2 w ‘READING Facts —™oQvo 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678 789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567 012345678901234 The Future Of Reading (NAPSA)}—Experts say fans of books maysoon log on to the Web to read their next “page turner.” Thats because many expect the digital age to help rewrite the script on how books are sold in the US. Technology now exists that lets readers access electronic, or ebooks. The books are available in digital text form and can be read oo computer screens or handheld readers, Despite its relative infancy, the e-book and publishing field is predicted to generate as much as 70 roillion dollars in 2061 alone, according to Hupiter Media Metrix, a market research company. While expectations rum high for the commercial success of e-publishing, analysts of the new industry point out that an important question reraains: Which readers will be most interested in e-books and how will that affect publishing decisions? To answer the question, one epublisher, Palm Digital Media, turns to traditional print hestseller lists. The company’s latest e-release, Dianetics, by L. Ron Hubbard for example, is already an international best seller, available in 52 languages and was named one of the most important books of the twentieth century by the New York Times. “Hubbard's titles are among our bestselling books. We knowthat Dianetics is the top selling self-help book and we’re expecting to see really strong sales as an e-book as Experts say technology will let readers access libraries of books from a handheld device. well,” says Mike Segroves, director of business developmentfor the epublishing company. The book is said to have helped millions attain self respect, achieve goals and become more successful. E-publishing represents a change in the publishing industry that some call as significant as the change from manual to poweredprinting presses. Ironi- eally, itis a change Hubbard had predicted nearly twenty years ago. Tn a 1983 interview, Hubbard said readers would soon “be able to carry their own pocket com- puter libraries.” Today, it is his book, and others like it, that may help drive the industry and make his prediction come true. For more information visit www. bridgepub.com.
