Mission Statement

The fact is, people still love books. In 2009, US book sales totaled almost $24 billion, indicating the love of books is not diminishing.

People love reading them; sharing them with their loved ones; smelling that one of a kind “new book” scent; hearing the rustle of the pages as they are turned excitedly, waiting to find out what happens next; enjoying their heft in the reader’s hands. Readers love the feeling of accomplishment when the tome has been completed, and relish the opportunity to carefully place them on their bookshelves, as they expand their collections, turning a home no matter how large or small, into a self-proclaimed library.

Yet a crisis is emerging. The quality of our beloved books has been compromised, due to the prevalent use of lower quality groundwood paper in the publishing industry. This is a serious concern for all those who write, market, sell, buy, and cherish the written word. Groundwood paper deteriorates at a much quicker rate, threatening the permanence of books. Yet, we believe that Permanence Matters. Therefore, it is our mission to spread awareness of this threat to the industry and to educate the public on what they can do to help.

Books have been an integral part of our culture for centuries, since the invention of the printing press brought them to the masses. Books have helped civilizations around the globe spread ideas, launch change, and more deeply understand the human condition. Thousands of books have stood the test of time, passed down from generation to generation, allowing great grandchildren to read the same books treasured by their great grandparents. However, these opportunities may be lost for future generations, if first-printings of so many hardcover books continue to be printed on groundwood paper. Thus, we intend to preserve these traditions, by stressing the importance of books printed on permanent paper.

As part of our cause, we believe that digital readers and digital books have a place in the industry. The digital movement helps transmit ideas, which can only be positive for our culture and our society. But printed books need to be preserved and this can happen only if they are printed on permanent paper. Permanence Matters, and it is our mission to preserve the written word.

While digital spreads the written word, permanent paper preserves it.