Library Publishing is Special: Selection and Eligibility in Library Publishing

Paul Royster

doi:10.7710/2162-3309.1183

Abstract

Traditional publishing is based on ownership, commerce, paid exchanges, and scholarship as a commodity, while library activities are based on a service model of sharing resources and free exchange. I believe library publishing should be based on those values and should not duplicate or emulate traditional publishing. University presses have mixed views of library publishing, and libraries should not adopt those attitudes. Library publishers are not gatekeepers; their mission is dissemination. Libraries need to publish because traditional publishing suffers from high rejection rates, required surrender of intellectual property, long production schedules, high cost of products, and limited dissemination. Nebraska’s Zea Books is a response to these needs. Miscellaneous advice for library publishers is offered and selection and eligibility criteria are outlined. A suggestion is made for a cooperative ebook distribution network.

Highlights

Library Conference Presentations and Speeches. 97. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/library_talks/97. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Library Conference Presentations and Speeches by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Traditional publishing is based on ownership, commerce, paid exchanges, and scholarship as a commodity
I believe library publishing should be based on those values

Summary

Paul Royster

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/library_talks. Paul, "Library Publishing Is Special: Selection and Eligibility in Library Publishing" (2014). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Library Conference Presentations and Speeches by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Selection and Eligibility in Library Publishing

What do university presses really think of library publishing?*

What did the libraries do that was so terrible?

Why not?

Know your author