Are There Any Cooperative or Commons-orientated Print-to-Order Companies?

I have collated sources here at https://www.diigo.com/user/mbauwens/Self-Publishing ( https://www.diigo.com/user/mbauwens/Self-Publishing )

Thanks for the list, there's quite a range of links here covering both digital ("e-book") publishing and print-to-order. The options so far for print-to-order seem to be:
* Lulu.com
* Xlibris
* Printondemand Worldwide
* American Book Center

Any others people know of? Can anyone comment on how any of these outfits compare in terms of libre, commons, social justice, and environmental considerations? For example, use of free code software on their web platform, or policy on DRM?

This list also crosses over with another current interest of mine, online collaborative authoring. I have a page on Disintermedia where I'm collecting info on authoring platforms.

Mute magazine used to have a process for this,

and David Bollier self-published Patterns of Commoning, and can perhaps also advize,

Michel

Footprint in Leeds, UK

Footprint looks like a cool coop, and if I lived in Leeds and wanted to do a print run I'd definitely go there. But I can't see any mention on their website of print-to-order services. I guess one of the criteria for doing print-to-order ethically, as well as being a coop etc, would be printing the book as close as possible to where the customer wants it delivered. This implies a cooperative platform, run by a large network of local printshop cooperatives like Footprint, WorX Printing etc, as well as book distribution coops like AKPress.

Check out this one too: http://www.commonslab.gr/?lang=en

Commons Lab seems to be some sort of HackerSpace or MakerSpace group? Can't see anything there related to printing books, but thanks for sharing.

Hmm, Shareable has an article today called, "Think Global, Print Local: A Campaign for a New Commons-Based Publishing Network." The title and content of the article don't seem to match, but even if they're focused on translation, perhaps they'd be worth getting in touch with about print-to-order, since that's something they'd need for their translation work also?

Hey @jessykate my other collective (Guerrilla Translation) is actually behind that project, but we're mainly taking care of the immaterial commons part (the book translation), while a consortium of 4 indie publishers is handling the printing. From what I understand they're not doing on demand printing but ascertaining demand via the crowdfund first which will then determine the print runs.

Eventually I do see a model that goes direct to Print-to-order, but it's not something we could get together in time for this campaign.

In terms of what 'on-demand printing' might means in practical terms, I think it means having a fairly sophisticated digital printing system, ranging form a high end Xerox-type system through to digital offset litho machines. Anyone with that type of kit could theoretically provide some sort of on-demand printing service for more complex documents such as bound books. The only cooperative that I'm aware that might be in that position is Calverts in London - calverts.coop

Theirclients services director is a friend, called Sion Whellens. Lovely fella - [email protected]