A university press is an academic publishing house specializing in monographs and scholarly journals. They are often an integral component of a large research university . They publish work that has been reviewed by scholars in the field. They produce mainly academic works but also often have trade books for a lay audience. These trade books also get peer reviewed. Many but not all university presses are nonprofit organizations, including the 160 members of the Association of University Presses .
60-520: Because scholarly books are mostly unprofitable, university presses may also publish textbooks and reference works, which tend to have larger audiences and sell more copies. Most university presses operate at a loss and are subsidized by their owners; others are required to break even. Demand has fallen as library budgets are cut and the online sales of used books undercut the new book market. Many presses are experimenting with electronic publishing. Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press are
120-404: A Press & Assessment Board; and to an Academic Publishing Committee and an English Language Teaching & Education Publishing Committee. The Press & Assessment Board was responsible for setting overarching strategic direction. The Publishing Committees provide quality assurance and formal approval of the publishing strategy. The operational responsibility of the press was delegated by
180-443: A book burning". The press pointed out that, at that time, it had already sold most of its copies of the book. The press defended its actions, saying it had acted responsibly and that it was a global publisher with a duty to observe the laws of many different countries. In this case, originally filed in 2008, CUP et al. accused Georgia State University of infringement of copyright. The case closed on 29 September 2020, with GSU as
240-775: A conference venues business in Cambridge at the Pitt Building and the Sir Geoffrey Cass Sports and Social Centre. It also served as the King's Printer . Cambridge University Press, as part of the University of Cambridge, was a non-profit organization. Cambridge University Press joined The Association of American Publishers trade organization in the Hachette v. Internet Archive lawsuit which resulted in
300-421: A global sales presence, publishing hubs, and offices in more than 40 countries , it published over 50,000 titles by authors from over 100 countries. Its publications include more than 420 academic journals , monographs , reference works , school and university textbooks, and English language teaching and learning publications. It also published Bibles, runs a bookshop in Cambridge, sells through Amazon, and has
360-682: A landmark agreement with the University of California. In its 2019 Annual Report, Cambridge University Press stated that it saw such agreements "as an important stepping stone in the transition to Open Access". In 2019, the press joined with the University of Cambridge 's research and teaching departments to give a unified response to Plan S , which calls for all publications resulting from publicly funded research to be published in compliant open access journals or platforms from 2020. The response emphasized Cambridge's commitment to an open access goal which works effectively for all academic disciplines,
420-550: A plan to focus increasingly on scholarly books rather than the commercial successes it had become known for, prompting a public debate about the role of university presses. In New Zealand , several universities operate scholarly presses. Auckland University Press has been operating since 1966 and Victoria University Press since the 1970s. In 2023, the Association of University Presses (AUP) has over 150 member presses. Growth has been sporadic, with 14 presses established in
480-591: A press based on the European model. In Nigeria for example, scholarly presses have played a central role in shaping and encouraging intellectual efforts and gaining international attention for scholarly production. However, the established European presses, especially Oxford University Press, have dominated the market, allowing a narrow niche for new local presses such as Ibadan University Press, now University Press Plc . In England , Cambridge University Press traces its founding to 1534, when King Henry VIII granted
540-457: A single platform to access its publishing ("the home of academic content from Cambridge University Press" ). It provided significantly enhanced interfaces and upgraded navigation capabilities, as well as article-level and chapter-level content selection. A year after Cambridge Core went live, the press launched Cambridge Core Share, functionality to allow users to generate and share links with free access to selected journal articles, an early sign of
600-682: A successful list which includes its first humanities title, Modern Language Review . 1956 saw the first issue of the Journal of Fluid Mechanics . The press has published 170+ Nobel Prize winners , the first in 1895. In 1913, the Monotype system of hot-metal mechanised typesetting was introduced at the press. In 1949, the press opened its first international branch in New York. The press moved to its current site in Cambridge in 1963. The mid-century modern building, University Printing House,
660-403: A suitable motto. The tag line was later changed to "Australia's first university press". The Miegunyah Press is an imprint of MUP, established in 1967 under a bequest from businessman and philanthropist Russell Grimwade , with the intention of subsidising the publication of illustrated scholarly works that would otherwise be uneconomic to publish. Grimwade's great-grandnephew Andrew Grimwade
