M.A. (Information Science) / Since the earliest civilizations books have found their way into libraries, thus the printing and publishing industries in the era after Gutenberg invented printing with moveable type, are of cardinal importance to library science. Within the field of library science the systematic bibliographic description of the products of the printing and publishing industries features strongly. Books and other publications are a basic necessity in any civilized community. It therefore stands to reason that after the constitutional establishment of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) a printing and publishing industry would develop and thrive. A complete survey of the printing and publishing industry in the Transvaal has not yet been published. This study endeavours to fill this gap by bringing together information on all types of publications printed in Dutch, Afrikaans, English and other languages in the Transvaal during the period 1857-1902. This is done in the form of a bibliography and a description of the printing and publishing industry in the ZAR. A literature study was done using bibliographies and catalogues in the Brenthurst Library, Johannesburg Public Library and the Rand Afrikaans University Library. It was established from the literature what was printed and published from 1857-1902 in the Transvaal. A bibliography of these items was compiled and information on the printers and publishers was collected. This was supplemented by information gleaned from books, periodical articles, newspapers, theses and dissertations...

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mhlongo (2004) observes that the South African bestseller charts are dominated by imported titles and that it appears that the public prefer foreign titles above books published in South Africa (SA). By analysing data of South African general trade book sales, it has been possible to establish to what extent Mhlongho’s statement is true for all Nielsen BookScan South Africa (NBS-SA) Product Class genres. An analysis of the weekly Top 50 bestseller charts produced by NBS-SA proved that local authors face strong competition from frequently read foreign authors. The aim of this report is to assist South African authors to identify niche markets where, though South African published titles do not compete well against imported titles, there is a definite buyer interest. Only product classes that have the potential to yield relatively high returns for the author were considered. An investigation into the number of SA published books within each of the product classes revealed that South African authors and publishers are indeed under-servicing these identified product classes. Further analysis pointed out that South African titles that sell well are mainly on non-fiction topics; and in the young adult group SA title sales are mainly obtained through educational product. Most identified publishing opportunities were within genres requiring very specific or at least some prior knowledge about the subject matter, thereby restricting the possibilities to authors knowledgeable on those subjects. Fiction, however, is a generalist genre and most generalist areas were found to be completely dominated by imported titles. The analysis resulted in the extraction of the most viable publishing opportunities for South African authors in the general book trade market of South Africa. The findings of this research report empower the South African general trade book industry by exposing publishing opportunities in this country. By targeting these genres, local authors increase their probability of earning good returns and reclaiming market share from imported titles, provided that they are capable of producing competitive titles. It was concluded that poor book-buying figures are a consequence of the financial status of South African inhabitants. The outcome hereof is a very distinct buyer group that tends to buy books for application purposes and which focuses on acknowledged bestsellers when it comes to leisure reading. This is not very different from what is seen internationally. The small size of the South African market however does not create enough depth to ensure good sales on average titles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mhlongho (2004) het beweer dat Suid-Afrikaanse beste verkopelyste gedomineer word deur ingevoerde publikasies en dat dit blyk dat die publiek ingevoerde titels verkies bo Suid-Afrikaans gepubliseerde boeke. Deur middel van ’n analise van algemene boekverkope in Suid-Afrika was dit moontlik om te bepaal hoe waar Mhlongho se bewering is ten opsigte van alle Nielsen BookScan-produkklasse. ’n Analise van die weeklikse Top 50 