Russian Social Sciences and Humanities Book Publishing and Digitization

Abstract

The article describes the digitization process in contemporary Russian book publishing with a focus on social sciences and humanities (SSH) publications. Russian SSH book publishing faces two major challenges: one is inadequate book distribution system which still bears a birth injury signs of rude economic transformations of 1990s, and the other is ongoing reform in the tertiary education system and Russian Academy of Sciences using evaluation systems which are more friendly to natural sciences with their domination of a journal article over a monograph. Digitization could play in Russia even more important role than in other countries where information technologies were applied to well functioning book market industry. In Russia wider use of eBooks, digital libraries, online bookstores and open access facilities should help to make a real breakthrough from stagnation to new developments.