Snapplify partnering with Booksellers
The global eBook aggregator, Snapplify, is partnering with Booksellers to sell eBooks from over 250 leading publishers.
World Read Aloud Day – 4 March 2015
Today (4 March 2015) marks one of the most important dates on the literacy calendar, World Read Aloud Day. A day set out to raise awareness of the importance of reading aloud across the world.
To celebrate this day in South Africa, Nal’ibali commissioned a new story, Sisanda’s Gift by Gina Mhlophe to share with the children in our lives. The story is available in all 11 official languages and can be downloaded on the website or on the mobisite.
To read more on this initiative visit the Nal’ibali website and visit Litworld.org to find out how the rest of the world will celebrate this day.
André P. Brink – The passing of a South African literary giant
There has been much written about the passing of André Brink in the media and we at Bookmark feel for those in the industry who were touched by this great man. We mark his passing with some heartfelt comments from industry players on how André made a difference in South Africa.
E-books and print living in harmony
Print book sales for General Trade for the Christmas 2014 season had booksellers worldwide rejoicing, with headlines like “Print is back” and “Death of books greatly exaggerated” leaving physical bookstore owners in a frenzy of delight such as they haven’t known since 2009. Foyles, the UK bookselling chain, said physical book sales had risen 8% over Christmas while Waterstones revealed a 5% increase in December. But closer inspection reveals a more complex interpretation of the surge in sales of print books. Nicolene Finlayson zoomed in for some details.
Sorry, Ebooks. These 9 Studies Show Why Print Is Better
Don’t lament the lost days of cutting your fingers on pristine new novels or catching a whiff of that magical, transportive old book smell just yet! A slew of recent studies shows that print books are still popular, even among millennials. What’s more: further research suggests that this trend may save demonstrably successful learning habits from certain death. Take comfort in these 9 studies that show that print books have a promising future.
The changing nature of content
Infobesity, infoxication – these two words describe the paralyzing effect that information overload has on our ability to make decisions or understanding of a concept, particularly in the digital space. Today’s marketers are finding it harder to be heard, while internet users are finding it increasingly difficult to manage the sheer volume of incoming information, much harder to keep from being distracted, and are increasingly concerned about their privacy. Alan Vesty delves deeper into this topic.
Interview with a bookseller: University Textbooks
With the back to school period just behind us, we wonder why textbooks always break the bank. Mohamed Kharwa, Vice President of the SA Booksellers Association and the Academic Sector Chairperson, answers a few questions on university/college textbooks.
Changing Lives and Empowering People through reading
Reading and Writing Solutions is a registered NPO promoting reading as an integral part in the education and development of learners. Samantha Faure started this reading programme of intervention in February 2014 and tells us more about the project.
Children’s books dominate the market
What better way to understand an industry than by following the consumer? For the past four years, this is what a team of experts at Scholastic did, with the goal of understanding how children and teens are consuming media, specifically books in an era where technology is taking over our day-to-day lives. Elize Knoetze discusses the findings of the study.
Nal’ibali: Bringing home the power of stories to South African Families
Nal’ibali (isiXhosa for ‘Here is the story) is a national reading-for-enjoyment campaign that is bringing the power of reading and stories, in African languages as well as English, into the homes of SA families. Read more to find out what’s in store for Nal’ibali in 2015 and how you can get involved.
