Rethinking Academic Publishing: Digitizing Monographs for Accessibility and Use

[Approximate Reading Time : 4 mins]

A recent struggle for many university presses is the plateau and drop-off in sales of scholarly works. Academic publishing, while still a prominent source of publication for scholarly authors, has experienced a dwindling of sales in recent years. However, decrease does not represent disinterest in the consumption of such materials. Professionals and students alike still demand and require current research studies and professional publications, but their consumption patterns have changed. Many now favor digital formats over print, which means that academic publishers must rethink their publishing strategy, aiming more for an omnichannel approach.

The Problems With Print

While university libraries still acknowledge the prevalence of printed materials, actual sales are favoring digital formats. Therefore, when considering the publication of monographs, presses must distinguish between desire and need. Most presses prefer traditional prints. However, students and alumni are more likely to purchase digital content.

Accessibility and Use

Traditional printing is the foundation of most university presses, but the accessibility of such publications is not efficient for many consumers who prefer the ease of use of a digital resource. Therefore, presses should focus on the many benefits of an omnichannel or multichannel distribution approach when considering publication options:

• Access to a wider audience
• Longevity of the published material
• Searchability of the content
• Ease of use for all consumers

Presses and Publishing Partners

Many presses are not equipped with the tools or platforms necessary to handle a multichannel and widespread distribution. Therefore, it is vital for these institutions to find publishing partners that understand the necessity of omnichannel support as well as the importance of monographs to the careers of alumni and academic success of students.

Print publication is no longer enough for universities; they must also adapt and embrace digitization. For those university presses looking for an experienced academic publisher, contact Amnet. Find out about their well-established relationships with several top-tier universities and talk to a representative about their specialized university press services.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/sep/30/publishing-humanities-monograph-open-access
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Worried-About-the-Future-of/246014