The Changing Market for University Press Books in the United States: 1997-2002

What was the market for university press books in the United States between 1997 and 2002? What impact did shifts in the general reader market and the creation of library electronic reserve capabilities have on university press net publishers' revenues? What impact did Internet bookselling sites have on new and used frontlist titles? The study reported here reviewed the published literature and statistical data sets. We detected (a) a significant shift in the traditional channels of distribution and (b) the emergence of a sophisticated used book market that undermined both frontlist and backlist sales. Based on a review of the empirical data, we present a series of recommendations for the university press community designed to capitalize on the inherent competitive advantages of university presses.