“I love the smell of book ink in the morning” – on the materiality of the academic and the niches of small publishers

Purpose This paper examines the enduring importance of printed books in academic publishing, especially for small humanities publishers. It explores why authors, readers, libraries, and reviewers continue to prefer print despite increasing digitalization. The argument is made that the materiality of scholarly publications plays an emotional, trust-building, and sustainable role that digital formats cannot fully replace. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on an empirical survey conducted among authors and editors of the publisher Mohr Siebeck, as well as qualitative interviews with librarians and scholars. Additionally, internal sales statistics and case studies are used to assess the importance of print compared to digital publications. Findings The results show that the surveyed authors consider the high quality of print products a decisive factor in their choice of publisher. Printed books serve as a personal business card and a symbol of academic achievement. Libraries prefer print media due to its long-term availability and cost efficiency. Despite open-access alternatives, print book sales remain stable, with only a moderate 10% decline for open-access titles. Reviewers favor print books for deeper engagement with content. There is currently no reason to assume that the printed book is on the verge of extinction. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on a single publisher and specific humanities disciplines, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Future research could explore additional publishers and disciplines to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay between print and digital formats. Originality/value This paper provides a nuanced perspective on the continuing relevance of printed books in the digital age. The findings are particularly valuable for smaller academic publishers, demonstrating that print is not merely an outdated tradition but an essential element of scholarly publishing.