Speculation, Fact and Fiction

What is absolutely clear is that publishers need to become enablers for reading and its associated processes (discussion; research; note-taking; writing; reference following) to take place across a multitude of platforms and throughout all the varying modes of a readers’ activities and lifestyle.

So says Sara Lloyd over at The Digitalist, a blog by the digital team at Pan Macmillan. This is the quote that leaped out at me, from the first of six pieces which will break a much longer article down into more manageable sections apparently.

In particular this prompted me to remember something I read on Neil Gaiman's journal a while ago. About how great it would be if publishers included a e-book licence along with a hardback, if I recall correctly. I really liked that idea.

Do you think some folk would be prepared to go back to paying the list price for books that are so deeply discounted now, if that included the option of a download for their PDA or whatever?

Anyway, I shall be reading this on-going article with interest.