New Publishing Models Workshop: New Islands for Books
New publishing models workshop with BolognaBookPlus covered subscriptions, children's books and learning tech for publishers.
What Did the New Publishing Models Workshop Cover on New Islands?
New publishing models workshop on 15 June 2021 gathered publishers inside BolognaBookPlus to test hybrid concepts for subscriptions, children’s books and learning, as reported by Mikrotext in May 2021. The event was the third ReBoot unit of the year, following a systematic assessment of market damage described by Ruediger Wischenbart in December 2020. Fall 2020 work had drawn 200 leaders from 28 countries to a 6-hour debate on 13 October, as reported by Ruediger Wischenbart in December 2020. “On its third workshop of the year, ReBoot presents new models to conceptualize publishing processes and business,” as Mikrotext wrote in May 2021.
The program for the day, as listed by Mikrotext in May 2021, grouped sessions by use case rather than by format. The table below summarizes the focus areas without repeating the full timetable. Readers who want context on evidence can review our note on data sources and methods.
| Focus | What the session showed | Example voices |
|---|---|---|
| New model initiatives | Direct models for publishing processes and business | Ferly, BoD, Mikrotext, author perspective |
| Publishing for young audiences | Audio and live formats tied to book communities | Tonies, HeldenstückeLIVE |
| Learning and digital | Initiatives reshaping learning products | Outsell curator, digital learning guests |
How Did the New Publishing Models Workshop Address Subscriptions?
The New Publishing Models Workshop treated subscriptions as distinct models with a panel including Pieter Swinkels, Joerg Pfuhl and Marcos da Veiga Pereira, as reported by PublishNews in June 2021. Ferly showed an entertainment-led path from publishing into broader media, while BoD showed print-on-demand developed in 1997 inside the Libri Group, as described by Mikrotext in May 2021. The discussion linked these cases to fixing broken publishing workflows through direct sales, community building and client analytics.
BoD is now described as a leading company in digital book printing and self-publishing in Europe, as described by Mikrotext in May 2021. Mikrotext works with crowdfunding and author collectives, as described by Mikrotext in May 2021.
Why Did the New Publishing Models Workshop Focus on Young Readers?
The New Publishing Models Workshop gave special attention to young audiences because the event ran inside BolognaBookPlus, as reported by Mikrotext in May 2021. One strand covered new publishing models for young children with Tonies audio and HeldenstückeLIVE live events, as listed by Mikrotext in May 2021. HeldenstückeLIVE is a platform for live events tied to book communities, as described by Mikrotext in May 2021.
The partnership also addressed hybrid publishing and distribution models with cases in children’s books and learning technologies, as reported by Boersenblatt in March 2021. That focus complements country studies such as the Greek book market in 2020, which track how demand shifted during the pandemic period.
How Did the New Publishing Models Workshop Reshape Learning and Digital?
The New Publishing Models Workshop closed with learning and digital initiatives curated with Kate Worlock, David Bainbridge, Jason Spanos and Danielle Brant, as reported by PublishNews in June 2021. Participants received a 25% discount on the main Bologna conference Forging Forward held with the International Publishers Association, as reported by PublishNews in June 2021.
No public data is available on conversion or revenue outcomes from these pilots. Buyers should therefore treat the cases as tested formats, not as benchmarks.
New Publishing Models Workshop FAQ
When and where did the New Publishing Models Workshop take place?
The New Publishing Models Workshop took place on 15 June 2021 inside BolognaBookPlus in partnership with the Bologna Book Fair, as reported by Mikrotext in May 2021. The program focused on new model initiatives, publishing for young audiences, and learning and digital sessions. Participants joined panels and networking in the afternoon schedule.
What cases did the New Publishing Models Workshop highlight?
The New Publishing Models Workshop highlighted subscription models, print-on-demand, and community publishing through cases from established and independent players. BoD showed print-on-demand developed in 1997, as described by Mikrotext in May 2021. Ferly, Mikrotext, Tonies and HeldenstückeLIVE illustrated how publishers reach granular audiences with audio, live events and crowdfunding.
How can buyers use the New Publishing Models Workshop?
The New Publishing Models Workshop gave publishers practical entry points into children’s formats and digital learning rather than general strategy talk. The agenda paired publishing for young children with a learning and digital session curated with Outsell, as reported by Mikrotext in May 2021. Buyers can compare these models with other market evidence before testing subscriptions or audio in their own lists.