The Role of the Gaúcho Editor Before the Production and Marketing of Digital Books

Abstract

The ongoing dematerialization of books, as their texts are transferred to the screen, arouses the impression that printed books are coming to an end. However, the book crisis may be just a symptom of a literate culture undermined at its base due to decreased value given to reading and loss of interest in it. Therefore, digital technology does not carry the whole responsibility for the possible disappearance of printed book, despite its ability to move the entire book chain, causing changes in the role of its main characters, among them the editor. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the crisis of literate culture, trying to understand the image of the editors from Rio Grande do Sul State and their role in the transition from printed to digital books, taking into account the unique peculiarities of publishing industry of Rio Grande do Sul.