Scientific Book Publishing in Russia: Crisis or Paradigm Shift?

Abstract

The article considers the state of book publishing in Russia and the place of scientific books in this structure. The main research methods are focused on the study of statistical data of the global and Russian scientific book publishing and analysis of the reasons for the change of the paradigm of scientific book publishing in Russia. The data presented in the dynamics shows that the scientific publishing is being gradually reduced both in the number of titles and in circulation, despite the promotion of electronic publishing. Some advantages of the e-book are noted: significant increase in the speed of communication; ensuring the availability and safety of the originals of old, rare and short-run books when translating them into electronic form (digitization, scanning); the ability to show dynamic processes (traditional book is static).There are analysed the main reasons for the reduction of scientific book publishing at the present stage. Among the reasons there are noted: the economic factors associated with the termination of the real government support of scientific publishing; communication factors influenced by the high rate of renewal of the applicative knowledge, while fundamental scientific research, to be reflected in scientific books, cannot outrun the dynamic realities of the applied aspects of modern knowledge; bibliometric factors, the existing system of bibliometric assessments are not conductive to the development of scientific publishing. It is noted that the priority is now given to scientific articles, that is connected both with the efficiency of the publication of the results of scientific research, and the promotion of this type of publication. However, this has a negative impact on the development of fundamental science, education and the preservation of scientific knowledge for future generations. Scientific book publishing needs a paradigm shift.