First Annual NEPCo Winners

On Wednesday night, we got together for the inaugural New England Publishing Collaboration Awards, an event celebrating innovative partnerships in publishing. In a lightning round of quick-fire presentations, our ten finalists told us about their collaborations, what they've learned, and how they've contributed to the industry. David Weinberger, author and senior researcher at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard, gave the keynote talk on "peaceful collaboration" in the digital/Internet era.

We're excited to announce the winners!

First Place

Inera Inc., sophisticated editorial and XML solutions for publishers, which has been working with CrossRef for years to promote the use and effectiveness of digital object identifiers (DOIs) and DOI standards among publishers

Second Place

We had a tie for second place:

NetGalley, provider of digital book review copies, for its collaboration with the American Booksellers Association to establish an email newsletter, Digital White Box, which allows member bookstores to access digital galleys and nominate books for the Indie Next List

Digital Science, which develops software for scientific research, for assembling, incubating, and continuing to support ten collaborative start-up companies to serve scholars at all stages of research

Third Place

Harvard Common Press, publisher of inspiring cookbooks and parenting guides, for its investment in three food start-ups and establishment of a co-working loft for food entrepreneurs in Boston

More Information

For more on the presentations, David Weinberger's talk, and the post-event Q&A session, catch up on our live tweets. And if you were in the audience or entered a project for the awards, don't forget to give us your feedback on this inaugural event by taking this quick survey.

What Is NEPCo?

Bookbuilders of Boston has been awarding the best in New England book production, manufacturing, and design for well over 50 years (we're currently in the planning stages for next year's 58th Annual New England Book Show), and we think it's time we start awarding something new, too. We're launching the New England Publishing Collaboration Awards this October to recognize the region's publishers who are experimenting, innovating, adapting, and really inspiring us by teaming up with tech startups, upstart channels, and others—and even each other.

So who's coming up with the newest and boldest developments in the business? And more importantly, what can we learn from them? This is what we'll find out at the NEPCo Awards. The ten finalists will describe their projects live on stage, in rapid-fire multimedia presentations. (And we're serious about the rapid-fire part!) Judges will select three winners, and the audience also gets to vote. Plus, there will be popcorn. Be sure to buy your tickets to attend—and hurry! Bookbuilders member discounts end tomorrow!

Details

October 21, 6–8 p.m.
Doors open at 5:15 p.m.
Pre-show networking encouraged!
The Brattle Theatre
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge

Post-Event Reception

You can also stay for a post-event reception: a group discussion moderated by David Sandberg, co-owner of Porter Square Books, networking, and dinner from Harvard Square's Flat Patties.

Learn  more about the ten finalists, our guest speaker, and more at nepcoawards.com.