Back in 2008, when 2010 was still the future, this article was written to discuss the past, present, and future prices of books, newspapers, and periodicals so that libraries could take a look and decide how this might influence their budgets.

1. Book, Newspaper, and Periodical Prices, 2004-2010
ED3/110.10/No. 268 February 19, 2009
Books
During times of a slowing economy and the tightening of
The 2008 Book Prices Fast
city, state, and national budgets, it is important to prepare
Facts includes data from
for how to best meet the needs of library patrons.
2004 to present and is
Studying trends in library material price changes helps to
compiled from the book
anticipate the challenges of collection development.
wholesaler Baker & Taylor
Libraries face ever-increasing prices for materials and on a
and its subsidiary, YBP
yearly basis the prices go up and down, but the overall
Library Services. Past data
trend is a steady increase in prices.
has been compiled from
Bowker’s Books in Print.
Trade paperbacks are leading price increases with a 20.2
percent change between 2004 and 2007. Continuing this
trend, prices would increase approximately 4 percent per year. (See Chart 1.)
Chart 1
Average US Book Prices 2004 to 2009
$120
$100.60 $103.13
$100 $95.54 $98.07
$80.08 $80.62 $81.41
$78.72 $75.89 $79.79
$80
Book Prices
$71.16
$60
$40.45 $39.55 $40.52 $41.53
$34.97 $36.90
$40
$37.79 $39.67
$36.78
$30.61 $32.36 $32.63
$20
$6.23 $6.28 $6.36 $6.39 $6.46 $6.51
$-
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Year
Hardcover Books Audiobooks Trade Paperbacks Mass Market Paperback eBooks
Source: http://www.ybp.com/title_reports_2007.html; Bogart, D. (2008)2.
Note: 2008-09 based on trend analysis
During this same period, audio book prices experienced the second highest increase with a
change of 13.1 percent. Although audio book prices tend to fluctuate up and down along
with audio book sales, overall prices are trending up 2.5 percent per year. (See Chart 1.)
Fast Facts – Recent Statistics from the Library Research Service
Colorado State Library • Colorado Department of Education
Library & Information Science Program • Morgridge College of Education • University of Denver
© 2009 • Permission granted to reproduce for nonprofit purposes

2. ED3/110.10/No. 268 February 12, 2009
The desire to provide library patrons with materials on multiple platforms is increasing the
sales of electronic books (e-books). Prices rose drastically with an increase of 37.8 percent
between 2005 and 2006 following an average sales increase of 34.5 percent between 2004
and 2006. YBP Library Services believes that e-book prices have stabilized with market
demand. Future price increases are expected to be less volatile, likely following print book
pricing trends. 1
Newspapers and Periodicals
While the material price of international newspapers has remained steady, the cost of
shipping has brought about a recent sharp increase in the absolute price. (See Chart 2.) The
number of U.S. newspapers is slowly decreasing and the price change has been relatively
small. Increasing popularity of the online news format is forcing some newspapers to keep
prices low, or move to online only formats, in order to stay competitive.3
Periodical prices rose 39.2 percent between 2004 and 2008. However, prices may increase
around 6.7 percent in both 2009 and 2010. (See Chart 2.) According to The Bowker Annual
Library and Book Trade Almanac, 53rd Edition, periodical publishers are looking for better
ways to price periodicals because libraries are having difficulty affording print and online
versions of journals.3
Chart 2
Average US Newspaper and Periodical
Prices from 2004 to 2010
$1,800
$1,568.71 $1,537.72 $1,591.36
$1,600
Newspaper and Periodical Prices
$1,352.23 $1,354.60
$1,400
$1,301.71 $1,306.79
$1,200
$943.40
$1,000
$884.20
$828.00
$767.00
$800
$641.00 $702.00
$595.00
$600
$364.97 $372.64 $369.24 $375.76 $368.30 $373.12 $374.10
$400
$200
$-
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
International Newspapers US Newspapers Periodicals
Source: Van Orsdel, L., & Born, K. (2008)4; Bogart, D. (2008)5
Note: 2009-10 based on trend analysis
Fast Facts – Recent Statistics from the Library Research Service
Colorado State Library • Colorado Department of Education
Library & Information Science Program • Morgridge College of Education • University of Denver
© 2009 • Permission granted to reproduce for nonprofit purposes

3. ED3/110.10/No. 268 February 12, 2009
Sources
1
Bruning, N. (October, 2008). Annual Book Price Update. YBP Library Services. Retrieved on
November 15, 2008 from http://www.ybp.com/book_price_update.html.
2
Bogart, D. (ed.). (2008). The Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac, 53rdEdition. 2008.
New Providence, NJ: R. R. Bowker.
3
Ibid.
4
Van Orsdel, L., & Born, K. (2008). Embracing Openness. Library Journal (1976), 133(7), 53-8.
Retrieved October 28, 2008, from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.
5
Bogart, D. (2008).
ABOUT THIS ISSUE
Author: Sean Lamborne, DU-LRS Research Fellow
Library Research Service • 201 East Colfax Avenue, Suite 309 • Denver, Colorado 80203-1799
Phone 303.866.6900 • E-mail: LRS@LRS.org • Web site: www.LRS.org
Fast Facts – Recent Statistics from the Library Research Service
Colorado State Library • Colorado Department of Education
Library & Information Science Program • Morgridge College of Education • University of Denver
© 2009 • Permission granted to reproduce for nonprofit purposes