Print Publishing Open-Source Texts

Though I find a well-constructed electronic text far superior to a hardcopy, it is often the case that students and instructors will want a tangible copy of an open-source textbook. There are sites out there that let non-commercial publishers create and distribute hardcopy versions of their texts. My only experience with such sites is Lulu.com.

Lulu lets authors create an account, upload a pdf version of their text, and design a hardcopy version for readers to order. You can offer the book for cost, or build in a small profit if you are so inclined. There is a wide-array of different hardcopy formats with different bindings and sizes. I have seen and used a number of Lulu's finished products and they are quite nice--especially given how reasonable their prices are.

Lulu's eCommerce engine takes care of all of the financials. They print and ship the books on-demand.

Full disclosure: I am in no way connected to or compensated by Lulu, it's just the one self-publishing site I am familiar with. I'm sure there are others. If you know of others, leave them in the comments section.