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#1732772628418720-487: Is actually no more than a department of the University, with no independent status of its own, governed by academic senior members of the University" and that it was not "an almost semi-independent 'international publisher'....Without adequate academic leadership, it would be all too easy for commercial concerns to override academic values, removing public benefit....If the Regent House does zippo to provide leadership on
780-543: Is the second-oldest publishing house in Australia. Other Australian universities followed suit in following decades, including the University of Western Australia Press (1935), University of Queensland Press (1948) and Sydney University Press (1962). In the later part of the 20th century some of these presses closed down or were taken over by larger international presses. Some survived and built strong reputations for publishing literature, poetry and serious non-fiction. In
840-751: The Gold Open Access and Green Open Access requirements of major research funders. It published Gold Open Access journals and books and works with publishing partners such as learned societies to develop Open Access for different communities. It supports Green Open Access (also called Green archiving) across its journals and monographs, allowing authors to deposit content in institutional and subject-specific repositories. It also supports sharing on commercial sharing sites through its Cambridge Core Share service. In recent years it has entered into several Read & Publish Open Access agreements with university libraries and consortia in several countries, including
900-714: The Mellon Foundation , the Chicago Digital Distribution Center (CDDC) has been offering digital printing services and the BiblioVault digital repository services to book publishers. In 2009, the CDC enabled the sales of electronic books directly to individuals and provided digital delivery services for the University of Michigan Press among others. The Chicago Distribution Center has also partnered with an additional 15 presses including
960-478: The University of Illinois Press specializes in labor history , MIT Press publishes linguistics and architecture titles, Northwestern University Press publishes in continental philosophy , poetry , and the performing arts , and the Catholic University of America Press publishes works that deal with Catholic theology, philosophy, and church history. The Distribution Services Division provides
1020-506: The University of Missouri Press , West Virginia University Press , and publications of the Getty Foundation . Financially, university presses have come under growing pressure. Only a few presses, such as Oxford, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale have endowments; the others depend upon sales, fundraising, and subventions (subsidies) from their sponsoring institutions. Subsidies vary but typically range from $ 150,000 to $ 500,000. Because
1080-590: The "Open-Access Toolkit", published by the OAPEN Foundation, defines as follows: These are university presses established since the 1990s, often explicitly to publish open access books. In many other respects, they are run like a university press. However, as with library publishing ... NUPs are often library-led, albeit with an academic-led steering group or editorial board. Examples of NUPs include ANU Press (Australia), Amherst College Press (USA), University of Michigan Press (USA), UCL Press (UK), and
1140-490: The 100 most sought after titles on Amazon.com and eBay in the United States. The press sent a letter to libraries asking them to remove copies from circulation. The press subsequently sent out copies of an "errata" sheet for the book. The American Library Association issued a recommendation to libraries still holding Alms for Jihad : "Given the intense interest in the book, and the desire of readers to learn about
1200-548: The 1850s. It was in this period that the press turned down what later became the Oxford English Dictionary – a proposal for which was brought to Cambridge by James Murray before he turned to Oxford. The press journals publishing programme began in 1893 with the Journal of Physiology and then the Journal of Hygiene and Biometrika . By 1910 the press had become a well-established journal publisher with
1260-515: The 1940s, 11 in the 1950s; and 19 in the 1960s. Since 1970, 16 universities have opened presses and several have closed. Today, the largest university press in the United States is the University of Chicago Press . University presses tend to develop specialized areas of expertise, such as regional studies. For instance, Yale University Press publishes many art books, the Chicago , Duke , and Indiana University Presses publish many academic journals,
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#17327726284181320-507: The 1950s and 1960s. The Edinburgh University Press became the leading Scottish academic publisher. It was especially famous for publishing major books on the history and literature of Scotland, and by enlisting others in Scotland. In Australia , the University of Melbourne was the first to establish its own press: Melbourne University Press , set up to sell books and stationery in 1922, began publishing academic monographs soon after and
1380-485: The 1960s, a typical hardcover monograph would sell 1,660 copies in the five years after publication. By 1984, that average had declined to 1,003 and in after 2000 typical sales of monographs for all presses are below 500. University libraries are under heavy pressure to purchase very expensive subscriptions to commercial science journals, even as their overall budgets are static. By 1997 scientific journals were thirty times more expensive than they were in 1970. In May 2012,
