User:StaceyHamilton/BlogEntry: 2009 February 26 13:49:31 EST
From sasCommunity
Guest blogger Julie Platt continues the Tools of Change Conference discussion
In the last blog post, Mary Beth Steinbach mentioned the changes that are going on in the publishing industry as publishers are responding to shifts in reader expectations and the development of electronic reading devices. Although none of us expects the printed book to go away, we do see the printed book as just one option for SAS users to access SAS Press content.
The Tools of Change conference confirmed for us some of the ideas we’ve had to provide SAS users with even better access to SAS Press content.
- Access to content needs to be immediate. SAS Press books contain examples that can help users answer their questions or solve their programming issues immediately. Although users can order books and have them shipped to them within just a few days, it would be better if customers could get the information instantaneously. Currently, SAS Press books are available as e-books through some of our partners—Books24x7, netLibrary, Safari. However, unless a user happens to have access to one of those accounts and has purchased the book for that account, there would still be a delay in getting the content uploaded. We are looking into ways that users can have immediate access to an electronic form of the book.
- Access to specific content. In some cases, a user may want only one or two chapters of a book. The user may want to select chapters from one book and combine them with chapters from another book. Although the one or two chapters from the book may be just the information the user needs, having to purchase the entire book may discourage him or her from buying the content at all. We’d like to make books available for sale by chapters.
- Access to content as it is developed. When we go to conferences, we preview books that will soon be published. This display is one of the most popular at conferences. Customers often want to take copies of the books with them because the content would solve an immediate need they have and they can’t really wait another 2 to 3 months for the content. What if we could make the chapters available as they are developed, rather than waiting for the entire book to be finished? This could serve many needs—getting the content into the hands of the user, getting feedback on chapters as they develop, and building interest for the book.
- Development of more “compact” content. Tips, overviews, examples. Although users like to have the comprehensive version of a topic, they also want smaller, easily digestible pieces. This content can be surfaced in different ways. Kindle download? iPhone app? We’re thinking about how to make the content compact and portable so that there is never a question about whether there is room for it in a suitcase or briefcase.
Other publishers are thinking along the same lines. And, while it’s reassuring to know that great minds think alike, we need to be forging our own path and doing what is right for SAS users and SAS Press.
How do you want to get content from SAS Press books? How can we be serving you better?
