Book Publishing in Imo State: The Challenges and the way Forward

Abstract

This work is on the challenges that face Book Publishers in Imo State and how these challenges can be overcome. The paper started with considering the history of book publishing in Nigeria and Imo State in particular after which it proceeded to define Publishing, highlighting the Book Publishing processes. A profile of Book Publishers in the State was made. In order to find out the actual state of Book Publishing in Imo State, survey research scheme was employed and questionnaire was used as a major instrument to collect data from thirty Publishing Houses. The study revealed that majority of publishers in Imo State engaged in publishing Tertiary Institution textbooks. High cost of imported machinery and raw materials, lack of credit facilities, piracy, poor reading culture, poor quality of locally
sourced materials and lack of mechanism put in place to control entry into the profession were identified, among others, as major constraints to book publishing in Imo State. Based on the analysis of the responses, suggestions were made on how Book publishing can be further promoted in Imo State. The paper concluded and made recommendations on how Book Publishing can help in enhancing scholarship in the State.