1440-574: The 2014 Hong Kong protests , and ethnic tensions in Xinjiang and Tibet . On 21 August 2017, in the face of growing international protests, Cambridge University Press announced it would immediately repost the articles to uphold the principle of academic freedom on which the university's work was founded. In a discussion reported in the Cambridge University Reporter , D.K.K.Chow declared, "Without academic leadership on
1500-493: The 21st century several Australian universities have revived their presses or established new ones. Their business models and publishing approaches vary considerably. Some publish chiefly for general readers while others publish only scholarly books. Several have experimented with Open Access publishing and/or electronic-only publishing. Some supplement their publishing income by offering distribution services or operating bookshops. In January 2019 Melbourne University Press announced
1560-575: The Act) was not exercised in the course of the actual carrying out of a primary purpose of the University". In November 1975, with CUP facing financial collapse, CUP's chief executive Geoffrey Cass wrote a 60-page "preliminary letter" to the Inland Revenue again seeking tax-exemption. A year later Cass's application was granted in a letter from the Inland Revenue, though the decision was not made public. After consulting CUP, Cambridge's 'sister' press,
1620-674: The Press Syndicate (formerly Curators)...However, the Council's report proposes a Press and Assessment Syndicate, without such academic leadership....The proposed change in composition of the Syndicate...is in stark contrast to the arguments used by the Press to obtain its current tax exemption. In a landmark letter to the Inland Revenue in 1975, Sir Geoffrey Cass, then Chief Executive of the Press, wrote: "The Press of Cambridge University
1680-621: The Press and Assessment Syndicate, treating Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment as cash cows, there is little reason for the University to continue owning them." In 2007, controversy arose over the press's decision to destroy all remaining copies of its 2006 book Alms for Jihad: Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World , by Burr and Collins, as part of the settlement of a lawsuit brought by Saudi billionaire Khalid bin Mahfouz . Within hours, Alms for Jihad became one of
1740-510: The Syndics to the secretary of the syndicate and chief executive. In 2020 the university announced its decision to merge Cambridge University Press with Cambridge Assessment . Until August 2021, Cambridge University Press had three publishing groups: From 1 August 2021 onwards, Cambridge University Press became solely the academic and bible publishing division of Cambridge University Press & Assessment . The English and education arms of
1800-438: The University of Cambridge. The press has, since 1698, been governed by the press 'Syndics' (originally known as the 'Curators'), 18 senior members of the University of Cambridge who, along with other non-executive directors, bring a range of subject and business expertise. The chair of the syndicate was currently Professor Stephen Toope (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge ). The syndicate has delegated its powers to
1860-503: The University of Chicago Press's warehousing, customer service, and related services. The Chicago Distribution Center (CDC) began providing distribution services in 1991, when the University of Tennessee Press became its first client. Currently the CDC serves nearly 100 publishers including Stanford University Press , University of Minnesota Press , University of Iowa Press , Temple University Press , Northwestern University Press , and many others. Since 2001, with development funding from
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1920-510: The University of Huddersfield Press (UK). Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge . Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessment to form Cambridge University Press and Assessment under Queen Elizabeth II 's approval in August 2021. With
1980-423: The University of Missouri System announced that it would close the University of Missouri Press so that it might focus more efficiently on “strategic priorities.” Friends of the press from around the country rallied to its support, arguing that by publishing over 2,000 scholarly books the press made a major contribution to scholarship. A few months later the university reversed its decision. In 2014, Peter Berkery,
2040-421: The academic leadership of the University.'" Melbourne University Publishing Melbourne University Publishing ( MUP ) is the book publishing arm of the University of Melbourne . The press is currently a member of the Association of University Presses . MUP was founded in 1922 as Melbourne University Press to sell text books and stationery to students, and soon began publishing books itself. Over
2100-479: The base of potential sales. Oxford University Press opened a South African office in 1915 to distribute its books in the region. The first South African university press was established in 1922 at Witwatersrand University . Several other South African universities established presses during the 20th century and, as of 2015, four were actively publishing. As new universities opened in Africa after 1960, some developed