verkopelyste, gepubliseer deur Nielsen BookScan Suid-Afrika, het bevestig dat outeurs sterk kompetisie kry van welbekende internasionale outeurs. Die doel van hierdie verslag is om Suid-Afrikaanse outeurs te help om markte te identifiseer waarin Suid-Afrikaanse titels nie goed opweeg teen ingevoerde titels nie, maar waar daar nog steeds ’n besliste kopersaanvraag is. Slegs produkklasse wat ’n potensiaal vir relatiewe hoë opbrengste getoon het is oorweeg. ’n Studie na die hoeveelheid Suid-Afrikaans gepubliseerde boeke wat beskikbaar gemaak word in elk van hierdie produkklasse het getoon dat hierdie genres inderdaad nie deur Suid-Afrikaanse outeurs en uitgewers bedien word nie. ‘n Verdere analise het getoon dat Suid-Afrikaanse titels wat goed verkoop merendeels uit nie-fiksie bestaan. In die jong adolessente groep word SA-verkope gekenmerk deur studiemateriaal. Die meeste van die geïdentifiseerde gapings was in genres wat spesifieke kennis of insig tot ’n sekere vakgebied vereis en sodoende die gebruiklikheid daarvan beperk tot outeurs met hierdie vakkennis. Fiksie is egter ’n algemene genre en oor die algemeen word hierdie produkklasse geheel en al gedomineer deur ingevoerde publikasies. Die analise het moontlike geleenthede vir Suid-Afrikaanse outeurs in die algemene boeksektor bloot gelê. Die eindproduk van hierdie navorsingsprojek bemagtig die Suid-Afrikaanse algemene boekbedryf deur uitgeegeleenthede te identifiseer. Deur hierdie geleenthede op te neem staan opkomende outeurs die kans tot goeie verdienste en om markaandeel te wen ten midde van ingevoerde publikasies, mits hulle ’n meedingende produk kan lewer. Die verslag sluit af met die bevinding dat swak boekverkope die resultaat is van die finansiële beslag van Suid-Afrika se inwoners. Die netto effek is ’n baie eiesoortige kopersgroep wat geneig is tot boeke geskik vir toepassings. Verder spits hulle hulle toe op beste verkopers wanneer dit kom by aankope vir ontspanning. Dit is nie aansienlik verskillend van wat die internasionale tendens is nie, maar die grootte van die Suid-Afrikaanse mark laat egter nie genoeg diepte om goeie verkope vir gemiddelde titels te verseker nie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The buying and reading patterns of book lovers have changed dramatically over the past decade. The effects of a shrinking reading market are far-reaching: tough(er) competition not only affects the profitability of the industry, but also places increasing pressure on sustainable growth over the long tenm. Hence the aim of this investigation: (0 identify publishing strategies that could counter these tendencie. .. - with reference to a study comparing the situation in the Netherlands and in South Africa. Michael E. Porter's model offers a useful framework for the critical assessment of international patterns in the publishing world. Changing client needs result in books competing all the more intensely with other forms of entertainment for disposable rands. However, in this struggle for survival the inherent value of books is being destroyed by too low profit margins. Porter's model also fits local tendencies, such as stiffer competition from overseas role players for whom geographical expansion to developing countries is the only way to attain and keep market share. An analysis of the Dutch industry presents three strategic choices: market domination, variety-based positioning or needs-based positioning. Within the context of the South African industry the conclusions of this study could find valuable applications, especially for the publishers in the NB group: • Market domination is not a viable strategy for a local publisher in South Africa. The competition offered by imported books (with a market share of 73%) is too strong. • Radical technological development demands a multi-media approach. Although the success of this strategy has not been adequately demonstrated, large-scale investment by new ventures in the Dutch industry underlines the necessity to investigate possibilities. • Although NB Publishers have lead the Afrikaans niche market with literature of high quality for decades, this segment is threatened by the increasingly important role of English, as well as the wide variety of world literature available in local bookshops. Moreover, profit from the Afrikaans niche market is being further eroded by foreign publishers establishing local imprints in South Africa and luring top writers. IT NB Publishers wish to maintain the lead in this market segment, they have to implement a strategy that not only guarantees quality, but manages to draw and keep the best writers and editors. Further hereto, specific actions need to be launched to develop the Afrikaans niche market. • In the relatively small South African market focus on future growth is essential. This given demands by implication a strategy that develops the underutilized potential of the black middle class. • All leading publishers in South Africa have a social responsibility to promote the reading, writing and availability of books, and strategies to this effect need to be coordinated with those of the Government. