the United Nations Educational, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines a book as a non-periodical printed publication of at least 49 pages excluding covers. That definition will serve as well as any, despite the fact that some publications (e.g., the World Almanac) are issued periodically and are still considered books.

Other definitions: a written work that is published as printed pages fastened together inside a cover, or in electronic form (Oxford Dictionary, 2007: 73).

a set of written, printed or blank sheets bound together into a volume (Webster Dictionary, 2000)

1.3.1 Characteristics of book According to UNESCO, a book has 5 features as follows: Printed papers Bound - the printed papers are bound in a volume Cover the printed and bound should have cover that is thicker than the texts. More than 49 pages Time the printing should not be done according to specific time.

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Chapter 1

Background IML 601

1.3.2 Structure of Books

Depending on books purpose or type (i.e encyclopedia, dictionary, monograph, textbooks) structure could vary, but some common (traditional) structural parts of the books usually are: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) Book cover (hard or soft, fancy-looking, with illustration or icon) Metrics page Dedication page Table of contents Preface Text of contents of the books Index (publishing) Back cover (hard or soft, fancy-looking, with illustration)

1.3.3 Types of book According to Hamedi (1997): How-to Research Basic theory Monograph Handbook

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Background IML 601

Chapter 1

1.3.4 Categories of Books

According to Mogel (2000): Adult trade books Childrens books University Press books Mass-market paperback books Mail Order publications Book club books Professional books
Source : taken from Google image

College textbooks and educational materials School textbooks Subscription reference books

1.3.5 The Role of Book/ Publishing in the Society Education process Social development Political stability Economic development Complex information Nation heritage Effective communication tools

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Chapter 1

Background IML 601

You have now reached the stage where you should be able to discuss the content of the topic with your group. Discuss the earliest form of books. Discuss the structures and characteristics of books.

1.4

The

Development

of

International/

Regional

Publishing

Scenario
In the mid 15th century books began to be produced by block printing in Western Europe (the technique had been known in the East countries earlier). In block printing, a relief image of an entire page was carved out of wood. It could then be linked and used to reproduce many copies of that page. Creating an entire book, however was a painstaking process requiring a hand-carved block for each page. Also, the wood blocks not durable and could easily wear out or crack. The oldest dated book printed by the method of block printing is The Diamond Sutra. This is a wood block printed copy in the British Library which, although not the earliest example of block printing, is the earliest example which bears an actual date. It was found in 1907 by the archeologist Sir Marc Aurel Stein in a walled-up cave near Dunhuang, in Northwest China. The colophon, at the inner end, reads: Reverently (caused to be) made for universal free distribution by Wang Jie on behalf of his two parents on the 13th of the 4th moon of the 9th year of Xiantong (i.e. 11th May, CE 868). Common era (CE).

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Background IML 601

Chapter 1

It was not until Johann Guttenberg popularized the printing press with metal moveable type in the 15th century that books started to be affordable and widely available.

This upset the status quo, leading to remarks such as the printing press will allow books to get into the hands of people who have no business reading books.

It is estimated that in Europe about 1,000 various books were created per year before the invention of the printing press.

The history of publications is the story of innovations and advances in materials, techniques and technology, which continues with todays computerized type-setting, automated presses, and a wide variety of photographic and other reproduction processes.

Publishing activities
i. Publishing houses professionalized a process that had previously been undertaken by word of mouth, or through the circulation of papers at academic institutions and learned societies where interested groups congregated to further their aims. Publishers could be companies, societies, universities, departments, institutions, or individual persons either on a regular or part time basis. They vary with their aims and scope, and many small publishers are just individuals taking care of works including editorials, production, marketing, sales, distribution, etc.

ii.

Publishing is always concerned with the printing or multiplication of documentation and recorded information; carefully checked and peer reviewed, original, integral and authentic. Until very recently, the publishing process was traditional and reclusive. Publishing as a whole is very big business, with several mega-companies that dominate the landscape. Major categories of publishing are scholarly publishing, professional publishing, text book publishing, reference works, dictionaries, multi-volume compendia, etc. The basic activities in publishing are selection, editing (copy and language), design and illustration, translation and indexing, production, promotion, marketing, sales and distribution.

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Chapter 1

Background IML 601

1.4.1

Malaysian Context
Book printing were introduced by British Colony and Dutch Tools for trade and spreading Christianity First Malay Book published in Amsterdam in 1603 Abdullah Abdul Kadir Munsyi (Father of Modern Publishing) Two stages of development: a) b) Before Independence After Independence (After 1957)

1.5

Social Relationship of Publishing, Mass Communication and Library

The oral account (word of mouth, tradition, hearsay) is the oldest carrier of message and stories. When writing systems were invented in ancient civilizations, clay tablets or parchment scrolls were used as, for example in the library of Alexandria. Scrolls were later phased out in favor of the codex, a bound book with pages and a spine, the form of most books today. The codex was invented in the first few countries A.D. or earlier. Some have said that Julius Caesar invented the first codex during the Garlic Wars. He would issued scrolls folded up accordion style and used the pages as reference points.

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Background IML 601

Chapter 1

1.6

Communication among Librarians, Publishers, Booksellers and Vendors

Book publishing is the activity of selecting, manufacturing, and marketing material that has been gathered into book form. The impact of the book on the civilized world has been incalculable in magnitude. It can be stated without fear of contradiction that our civilization is a product of what has been called the culture of the book. Books affect us in thousands of ways. Each of the major religions has its sacred writings texts that carry the morality and wisdom of ages past. Our educational systems depend on books of law, history, and geography. Books have provided entertainment as well as information and inspiration for people in all walks of life. The book itself, of course is a triumph of technology, providing, as it does, an almost perfect vehicle for both light reading and serious study. The history of book publishing is also the history of technical innovation accompanied by social change in this case, the spread of literacy. Three major inventions have determined what book publishing is today: writing, paper and printing.

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Chapter 1

Background IML 601

At this point you should be able to: Understand the historical background of book publishing Define books and publications Identify the structures, types and characteristics of books Describe the role of books and publications in an information society

a) b) c)

Explain briefly the structure of a book. List five types of books prescribed by Hamedi (1997) Describe the role of books and publishing in the development of human civilization. Briefly explain the development of international publishing scenario.

d)

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