Value-added processes in publishing and the impact of ICT's, the democratization of publishing and globalisation

The spread of information and communication technologies into publishing is
generally seen as a boon ‐ to authors, readers and a number of intermediaries such as libraries. Like many of the technologies associated with the "Knowledge society", publishing techologies are often interpreted as part of a welcome process of democratization, allowing individual authors and organizations to publish reasonably high quality books of their own creation. This paper examines the value‐added processes of publishing from the perspective of the Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University ‐ a small, niche librarianship publisher in Australia, with a strong record of book publishing and the beginnings of a presence in e‐publishing. Based on the Centre's experience, the paper suggests that the costs of publishing in a growing, competitive and global market make it increasingly difficult for publishers to continue adding value in what many have come to call a knowledge society.