An Industry Pining for Bookstores
Publishing does not take place in a vacuum but in an ecosystem. The book business is changing not because of a preference for digital books but because physical bookstores are being removed from the ecosystem.
Open Access and Professional Societies
Let’s imagine that open access publishing becomes the norm. What will the implications be? One implication is that it will likely create significant pressure on professional societies, which will seek new business arrangements to augment their income and keep their society together.
Dissertation Embargoes and the Rights of Scholars: AHA Smacks the Hornet's Nest
A recent statement by the American Historical Association is generating heated debate about the rights and best interests of junior scholars, the market dynamics for scholarly monographs, and the competing needs of publishers, libraries, authors, and readers.
Another Perspective on Library-Press "Partnerships"
A response to Joe Esposito’s post last week about partnerships between libraries and university presses.
Google Wins One: No Class Status for Authors Guild
Google wins an appeal on class status for the Authors Guild lawsuit. This decision may have far-reaching effects on the case and fair use principles.
What Happens When the Marginal Cost of Content is No Longer Zero?
The marginal cost of content may not always be zero as changes in telecommunications strategy and practices affect the cost of bandwidth for producers. Publishing services based on free content may be challenged by this.
Disrupting the Faculty: The Changing Face of the College Textbook Business
The college textbook business is being disrupted, but not by outsiders. The publishers themselves are restructuring the industry. One consequence of this may be diminished prerogatives for instructors in their choice of classroom texts.
Scholarly Kitchen Podcast: OK Google — What's Next?
In this episode, Scholarly Kitchen Chef David Smith, Head of Innovation with CABI’s Plantwise initiative, talks with podcast host Stewart Wills about some of the recent news from Google’s annual I/O conference — including thoughts on Google Glass as a […]
Putting Freemium Marketing into Context
This is a slide presentation on freemium marketing, which was delivered at the 2013 SSP conference. The key argument is that freemium marketing is a form of product sampling, which must be integrated into the overall marketing plan.
Are University Presses Better off Now than They Were Four Years Ago?
The university press world is operating under circumstances that are somewhat tighter than they were even a few years ago. While most presses now publish ebooks, ebooks in themselves do not provide a strategic path to growth.
Populism vs. Activism — Encountering Limitations in the Age of Online Petitions and Signatures
We’re officially in the age of online petitions, which may be taking the place of actual activism. Is that an improvement?
Announcing the Scholarly Kitchen Podcast
The Scholarly Kitchen proudly announces its podcast. Happy listening!
The Inexorable Path of the Professional Society Publisher
There is a predictable path for society publishers as they explore their options. Their programs may be under pressure today, leading many of them to seek alliances with large commercial firms, though many societies are unhappy to do so.
Don't Miss Another Hour with the Chefs, and Other Highlights — The SSP Annual Meeting in San Francisco
The Chefs are headed to San Francisco for another lively session closing out the SSP Annual Meeting. A range of topics and opinions will serve as dessert for a terrific meeting.
Seeking Acceptance at F1000 Research — Early Problems With Identity and Outsourced Authority
Articles are published before they’re reviewed; doubts about a paper are viewed as a positive status; papers only need to contain “science;” review and revision can continue forever; and PubMed Central is their certifying entity. Welcome to the world of F1000 Research.