For immediate release Contact: Ed Barks
Thursday, January 3, 2019 (540) 955-0600
Did you realize that most publishers mark up the price of ebooks sold to the nation’s public libraries by as much as 500 percent or more?
Author and communications strategy consultant Ed Barks thinks that’s a raw deal. “I believe in libraries,” he says. “Over the years, I’ve used facilities ranging from my small local public library branch to university libraries to the Library of Congress.
“Public libraries are a national treasure. They don’t deserve to be looted by publishers,” he continued.
Putting his money where his mouth is, Barks and his imprint, Ogmios Publishing, will charge libraries the ebook retail price with no mark up. This applies to his new book, A+ Strategies for C-Suite Communications: Turning Today’s Leaders into Tomorrow’s Influencers, to be published on January 8, and the second edition of his debut work, The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations, also slated for a January 8 release.
“I want to support libraries to the maximum extent possible. If it means sacrificing a few dollars, that’s okay,” Barks believes. “The fact is some readers simply can’t afford to purchase books. If we can make information more accessible for everyone, that’s good business and good public policy.”
In an effort to shatter the practice of overcharging public libraries, Barks challenged his fellow independent authors and publishers to follow his lead. “I call upon every single indie author to insist that their books charge libraries a fair price. Every one of us should refuse to follow the pricing practices used by many publishing houses.”
Ed Barks works with communications and government relations executives who counsel their C-suite leaders, and with businesses and associations that need their communications strategy and messaging to deliver bottom line results. They gain an enhanced reputation, more opportunities for career advancement, and achievement of long-term business and public policy goals. He is the author of A+ Strategies for C-Suite Communications: Turning Today’s Leaders into Tomorrow’s Influencers and The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations. As President of Barks Communications since 1997, he has taught more than 5000 business leaders, association executives, and other experts how to succeed when they deal with the media, deliver presentations, and advocate before policymakers.
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