::: Mallory International and Ebook Library partner
to bring ebooks to Africa
Mallory International and EBL are delighted to announce a joint initiative to promote and develop the sale and access of ebooks into libraries in Africa. Innovative pricing and delivery models, appropriate to the region, are being developed jointly, to give institutions effective access to the latest content and ebook technology.
Access to electronic resources can be difficult in Africa where things most of us take for granted, such internet access and state of the art computer hardware, are not consistently available. Mallory has been a leading supplier of print content to the African continent for nearly 25 years. While they are well aware of the obstacles to delivering content electronically, Mallory also believe that libraries in the region are ready to invest in making these technologies work, and that African institutions will benefit greatly from the more immediate and enhanced access that ebooks provide.
Julian Hardinge, Chairman of Mallory International, said: "We are delighted to find a partner who is not only a leader in delivering e-books to libraries, but also has been prepared to work with us to meet the particular needs of customers in less developed countries."
Kari Paulson, President of EBL said: "As a specialised bookseller with unique reach into African markets, Mallory International is an ideal collaborator and partner for EBL. Mallory.s expertise and awareness of the particular challenges of the market will be invaluable in helping us developing access and commercial models that will work for libraries in this region.
About EBL - Ebook Library
www.eblib.com
EBL is a division of Ebooks Corporation Limited, an Australian public company whose additional distribution channels include ebooks.com (www.ebooks.com), the leading dedicated ebook retail site and and eb20 (http://www.ebookscorp.com/future.html) fulfilment services for publishers and retailers. Developed in close collaboration with leading academic and research libraries, EBL.s multi-user and demand-driven access models have been widely adopted by libraries around the world. EBL.s ever-expanding catalogue currently offers over 80,000 titles from over 275 international publishers in a vast range of academic and professional subject areas.
4th Jul 2008
[top]
::: New contract with Addis Ababa Univeristy
We are delighted to have signed a three year contract (2008-10) to supply Addis Ababa University, won against strong competition following an international tender in February 2008. This prestigious award follows the successful ongoing agreements already in place with Makerere University in Kampala, and the University of Zambia in Lusaka.
4th Jul 2008
[top]
::: Fifth edition of Low Priced Educational Books Listing
The fifth edition of the Low Priced Educational Books Listing is now available.
The 2008 edition contains about 4,800 titles, up from 2,800 in 2007. Additional publishers are represented, but the main increase is in the range available from the major textbook publishers, particularly McGraw Hill and Wiley. It is still a two voume set, in our new corporate livery, and is also available on CD. The bound editions can be obtained from Mallory Representatives, or direct from us.
The list can be downloaded from the [Bibliography Downloads] page.
8th Apr 2008
[top]
::: Norman Guthrie 1936-2007
Julian Hardinge writes:
Norman Guthrie, who died on the 5th December, was the founder of Mallory International, and ran it for nearly 20 years. He probably sold more books between the Sahara and the Limpopo than any other British bookseller.
He was born in 1936 at Beacontree Heath in Essex, graduated in Mathematics and Geography from the University of Southampton, and completed a PGCE from London University, with various other mathematics and teaching qualifications. Indeed his first career was as a teacher in Hampshire and Lincolnshire. But in 1968 he went to be Head of Mathematics at Eldoret High School in Kenya, and a relationship with Africa began which was to last the rest of his life.
He spent 10 years in Kenya, first at Eldoret, later as Curriculum Development Officer at the Kenya Institute of Education, and when he returned to the UK, he went into general procurement. In 1985 a disagreement of principle with his colleagues led to a parting of the ways. Norman retrieved a book tender from the waste paper basket into which it had been dropped, and bid it himself with his wife, Clare . and Mallory International (named after Mallory Crescent, where the Guthries lived) was born.
Mallory International was, and remains, the unique creation of Norman and Clare Guthrie. Everything in its character . the global reach, the fierce specialisation, the close relationship with local representatives in African countries, the financial conservatism . reflected Norman.s approach and ideas, and Clare.s attention to detail and administrative skills. The experience of teaching, of Africa, and of procurement fused happily in this single business.
At the beginning it was sometimes a struggle. Norman recalled the difficulty of obtaining financing for a business working in Africa. On one occasion a bank manager told him he would not be able to afford to supply a tender if he won it. He replied that he was very unlikely to win everything, and would be happy with half. He was given the remarkable advice only to bid the half he was going to win.
He was able to grow the business steadily, and Mallory became the market leader in its field. Norman took and active part in book trade activities, on the BA Export Group, which he chaired from 1997-1999, and on the African Working Party of the PA, of which he was an invited member for many years. But as Norman approached, and passed, retirement age the issue of the future of the business became more pressing. Eventually a solution was found, and my wife and I bought the business in June 2002, continuing to work very closely with Norman until ill health forced him to give up his executive role in summer 2004.
