Publishers “in” Libraries: New Agents, New Roles, New Challenges Terence K. Huwe Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library University of California, Berkeley Long Island Library Resources Council October 30, 2009

What I’ll Be Covering Today The growing culture of library-based publishing, editorial work and marketing Publishers, libraries and readers (“users”) in an era of mutable information and self-directed publishing How the Internet still challenges us to adapt—collectively and individually Some examples of how “publishers in libraries” can influence scholarship

The growing culture of library-based publishing, editorial work and marketing

Publishers, libraries and readers (“users”) in an era of mutable information and self-directed publishing

How the Internet still challenges us to adapt—collectively and individually

Some examples of how “publishers in libraries” can influence scholarship

A Little More About Me… My first career: independent bookselling! College store, co-op style outlet, million-plus dollar sales (1986 dollars) Lots of contact with marketers, sales people and editors Publishers Weekly was my “Bible” I know and love the publishing industry It’s been a great basis for a library career

My first career: independent bookselling!

College store, co-op style outlet, million-plus dollar sales (1986 dollars)

Lots of contact with marketers, sales people and editors

Publishers Weekly was my “Bible”

I know and love the publishing industry

It’s been a great basis for a library career

But…“Publishers in Libraries?” A play on words with a tip of the hat to Computers in Libraries ( CIL ), which publishes my column A “poke” at Dan Chudnov, whose column in CIL is titled “Libraries in Computers” An apt description of my job A viable term to describe the new library “skill set” that we need A provocative statement

A play on words with a tip of the hat to Computers in Libraries ( CIL ), which publishes my column

A “poke” at Dan Chudnov, whose column in CIL is titled “Libraries in Computers”

An apt description of my job

A viable term to describe the new library “skill set” that we need

A provocative statement

A Not-So-New Expertise Librarians have been practicing editorial work for a long time Marketing is now essential Librarians’ scholarly profile (degrees, experience, etc) shares common ground with editors and their career ladders New media make it possible to shift the points of production along the “information continuum.” This creates new competition for “attention.” Ergo: There can be more than one publisher-outlet Libraries have adapted well to the climate—at a high price

Librarians have been practicing editorial work for a long time

Marketing is now essential

Librarians’ scholarly profile (degrees, experience, etc) shares common ground with editors and their career ladders

New media make it possible to shift the points of production along the “information continuum.”

This creates new competition for “attention.”

Ergo: There can be more than one publisher-outlet

Libraries have adapted well to the climate—at a high price

Adapt or Die: A Seminal Moment A copyright presentation at ASIS (now ASIS&T) in November 1997 Counsel for ALA and AAP, talking about how to manage access to digital copyrighted works The ALA lawyer had an enormously well-articulated vision The AAP lawyer was on the defensive, and short on ideas

A copyright presentation at ASIS (now ASIS&T) in November 1997

Counsel for ALA and AAP, talking about how to manage access to digital copyrighted works

The ALA lawyer had an enormously well-articulated vision

The AAP lawyer was on the defensive, and short on ideas

“ Wow,” I thought: Librarians were “getting it” and going for it We had developed tough evaluative skills to assess our legacy charges and our future roles—freeing space for creativity Publishers were struggling with new pricing and access models The faculty, back home, was basically “clueless” at the time Opportunity strikes!

Librarians were “getting it” and going for it

We had developed tough evaluative skills to assess our legacy charges and our future roles—freeing space for creativity

Publishers were struggling with new pricing and access models

The faculty, back home, was basically “clueless” at the time

Opportunity strikes!

Since Then… SPARC Engaging the faculty re: scholarly communications Mellon Foundation initiatives New “metrics” for libraries Endless opportunities for communication A growing need for “interpretation” of collections All-new entrants with big ideas: Google

SPARC

Engaging the faculty re: scholarly communications

Mellon Foundation initiatives

New “metrics” for libraries

Endless opportunities for communication

A growing need for “interpretation” of collections

All-new entrants with big ideas: Google

Publishing in Libraries is Underway Reasonable minds may disagree about how much we should do “ mission creep” –a scary prospect (“Even more to do?”) The role is to some degree being forced upon us In light of that force, I will take a look two theories of convergence and shifting roles I’ll give some examples of projects underway

Reasonable minds may disagree about how much we should do

“ mission creep” –a scary prospect (“Even more to do?”)

The role is to some degree being forced upon us

In light of that force, I will take a look two theories of convergence and shifting roles

I’ll give some examples of projects underway

Understanding the Knowledge Creation Process Two theories of information that are particularly compelling: The Getty Information Institute and the “Information Continuum” Professional culture and the process of “Treatment Substitution” (Abbott, 1988)

Two theories of information that are particularly compelling:

The Getty Information Institute and the “Information Continuum”

Professional culture and the process of “Treatment Substitution” (Abbott, 1988)

The Getty Information Institute (GII) GII Published several Web-based reports in the mid to late 1990s The analysis of GII informs much of what we now accept about digital life

GII Published several Web-based reports in the mid to late 1990s

The analysis of GII informs much of what we now accept about digital life

The Information Continuum It runs from author to user It includes several agents: editors Marketers outlets (bookstores, journals, even e-books) Information managers (libraries, archives, repositories) The information continuum democratizes information production and “expertise” These agents have been in creative turmoil for three decades by my estimation

It runs from author to user

It includes several agents:

editors

Marketers

outlets (bookstores, journals, even e-books)

Information managers (libraries, archives, repositories)

