Based on information from many friends who have written IT books, 3000 exemplar is a figure used by publisher for most editions. I also ever talked with one national IT publisher (not the first list publisher, but their books fulfill many bookstores) and he was agree with that number. He also added that for special title with a greater prospect, he could increase the first edition to 5000 exemplar.

I never discuss directly about popular books which — I guess — has brighter prospect and wider readers.

Furthermore, Ruang Baca, supplement of Koran Tempo newspaper consists booksphere and reading event, ever described that even for now Indonesian publishers are still using 3000 for common number of first edition. Compared to publishing progress in Western, this figure is merely similiar to years after Guttenberg era. Indie Offset, a site that helps people to publish books themselves, also uses 3000 for minimal “cash-flow” calculation (Indonesian language).

While Indonesia is very large market, book publishing still needs various ways to attract consumers to buy. It may be uneasy but book shopping as a higher priority needs attention for most of us. Keep optimism that more and more titles have been — and will be — sold.