Rosetta Launches NetGalley

Posted on April 28, 2008

Publisher's Weekly reports that Rosetta Solutions has formally announced its new product and service, NetGalley.

The online initiative will launch at BEA, with the mission of connecting publishers and "professional readers," and streamlining the galley distribution process. NetGalley will enable book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, educators and others to access and share content and information about new titles. Publishers that have already signed on to a pilot program include St. Martin's, Hachette Book Group, Bloomsbury USA and Sourcebooks. Those houses will submit their advance fall titles to PW through NetGalley.
During the pilot period, publishers will submit their title information -- and, optionally, digital galleys -- electronically to PW. In return, PW will provide visibility on review acceptance and status through NetGalley.com. Pilot publishers will also have the opportunity to invite other reviewers, media and bloggers to join their community and view their galleys online. Print galleys will also still be accepted.

Our only objection to the program is the electronic galleys. They're just not practical, because no reviewer we know reads books on her computer while sitting at her desk. Reviewers read lots of places where electronics aren't available or aren't allowed. That means it's paper galleys only around here.