For commercial medical publishers the challenge of the electronic publishing environment is clear. We ignore it at our peril but must balance the risks of conservatism with those of investment in fast changing electronic media where business models are still evolving. Corporate and not-for-profit publishers alike face the challenge of generating revenue from a commodity, information, and through a medium, the internet, both commonly regarded as free, and maintaining editorial standards while offering access to rapidly expanding, interactive resources.

This discussion will focus on the problems and challenges for medical book publishers, their authors and their markets, presented by the availability of electronic alternatives to the book.

• Educators will be able to share their views with publishers on the potential for electronic publishing in medicine.
• Investigators will be able to air their concerns over the commercial exploitation of biomedical research
• Medical authors will be able to relate their experience of working with publishers on electronic products
• Everyone will be able to speculate whether and for how long books will be the mainstay of medical education and training

Dr. Richard Barling
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building
Shaftesbury Road
Cambridge CB2 2RU
Phone: 44 1223 325 629
Fax: 44 1223 326079
Email: rbarling@cup.cam.ac.uk
Website: http://www.cambridge.org