The Library Publishing Forum is an annual conference bringing together representatives from libraries engaged in (or considering) publishing initiatives to define and address major questions and challenges; to identify and document collaborative opportunities; and to strengthen and promote this community of practice.
For the first time in 2020, we are holding the Forum virtually. We are excited to be able to share Forum programming with the library publishing community at a time when travel and large gatherings are impossible, while extending our ongoing thanks to the University of Massachusetts Medical School for their work as the host of our planned in-person conference.
I recently assumed the role of Publications Manager for eScholarship Publishing at the California Digital Library following a long career in nonprofit scholarly publishing, primarily at the University of California Press’s Journals Division. This transition has afforded me a somewhat unique perspective on both of these publishing domains -- and I am particularly interested in the ways in which library publishers might both adopt publishing best practices from their press colleagues and maintain the distinct stance from which they serve a different purpose within the institution.
Moving to an OA library publishing program has eliminated many of the complexities posed by subscriptions, sales, and library purchasing budgets, but I now face a different set of challenges in dealing with publications that have neither the carrot of funding nor the stick of contractual obligations to my organization. Despite these differences, both non-profit and OA library publishers must answer the same fundamental question: how to build and sustain a journals program that offers a compelling alternative to and sometimes even competes with commercial publishers, while operating with significantly fewer resources. I believe there are important opportunities to leverage the knowledge from each distinct professional domain and enhance both.
This presentation will examine the differences and similarities between non-profit and OA library publishing and offer thoughts on some quick wins for increasing discoverability, driving submissions, and growing usage and citations of OA journal publications -- from the perspective of a newcomer to the community. It will also, hopefully, provide a forum for library publishers of all sizes to share their thoughts and concerns about their own programs, giving us all a space to learn from each other and develop new strategies and tactics for our publishing endeavours.
