ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 20, 2003) — The Graphic Arts Marketing Information Service (GAMIS) of the Printing Industries of America recently commissioned Charles, Charles & Associates, Phoenix, Arizona, to complete a study entitled "The Book Market Outlook." The primary objective of this research effort is to document technological and societal changes impacting the book publishing industry and to forecast the effect of future technologies on book demand and publishing/printing processes. The study will summarize trends and statistics through 2001, and forecast trends and projections through 2012. The scope of the research will be limited to the United States and Canada, with commentary on imports outside these regions. It will cover all major segments of the book publishing industry, specifically Trade books (adult, juvenile, mass market paperback, book clubs, mail order and religious); Educational (elementary & high school textbooks, college textbooks and university press); and Reference (professional books and subscription reference). Objectives – Short List * Evaluate and explain emerging technologies that compete with traditionally printed books. Forecast growth for these technologies and assess impact on demand for printed books through 2012. * Provide speculative opinions for long-range (10 to 20 year) book market, including consumer adoption patterns and relationship between traditional and alternative technologies. * Evaluate impact of copyright/legal issues, such as those faced by the music industry. * Update the findings and conclusions from the 1995 "Books in the 21st Century" study (also completed by Charles, Charles & Associates). * Provide a historical perspective on sales and unit volumes and forecast growth rates and demand through 2012 for each of the eleven book categories. * Assess and explain factors that will impact traditional book demand. * Investigate changes in book format by product category, including page size, run length, number of pages, and binding. * Forecast supplies consumed by each book category through 2007. * Identify and evaluate trends likely to impact the book industry over the coming ten years, and determine the impact trends will have on the entire supply chain: press and manufacturing equipment, paper, film, ink, plates, bindery equipment, and other consumables. The research will be completed and presented to GAMIS members in the Fall of 2003. For more information about GAMIS membership or the "Book Market Outlook" study please contact Jackie Bland, GAMIS Executive Director at (703) 519-8179, or visit www.GAMIS.org.