-- Categories that are the most challenged by the emergence of new online content showed declines in title output for 2006. For example, the number of new computer books declined by more than 11% from 6,092 in 2005 to 5,498 titles in 2006. Though travel books managed a 4% rise to 5,155 in 2006, that figure is still down 3% from the 5,304 titles released in 2004. -- With the cooking category being led more and more by Food Network icons and national, trusted brand names, the output for the category dropped 10%, from 3,062 new titles in 2005 to 2,793 in 2006. -- Among the hottest categories last year were biographies, which increased by 15% from 8,904 new titles in 2005 to 10,489 in 2006, and business books, which climbed 12% to 9,006 new titles, up from 7,885 titles released in 2005. -- The religious book category recovered from its 2005 free-fall with 17,921 titles released in 2006. This figure is up 6% from the 16,785 titles released in 2005, but still 21% down from the 21,669 religious titles released in 2004."These output numbers are valuable indicators when assessing the overall direction of the industry," commented Michael Healy, executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). "When you couple Bowker's data with the recent release of the AAP Annual Report and BISG TRENDS 2007 we are able to form a more complete picture of the state of our industry -- and it's encouraging to see all the indicators showing some growth." {Editor's Note: Due to a change in methodology this year to more accurately track and report on these figures, the statistics cited in this news release differ from the statistics cited in previous years. However, all 2005 data has been adjusted to reflect this new methodology and create accurate year-over-year comparisons. The new methodology employed represents a collaborative approach with multiple industry data aggregators to verify the numbers. This approach will become the benchmark for all of Bowker's book publishing industry data reports effective immediately.} The book production figures in this news release are based on year-to-date data from U.S. publishers and include traditional print as well as on-demand titles. Audiobooks and E-books are excluded. If changes in industry estimates occur, they will be reflected in a later published report. Books In Print data represents input from 83,000 publishers in the U.S. The data is sent to Bowker in electronic files, and via BowkerLink™, Bowker's password protected Web-based tool, which enables publishers to update and add their own data. Books In Print is the only bibliographic database with more than 6.5 million U.S. book, audiobook and video titles. It is widely regarded throughout the publishing industry as the most authoritative and comprehensive source of bibliographic data available worldwide, and has been a trusted source of data in North America for more than 50 years. About Bowker Bowker is the world's leading source for bibliographic information. The company provides searching, analytical, promotional, and ordering services to publishers, booksellers, libraries, and patrons through national and international brands, including: Books In Print®, Global Books In Print®, Books In Print IntelliMarket™, Syndetic Solutions™, Pubnet®, PubEasy™, Simba Information™, and more. In the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Bowker is also the ISBN and SAN Agency and a DOI registration agency for the publishing industry. Bowker is headquartered in New Providence, New Jersey, with operations in East Grinstead, England, and Port Melbourne, Australia. For more company details, please visit www.Bowker.com.
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