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Boekliefhebbers se koop- en leespatrone het in die afgelope dekade dramaties verander. Die gevolge wat 'n krimpende lesersmark inhou, is verreikend: Strawwe(r) mededinging beinvloed nie net die winsgewendheid van die industrie nie, maar plaas ook toenemend druk op langtermynvooruitsigte van volhoubare groei. Daarom wil hierdie ondersoek - aan die hand van 'n vergelykende studie tussen Nederland en Suid-Afrika - uitgewerstrategiee vind wat hierdie tendense kan teewerk. Michael E. Porter se model bied 'n handige raamwerk waarbinne internasionale patrone in die uitgewerswereld krities beskou kan word, o.m. klantbehoeftes wat verander sodat boeke al sterker moet meeding om besteebare rande naas ander vorme van vermaak, terwyl die inherente waarde van boeke in 'n stryd om oorlewing vernietig word deur te lae pryspunte. Ook plaaslike tendense pas binne hierdie model, byvoorbeeld strawwer mededinging van oorsese rolspelers vir wie geografiese uitbreiding na ontwikkelende lande die enigste manier is om markaandeel te wen en te behou. 'n Analise van die Nederlandse industrie bring drie strategiese keuses na vore: markdominansie, variteit-gebaseerde, of behoefte-gebaseerde posisionering. Gevolgtrekkings uit die ondersoek kan - binne die konteks van die Suid-Afrikaanse bedryfsomgewing - waardevolle toepassings vind, veral by die NB-Uitgewersgroep: • Markdominansie is geen strategiese koers vir 'n plaaslike uitgewer in Suid-Afrika nie. Die mededinging van ingevoerde boeke (met 'n markaandeel van 73%) is te sterk. • Ingrypende tegnologiese ontwikkelinge vereis 'n multi-mediale aanpak. Hoewel die sukses van hierdie strategiese keuse nog nie genoegsaam bewys is nie, beklemtoon grootskaalse beleggings deur nuwe ondernemings in die Nederlandse industrie die noodsaak om moontlikhede te ondersoek. • Alhoewel NB-Uitgewers vir dekades in die Afrikaanse nismark die markleier was met literatuur van hoë gehalte, word hierdie segment bedreig deur die rol van Engels wat toenemend belangriker word, asook die wye verskeidenheid van wereldliteratuur wat in plaaslike boekwinkels beskikbaar is. Daarby word wins uit die Afrikaanse nismark verder weggekalwe deurdat buitelandse uitgewers plaaslike drukname in Suid-Afrika vestig en topskrywers wegrokkel. lndien NB-Uitgewers steeds die voortou wil neern in hierdie marksegment, moet 'n strategie geimplementeer word wat nie net gehalte waarborg nie, maar ook topskrywers en redaksionele talent werf en behou. In aansluiting hierby moet spesifieke aksies geloods word om Afrikaans as nismark uit te bou. • In die relatief klein Suid-Afrikaanse mark is 'n gerigtheid op toekomstige groei noodsaaklik. By implikasie vra hierdie gegewe om 'n strategie waarin die onbenutte potensiaal van die swart middelklas ontgin kan word. • Alle leidende uitgewers in Suid-Afrika het 'n sosiale verantwoordelikheid om lees, skryf en die beskikbaarheid van boeke te bevorder, en hierdie strategiee behoort met die van die regering gekoordineer te word.

Legal deposit and its sustainability is a major problem that cannot be ignored in South Africa. The value of preserving and making accessible information is of primary importance for legal deposit collections. The concept of legal deposit is evolving from decade to decade as many factors continue to influence it. Among the challenges facing legal deposit libraries is the problem of publishers failing to comply with legal deposit requirements. This study investigated the problems and constraints experienced by publishers in KwaZulu- Natal concerning legal deposit. Thirty five publishers were surveyed by means of a selfadministered questionnaire which utilized both open and closed questions. The results of the study reveal that while the vast majority of publishers in KwaZulu-Natal are compliant with legal deposit requirements, they do experience a number of problems while doing so. These problems include financial costs and time constraints while a lack of knowledge about certain aspects of legal deposit on the part of the publishers was evident. Recommendations, which would require participation from all the stakeholders, to address the problems identified were made. The study concluded with suggestions for further research. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.