Norman was unfailingly generous in passing across his knowledge and experience. I travelled to Africa with him several times, but particularly remember the first . to Nigeria in 2002. On the way back to Lagos from Abuja, the aeroplane broke down prior to takeoff. Chaos ensued. Abandoning the plane, we had to climb into the baggage hold, recover our suitcases, and set off across the airport on foot, heading for the other Lagos flight parked a few hundred yards away. Eventually we negotiated our way onto it. I would have been utterly lost without Norman, who was totally unfazed.
He leaves Clare, his wife for 26 years, whose talents were so brilliantly complementary to his, and two sons, Peter and David.
21st Dec 2007
[top]
::: Ministry of Education, Trinidad
Mallory International has been awarded, together with Gurley and Associates, our partner in Trinidad, a major award to supply the school libraries of all the 133 secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago. This is a complex and demanding contract, involving physical processing and catalogue records for all the items to be supplied, and requiring a high level of organisational and technical skill from the supplier. It is the largest and latest of a series of successful tenders and contracts for the Ministry.
23rd Jul 2007
[top]
::: New contract with Makerere University
We are delighted to have been able to retain, against strong competition, the contract to supply the Library at Makerere University with books, journals and binding materials. Mallory International has been the main overseas supplier to the Makerere University Library since 2002, and the new contract will run until December 2011.
Makerere University, in Kampala, is one of the most prestigious and important institutions in Africa, with a student population of over 30,000 and a reputation for academic excellence. The Library is one of the largest and best equipped in the region.
9th Apr 2007
[top]
::: West Africa
We are delighted to have been able to strengthen the representation and coverage of Mallory International in West Africa. Julian Hardinge visited Nigeria and Ghana in February, and confirmed representation agreement in both countries.
Kolade Mosuro now represents us in Nigeria, and it is a pleasure to work with his organisation (Mosuro the Bookseller), while Emmanuel Abbiw brings a wealth of experience and connections to support our work in Ghana.
26th Feb 2007
[top]
::: New African Writing
Mallory has reached agreement with the British Council for a joint publication programme for writing by young African authors. Four titles will be published next month, under the series title: 'New African Writing', featuring books by Mildred Kiconco Barya, Patrick Mangeni Wa'Ndeda, Gladye Namukasa and Julius Caesar Sseremba.
For further information, visit www.mallorypublishing.co.uk.
14th Feb 2005
[top]
::: African Development Bank Schools Contract, Malawi
Mallory International's long relationship with the Ministry of Education in Malawi continued with our successful bid (in Joint Venture with Maneno Enterprises, of Lilongwe) for supply to 40 Community Day Schools. The contract is funded by the African Development Bank. Mallory won over half the awarded value, and supply will commence in February, 2006.
15th Dec 2005
[top]
::: Classic African Writing
Mallory International today launched a new publishing initiative, bringing back into print classic works by African authors, which were previously unavailable. The first two titles are Austin Bukenya's satirical novel, The People's Bachelor and the first major work of literary criticism published in Africa, Taban Lo Liyong's The Last Word. The future publishing program anticipates about 6 titles a year over the next three years.
7th Dec 2005
[top]
::: Textbook Contracts in St. Lucia
We were delighted to sign a contract to supply secondary textbooks to the Ministry of Education in St. Lucia, W.I., in July 2005. The books were for 20 schools, and needed to be delivered for the new term starting at the end of August, so the ability to supply quickly was a key factor. Mallory achieved 100% supply within the time set, with final deliveries during the last week of August.
29th Sep 2005
[top]
::: Supply to 28 Schools in Malawi
The second biggest contract award (USD 5.7m) in the history of Mallory International was announced in UN Development Business on the 31st March, 2005. It involved consolidation, sorting and supply of textbooks and readers to 28 secondary schools in Malawi, and was funded by the World Bank (IDA). Mallory had won many previous awards advertised by the Ministry of Education in Lilongwe, and has established a history of successful supply, including five major contracts over the previous three years.
This big and complex contract was successfully completed by the end of July 2005, with a supply level of over 99.8%.
15th Apr 2005
[top]
::: Mallory in Central Asia
The award today of the company's first major contract in Central Asia is the culmination of more than a year's work, and follows successful tenders for smaller Projects in the region, and significant investment in time and infrastructure.
10th Dec 2004
[top]
::: Classic East African Writing
As well as a being a bookseller, Mallory has also published a number of books over the years. We have now put in place a programme to reprint important African works in English, which have gone out of print. The first titles in the series Classic East African Writing will be available at the beginning of 2005. Watch for further announcements.
30th Nov 2004
[top]
|
