This document discusses challenges facing university presses and potential solutions. It notes that traditional economic models of university presses are outdated given changes in information dissemination and consumption. To address this, it proposes a three-stage open access model for monograph publishing that involves initial open digital dissemination to improve access and discoverability, followed by paid print editions to generate revenue. However, it acknowledges challenges to implementing this model including cultural obstacles, securing funding, and transitioning from current economic models. Overall, the document advocates for university presses to embrace digital dissemination while maintaining print to remain sustainable in a changing publishing landscape.

1. Founded in 1922—
the oldest university
press in the South
and one of the
oldest in the nationJohn.sherer@uncpress.org
@jesherer

2. The Monograph Challenge from the
University Press Perspective
• While we offer excellent value (at UNC Press, less than
4% of our costs are subsidized), at the same time…
• …sales trends are clear and troubling, and only going
to get worse. Indirect funding through library
purchases and course adoptions are in permanent,
asymptotic decline. Good value will not be enough.
• Our economic models are based on obsolete
assumptions about information scarcity and
monetizing formats.
• But technology is giving us tools to be better
publishers than ever.

3. The Two Main Functions of Publishers
Content Teams
Acquisitions
Editors
Marketing
Publicity
Production &
Dissemination
Teams
Production
Distribution
Sales
Accounting

4. Building
Scale in
University
Press
Publishing
Editorial,
Design,and
Production (EDP)
• Streamlined workflow
• Standard
Monograph Program
Strategic
Partnerships
• Centralized negotiation
for favorable pricing
• Alwaysprospecting
potential
new offerings
Fulfillment
• Top quality,
full-service book
distribution and
back-office
functionalitybuilt
exclusivelyfor
universitypresses
Best Practices
• User-group meetings
• Monthlywebinars
• Basecamp resources
Sales
• Nationwide
field representation
• National Account
Management
Marketing
Services
• Website design
and development
• Online marketing tools
• Edelweiss
• Nielsen Bookscan
• Catalog services
Printing
• Offset
• Short run digital
• Print on demand
Exhibits
• Trade shows
• Academicconferences
• Sub-rightsshows
UNIVERSITY OFMISSOURI PRESS
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Created by university pressesfor university presses,Longleaf isa non-profit businessdedicated
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5. What Would a Model That Embraces
Digital Dissemination Look Like?
• Most of our costs are not in manufacturing
formats, but in creation of content—acquiring,
credentialing, editing, and positioning.
• If we can better define where we uniquely add
value, we can make the case for funding support
for that activity—especially if we dramatically
improve access. This is Publishing as a Service.
• Discoverability is happening digitally, while deep
engagement is happening in print, so we need a
hybrid model—digital first, followed by paid print.

6. Digital First Monographs
• Digital workflow allowing more efficient (faster)
and broader dissemination, easier re-use
• Reduce investments in analog discoverability
(cover designs, print inventory, display marketing)
• Increase investments in digital discoverability
(chapter-level abstracts, key-words, linked data,
social web integration)
• New pricing model with free, highly-SEO digital
formats coupled with pay-walled physical editions

7. The OA Future?
A 3-Stage Model for Monographs
STAGE1
Acquire
Peer review
Copyedit
”Credential”
”Dirty” POD
STAGE2
Publish on
open web for
18-24 months
Submit for
reviews &
awards
Meter usage
STAGE3
Publish into
consumer
marketplace
Create
print/ePub
Traditional
marketing
Required OptionalRequired
External funding Limited costs Publisher funding

8. Benefits of the OA Model
 Offers fuller and faster access to scholarship
 Significantly reduces market-based considerations
from publishing decisions
 Allows presses to focus marketing resources on
titles that will generate $$ return
 Permits open review of texts
 Seamless interaction with web-based archives or
digital humanities output
 Successful Stage 3 publishers will help drive down
costs of Stage 1 and 2 fees

9. Challenges of the OA Model
 Cultural obstacles with promotion & tenure
 Funding sources needed for Stage 1 and 2
activities
 Potential moral hazards of “supply-sided” funding
 How to assess impact in order to move from
Stage 2 Stage 3?
 Lower quality physical formats in Stage 1
 Migrating presses from their current economic
models that monetize formats instead of content
curation

10. Thank you
John.sherer@uncpress.org
Twitter: @jesherer