Adaptation of electronic book publishing technology by the publishers in southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the electronic book production and distribution practices adopted by the Publishers in Southeast Nigeria because of the global growing interest in writing new book titles in digital form as well as converting paper titles to digital content. To investigate this study, the researcher formulated three research questions to guide the study. A number of relevant literatures were reviewed to establish the gap anchored on the Technological Determinism Theory. Descriptive Survey design and In-depth interviews were used to elicit data for the study. Fifteen publishing firms were randomly selected from Enugu (Enugu State) and Onitsha (Anambra States). Data from the survey were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The key findings of the study include that: the rate of adaptation of e-book technology by educational publishers in the southeast Nigeria is relatively low. However, books are now distributed and sold in digital forms as online books and print on demand titles by publishers in southeast Nigeria through the Internet; Lack of adequate regulations for the protection of intellectual resources, high cost of digital equipment, incessant power failure and high cost of using alternative power supply for e-book distribution, are some of the challenges undermining the adaptation of e-book publishing technology in Southeast Nigeria. It was recommended that the government should provide an enabling environment through dependable infrastructure for the promotion, distribution and marketing of e-books in the Southeast Nigeria. The Book Publishers Association of Nigeria should also make commitment to the development of indigenous book market.