Though e-books were expected to replace paper books, many readers have lost interest in them (Photo: sggp.org.vn) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - When they debuted, electronic books (e-books) were expected tothrive, but the e-book market in Vietnam has not been successfulfor a number of reasons.
At a recent conference of publishers, the Publishing, Printing andDistributing Department announced that in the first six months ofthe year, 17,000 book titles with 250 million copies werepublished. Of that number, hard-copy versions accounted for 16,000 titleswith 239 million copies, while e-books had only 92 titles with one millioncirculations.
Experts are concerned that the e-book market has lost the market to itscounterpart.
However, as there are many unofficial e-books circulating online,statistics provided by the department might not reflect reality, experts added.
Some inconveniences of e-books include the long pause between when anew book is launched and when its online version is introduced as well as thehard-to-read font size if an e-book is in PDF format.
“To me, paper books always bring positive energy and make me feel closerto nature,” reader Lam Le told Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon)newspaper. “Reading paper books, I feel that I have a very closeinteraction with the author."
Assessing the current e-book market, Deputy Director of the Youth PublishingHouse Nguyen Thanh Nam said that though the market hasbeen expected to thrive since 2010, the reality has been quite theopposite.
“Demand for e-books has faced a decline both globally and nationally,and everyone is turning to the audio-book trend,” he said.
“Though official e-book publishers do not have many titles published,you can easily find an e-book on the internet. This means that demandfor e-books is still there, but people mainly go for the pirated version,”he added.
“With some new e-book firms recently being introduced, e-books will continue togo hand in hand with paper books. I have found that some people genuinelyenjoy e-books, and some researchers and students need e-books for quickscreening of information, while others love paper books and audio books. Thesedifferent types of book create an ecosystem,” Nam said.
After a trialperiod, at least two publishing houses had to stop making e-books, including theKim Dong Publishing House and Iread.
In the case of others such as Ybook Electronic Book Company, a member of theYouth Publishing House, they had to temporarily stop distributinge-books since they had conflicts with Circular No 42 issued by theMinistry of Information and Communications.
According to a representative of the Youth Publishing House, CircularNo 42 stressed high technology, which many authorised publishersdo not own.
Some e-book firms, despite owning sufficient technology, do not have theauthority to publish books.
There are currently 59 publishing houses in Vietnam, with five certified topublish e-books, including the Information and Communications PublishingHouse, Education Publishing House, People's Army Publishing House,Medical Publishing House and Vietnam Cartographic Publishing House.
Several other publishing houses have invested in the e-book market since2012, but because of Circular No 42, they had to terminate theiractivity.
Lack of update in the e-book library has lost readers' interest, affectingthe already low e-book revenue.
In this case, Circular No 42 has lacked sufficient flexibilityfor e-book publishers, experts said.
The Publishing, Printing and Distributing Departmentshould allow e-book firms to temporarily resume their activitieswhile waiting for updated decrees and circulars, they said.
This would encourage more publishers to make e-books and help combat the spreadof illegal e-books.
“When e-books were first born, many firms made them. Thisinvolves technology and content. If content is created by many firms,the market will become fragmented. However, one publishercannot provide sufficient content for readers.
If readers purchase many e-books, they have to download manymobile applications from different publishers and this becomes complicated,”Nam said.\
“I believe there should be a national policy on e-books. A specific unitshould be in charge of publishing e-books, just like the current paperbook model,” he added./.
At a recent conference of publishers, the Publishing, Printing andDistributing Department announced that in the first six months ofthe year, 17,000 book titles with 250 million copies werepublished. Of that number, hard-copy versions accounted for 16,000 titleswith 239 million copies, while e-books had only 92 titles with one millioncirculations.
Experts are concerned that the e-book market has lost the market to itscounterpart.
However, as there are many unofficial e-books circulating online,statistics provided by the department might not reflect reality, experts added.
Some inconveniences of e-books include the long pause between when anew book is launched and when its online version is introduced as well as thehard-to-read font size if an e-book is in PDF format.
“To me, paper books always bring positive energy and make me feel closerto nature,” reader Lam Le told Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon)newspaper. “Reading paper books, I feel that I have a very closeinteraction with the author."
Assessing the current e-book market, Deputy Director of the Youth PublishingHouse Nguyen Thanh Nam said that though the market hasbeen expected to thrive since 2010, the reality has been quite theopposite.
“Demand for e-books has faced a decline both globally and nationally,and everyone is turning to the audio-book trend,” he said.
“Though official e-book publishers do not have many titles published,you can easily find an e-book on the internet. This means that demandfor e-books is still there, but people mainly go for the pirated version,”he added.
“With some new e-book firms recently being introduced, e-books will continue togo hand in hand with paper books. I have found that some people genuinelyenjoy e-books, and some researchers and students need e-books for quickscreening of information, while others love paper books and audio books. Thesedifferent types of book create an ecosystem,” Nam said.
After a trialperiod, at least two publishing houses had to stop making e-books, including theKim Dong Publishing House and Iread.
In the case of others such as Ybook Electronic Book Company, a member of theYouth Publishing House, they had to temporarily stop distributinge-books since they had conflicts with Circular No 42 issued by theMinistry of Information and Communications.
According to a representative of the Youth Publishing House, CircularNo 42 stressed high technology, which many authorised publishersdo not own.
Some e-book firms, despite owning sufficient technology, do not have theauthority to publish books.
There are currently 59 publishing houses in Vietnam, with five certified topublish e-books, including the Information and Communications PublishingHouse, Education Publishing House, People's Army Publishing House,Medical Publishing House and Vietnam Cartographic Publishing House.
Several other publishing houses have invested in the e-book market since2012, but because of Circular No 42, they had to terminate theiractivity.
Lack of update in the e-book library has lost readers' interest, affectingthe already low e-book revenue.
In this case, Circular No 42 has lacked sufficient flexibilityfor e-book publishers, experts said.
The Publishing, Printing and Distributing Departmentshould allow e-book firms to temporarily resume their activitieswhile waiting for updated decrees and circulars, they said.
This would encourage more publishers to make e-books and help combat the spreadof illegal e-books.
“When e-books were first born, many firms made them. Thisinvolves technology and content. If content is created by many firms,the market will become fragmented. However, one publishercannot provide sufficient content for readers.
If readers purchase many e-books, they have to download manymobile applications from different publishers and this becomes complicated,”Nam said.\
“I believe there should be a national policy on e-books. A specific unitshould be in charge of publishing e-books, just like the current paperbook model,” he added./.
VNA
