The BYU Bookstore is hosting a Grand Opening Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 21-22, for its print-on-demand Express Book Machine by On Demand Books. The campus community is invited to attend the Grand Opening from 2 to 6 p.m. both days for ongoing demonstrations and refreshments.
The first machine available in Utah and only the 8th in the U.S., EBM can produce a soft-cover book from start to finish in about 3 to 5 minutes. The BYU Bookstore is the first college bookstore in the United States to offer instant print-on-demand book services.
EBM has access to millions of public domain books, out-of-stock books and a growing database of current publisher catalogs. The EBM’s software system, ExpressNet, keeps track of any copyright royalties due for remittance to publishers.
EBM’s immediate printing capability effectively creates a “vending machine” for books. It is ideal for self-published books and family histories. The BYU Bookstore also aims to assist local authors by offering publishing services through the new Y Mountain Press service.
Andy Gibbons, BYU professor of instructional psychology and technology, is excited about the possibilities EBM opens up. “Individual faculty members can now publish professional-looking versions of their own work on a small scale for close colleagues. Family memory albums, memorial books, family histories and personal note archives can be produced in a form recipients will value and want to keep, and in a form that will have a long shelf life,” Gibbons said.
In addition to learning about the machine at the Grand Opening, information on EBM and publishing services offered through Y Mountain Press are available online at ymountainpress.com.
Writer: Norm Nielson