2160-591: The controversy first hand, we recommend that U.S. libraries keep the book available for their users." The publisher's decision did not have the support of the book's authors and was criticized by some who claimed it was incompatible with freedom of speech and with freedom of the press and that it indicated that English defamation laws were excessively strict. In the New York Times Book Review (7 October 2007), United States Congressman Frank R. Wolf described Cambridge's settlement as "basically
2220-582: The executive director of the Association of University Presses stated: In the late 2010s, a number of universities began launching initiatives, often under the aegis of their libraries, to "support the creation, dissemination, and curation of scholarly, creative, and/or educational works" in a way that emulated the approach of traditional university presses while also taking into account the changing landscape of scholarly publishing. These initiatives have collectively been dubbed "new university presses", which
2280-407: The exemption of its printing and publishing profits from taxation, equivalent to charitable status. After a November 1940 Inland Revenue hearing, CUP's application was refused "on the ground that, since the Press was printing and publishing for the outside world and not simply for the internal use of the University, the Press's trade went beyond the purpose and objects of the University and (in terms of
2340-610: The first practising University Printer, Thomas Thomas, set up a printing house in 1584. The first publication was a book, Two Treatises of the Lord His Holie Supper . In 1591, the first Cambridge Bible was printed by John Legate and in 1629, Cambridge folio edition of the King James Bible was printed by Thomas and John Buck. In July 1697, the Duke of Somerset made a loan of £200 to the university "towards
2400-610: The giant Oxford University Press presented their own submission and received similar exemption. In 2003 OUP's tax exemption was publicly attacked by Joel Rickett of The Bookseller in The Guardian . In 2007, with the new 'public benefit' requirement of the revised Charities Act, the issue was re-examined with particular reference to the OUP. In 2008 CUP's and OUP's privilege was attacked by rival publishers. In 2009 The Guardian invited author Andrew Malcolm to write an article on
2460-409: The matter, the University's basic ethical values were cast aside by commercial considerations. This instigated public debate, which would have been avoided had academic leadership been more vigilant, causing unnecessary damage to the University's reputation. The Press statement explained that lack of academic leadership was to blame: 'This decision was taken as a temporary measure pending discussion with
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2520-594: The name "University Press" in 1802. Modern university presses emerged in the United States in the late 19th century. Cornell University started one in 1869 but had to close it down, only restarting operations in 1930; Johns Hopkins University Press has been in continuous operation since 1878. The University of Pennsylvania Press (1890), University of Chicago Press (1891), Columbia University Press (1893), University of California Press (1893), and Northwestern University Press (1893) followed. The biggest growth came after 1945 as higher education expanded rapidly. There
2580-407: The organisation merged with the equivalent departments of Cambridge Assessment to form new, merged divisions. In 2011, Cambridge University Press adopted SAP software. Cambridge University Press works closely with IT services firm Tech Mahindra on SAP, and with Cognizant and Wipro on other systems. In 2016, Cambridge Books Online and Cambridge Journals Online were replaced by Cambridge Core –
2640-405: The press's commitment to open research. In 2020, partnered with online library Perlego to offer students access to digital textbooks. In 2021, the press acquired CogBooks. The technology adapts and responds to users, "recommending course material needed to optimise learning". In 2021, the press began migrating its website onto Drupal . In May 1940, CUP applied to the Inland Revenue for
2700-437: The prevailing party. On 18 August 2017, following an "instruction" from a Chinese import agency, Cambridge University Press used the functionality that had been built into Cambridge Core to temporarily delete politically sensitive articles from The China Quarterly on its Chinese website. The articles focused on topics China regards as taboo, including the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre , Mao Zedong 's Cultural Revolution ,
2760-501: The printing house and press" and James Halman , Registrary of the university, lent £100 for the same purpose. A new home for the press, The Pitt Building, on Trumpington Street in the centre of Cambridge was completed in 1833, which was designed by Edward Blore . It became a listed building in 1950. In the early 1800s, the press pioneers the development of stereotype printing , allowing successive printings from one setting. The press began using steam-powered machine presses by
2820-523: The removal of access to over 500,000 books from global readers. Cambridge University Press was the oldest university press in the world. It originated from letters patent granted to the University of Cambridge by Henry VIII in 1534. Cambridge was one of the two privileged presses (the other being Oxford University Press ). Authors published by Cambridge have included John Milton , William Harvey , Isaac Newton , Bertrand Russell , and Stephen Hawking . University printing began in Cambridge when
