Sustaining the growth of library scholarly publishing in a New University Press

Abstract

Abstract. In 2012, the University of Huddersfield Press presented a paper at the 16th International Conference on Electronic Publishing on its new open access journals platform. At the time, the Press was one of the only New University Presses (NUP) in the UK and one of the first to publish open access journals, open access monographs and sound recordings. This article discusses a number of emerging business models for NUPs before developing Hahn's programme and publication level business plan, which is then related to the sustainability of the Press at Huddersfield. The article will demonstrate how the Press is able to show value to the University in order to secure funding. The paper will conclude with a discussion around the need for collaboration between library-led NUPs. Although this paper concentrates on the experiences of the University of Huddersfield Press, it will be relevant to other emerging or planned NUPs.Keywords: Library, publishing, university press, open access, business models IntroductionIn 2012, the University of Huddersfield Press (the 'University Press') presented a paper at the 16th International Conference on Electronic Publishing on its new open access journals platform [39]. At the time, the Press was one of the only New University Presses (NUP) in the UK and one of the first to publish open access journals, open access monographs and sound recordings. Since then the Press has published seven journals, ten scholarly monographs and nine music recordings. However, over this time the University Press has developed organically without a clear business model. This article will discuss a number of emerging business models that could be applied to NUPs before recommending a way forward for the University of Huddersfield Press. Hahn's [15] programme and publication level business planning will be described and expanded in relation to the sustainability of the University Press. The article will also demonstrate how the Press has been able to show value to the University in order to secure future funding.Although this paper concentrates on the experiences of the University of Huddersfield Press, it will be relevant to other emerging or planned NUPs. These new publishing ventures, often based in the library, have harnessed the changes in the digital landscape and the rise of the open access movement to allow them to publish scholarly works, such as journals and monographs. Hahn [15] describes library publishing as offering a truncated list of services when compared to the traditional publishing model. These truncated services may in fact represent a leaner version of traditional 'legacy' publishers. Davis

New university presses in theUK: Accessing a mission

“…Of course, this is essential for any university press, but where the institution is investing in the press, the imperative is even stronger in order to demonstrate value for money. Graham Stone of the University of Huddersfield Press, at a presentation at the ELPUB2016 conference (Stone, ), attempted to quantify reputational benefits of Huddersfield's publishing, and concluded that Press outputs were at least partly responsible for £82.5 K of the University's Music School's Quality Related funding in 1 year. If it could be successfully argued that such publications would not have happened without the involvement and collaboration of the institution's own university press then this is a tangible benefit.…”