Libraries As Publishers: Using Digital Technology to Support Scholarly Communication

Dissatisfied with the current copyright and economic climate for scholarly publishing, and equipped with a preservation mission and a robust technological infrastructure, the University of Michigan Library started the Scholarly Publishing Office (SPO) several years ago in order to provide an alternative to the scholarly publishing status quo. Six years later, SPO is the publisher of nearly twenty, mostly open-access electronic journals, a small original monograph series, born-digital special projects; and a provider of hosting services for large subscription-based resources. While primarily an electronic publisher, SPO also runs a print on demand program, with over 9000 books for sale on Amazon, as well as partners with the UM Press to create a joint imprint of open access and print books.

This presentation will discuss the genesis, operations, and ongoing challenges of running the Scholarly Publishing Office at the University of Michigan Library. We will cover topics such as our business model; technological infrastructure; and digital and print publishing services. Finally, we will also speak more broadly about the role of the library-publisher in the future of digital publishing, noting the risks, challenges, and rewards of balancing technological capability with a scholarly mission and economic/intellectual property advocacy.