2880-430: The scans on the website their only public source. In 2021, the documents were cited in a discussion on the formation of Cambridge University Press & Assessment reported in the Cambridge University Reporter . D.D.K.Chow of Trinity College, expressed concerns about the lack of academic leadership of the new body: "For 323 years, the Press has been tightly controlled under the University's academic leadership through
2940-460: The shop expanded into 27 Market Hill where its specialist Education and English Language Teaching shop opened the following year. The press bookshop sells Press books as well as Cambridge souvenirs such as mugs, diaries, bags, postcards, maps. In 1993, the Cass Centre was opened to provide sports and social facilities for employees and their families. In 1999, Cambridge Dictionaries Online
3000-537: The subject. In 2007, from the National Archives at Kew, Malcolm obtained scans of CUP's unsuccessful applications for tax-exemption made in the 1940s and 1950s and their later successful applications in the 1970s. He then indexed and posted these on the Akmedea website. Late in 2020, the papers held at Kew were withdrawn from public access and ruled closed for 50 years until 1 January 2029. This rendered
3060-514: The subsidies are often not indexed to inflation, university press operating budgets can face a functional squeeze as inflation chips away at the value of the subsidy. Operating models vary, but host universities generally cover fixed costs like labor and fixed assets , while looking to the press to cover variable costs from the sale of books and other revenue. Sales of academic books have been declining, however, especially as University libraries cut back their purchases. At Princeton University Press in
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#17327726284183120-605: The two oldest and largest university presses in the world. They have scores of branches around the world, especially throughout the Commonwealth of Nations . In the United States , colonial colleges required printers to publish university catalogs, ceremonial materials, and a limited number of scholarly publications. Following the 17th-century work of Harvard College printer Samuel Green , William Hilliard of Cambridge, Massachusetts , began publishing materials under
3180-481: The university a "letters patent", giving it the right to print its own books, and its active publishing program to 1584. Oxford University began publishing books the following year in 1585 and acquired a charter in 1632. In Scotland Archie Turnbull (1923-2003) served as the long-time director of the Edinburgh University Press , 1952-87. The British university presses had strong expansion in
3240-578: The years scholarly works published under the MUP imprint have won numerous awards and prizes. The name Melbourne University Publishing was adopted for the business in 2003 following a restructure by the university, but books continue to be published under the Melbourne University Press imprint. The company's mandate was expressed by the tag line, "Books with Spine", which was coined by the writer Guy Rundle when Louise Adler asked him for
3300-490: Was a leveling off after 1970. By the time of independence in 1947, India had a well-established system of universities, and several leading ones developed a university press. The main areas of activity include monographs by professors, research papers and theses, and textbooks for undergraduate use. However, the basic problem faced by scholarly publishers in India is the use of multiple languages , which splintered and reduced
3360-491: Was called Cambridge University Press & Assessment . In 2022, Amira Bennison was elected chair of the Cambridge University Press academic committee, replacing Kenneth Armstrong. Cambridge University Press has stated its support for a sustainable transition to open access . It offers a range of open access publishing options under the heading of Cambridge Open, allowing authors to comply with
3420-423: Was constructed in 1961–1963. The building was designed by Beard, Bennett, Wilkins and Partners. In 1975, the press launched its English language teaching publishing business. In 1981, the press moved to a new site on Shaftsbury Road. The Edinburgh Building was purpose-built with an adjoining warehouse to accommodate the press's expansion. It was built in 1979–80 by International Design and Construction. The site
3480-519: Was demolished in 2017 to make way for the construction of Cambridge Assessment 's Triangle Building. In 1989, the press acquired the long-established Bible and prayer-book publisher Eyre & Spottiswoode , which gave the press the ancient and unique title of The Queen's Printer. In 1992, the press opened a bookshop at 1 Trinity Street, Cambridge , which was the oldest-known bookshop site in Britain as books have been sold there since 1581. In 2008
3540-600: Was financially sustainable for institutions and high-quality peer review, and which leads to an orderly transition. The press was a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association and the International Association of STM Publishers. In 2023, more than 50 per cent of Cambridge University Press research articles are in open access mode. Cambridge University Press was a non-teaching department of
3600-512: Was launched. In 2012, the press sold its printing operation to MPG Books Group and now uses third parties around the world to provide its print publications. In 2019, the press released a new concept in scholarly publishing through Cambridge Elements where authors whose works are either too short to be printed as a book or too long to qualify as a journal article could have these published within 12 weeks. In 2021, Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessment . The new organisation
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