The information continuum democratizes information production and “expertise”

These agents have been in creative turmoil for three decades by my estimation

But People Make Things Happen Sociologists study how people change systems and ways of thinking Librarianship need look no further than this related field to find clues to its future

Sociologists study how people change systems and ways of thinking

Librarianship need look no further than this related field to find clues to its future

Andrew Abott’s Assessment of Professional Roles Abbott, Andrew. The system of professions . Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1988 “ The Traditional Future: A Computational Theory of Library Research" College and Research Libraries , November 2008, Vol. 69, No. 6

Abbott, Andrew. The system of professions . Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1988

“ The Traditional Future: A Computational Theory of Library Research" College and Research Libraries , November 2008, Vol. 69, No. 6

“ Treatment Substitution” Abbott provides an in-depth analysis of how the U.S. system of professions works A focus on the information professions Treatment substitution: competition among the professions Treatment substitution is the application of abstract knowledge to real-life situations It often utilizes special language to be unique (e.g., use of latin in law)

Abbott provides an in-depth analysis of how the U.S. system of professions works

A focus on the information professions

Treatment substitution: competition among the professions

Treatment substitution is the application of abstract knowledge to real-life situations

It often utilizes special language to be unique (e.g., use of latin in law)

An Example of Dynamic Treatment Substitution: Medicine Licensed Acupuncture Chiropractic Osteopathy Medical Doctors “ Allied Health Professionals” Even nurses (NPs, PAs ) A battle royal for the right to use the word “medical” and to diagnose

Licensed Acupuncture

Chiropractic

Osteopathy

Medical Doctors

“ Allied Health Professionals”

Even nurses (NPs, PAs )

A battle royal for the right to use the word “medical” and to diagnose

And Closer to Home… Librarians California Digital Library staff: they’re not librarians—more on that in a moment… Systems Administrators: they manage content University administrators with downsizing on their minds Editors Faculty: they also manage content Booksellers: they make content accessible MIS managers in private firms and colleges: they rule Users themselves! (Blogging, Twittering) Repository managers and records managers Treatment Substitution is our daily life

Librarians

California Digital Library staff: they’re not librarians—more on that in a moment…

Systems Administrators: they manage content

University administrators with downsizing on their minds

Editors

Faculty: they also manage content

Booksellers: they make content accessible

MIS managers in private firms and colleges: they rule

Users themselves! (Blogging, Twittering)

Repository managers and records managers

Treatment Substitution is our daily life

Too Close to Home? The University of California Information, Publishing and Broadcast Services (IPBS) initiative “ UCverse and UCpublic Integrating: A gateway to all content, built or purchased A social network A “tool” to secure the future for academic content The faculty will be “Topical Editorial Advisors” Talk about Treatment Substitution!

The University of California Information, Publishing and Broadcast Services (IPBS) initiative

“ UCverse and UCpublic

Integrating:

A gateway to all content, built or purchased

A social network

A “tool” to secure the future for academic content

The faculty will be “Topical Editorial Advisors”

Talk about Treatment Substitution!

How Are Librarians Doing? Close ties to users have helped us see opportunity in the digital forum New generations of colleagues are bold Senior visionaries have a sharp understanding of scholarship We became content creators even as we gained a charge to collect digital content We have laid a foundation for new roles that flow beyond the library, and “follow the user”

Close ties to users have helped us see opportunity in the digital forum

New generations of colleagues are bold

Senior visionaries have a sharp understanding of scholarship

We became content creators even as we gained a charge to collect digital content

We have laid a foundation for new roles that flow beyond the library, and “follow the user”

Publishing’s Evolution Has Helped Newspapers: from “take it or leave it” to “talking back” Journals: multiple formats, pricing structures, pushback from libraries Books: blockbusters pay the rent, “mid-list” suffers, niche markets (like sci-fi) can thrive, but: Ebooks are here Self-publishing is happening How to deal with fewer outlets (Amazon, etc)?

Newspapers: from “take it or leave it” to “talking back”

Journals: multiple formats, pricing structures, pushback from libraries

Books: blockbusters pay the rent, “mid-list” suffers, niche markets (like sci-fi) can thrive, but:

Ebooks are here

Self-publishing is happening

How to deal with fewer outlets (Amazon, etc)?

The Climate Favors Bold Ideas Forward thinking librarians have seized the Web 2.0 tools Librarians participate in substantive discourse, opinions and research Research libraries boast large cohorts of dual-degreed and Ph.D-librarians Universities and coalitions are building publishing tools that directly address faculty needs Web applications and cloud computing place all the necessary tools in our hands

Forward thinking librarians have seized the Web 2.0 tools

Librarians participate in substantive discourse, opinions and research

Research libraries boast large cohorts of dual-degreed and Ph.D-librarians

Universities and coalitions are building publishing tools that directly address faculty needs

Web applications and cloud computing place all the necessary tools in our hands

Some Questions: Can we re-purpose our collections as a “list” –a publishers’ new list— of e-books in series, or as print-on-demand” (POD) volumes? Can we manage our digital publishing to advance the “imprimatur” of the library and the university? Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Dartmouth and Cornell have signed a five-way “Compact” Can we become publishers? If so, should we want to?

Can we re-purpose our collections as a “list” –a publishers’ new list— of e-books in series, or as print-on-demand” (POD) volumes?

Can we manage our digital publishing to advance the “imprimatur” of the library and the university?

Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Dartmouth and Cornell have signed a five-way “Compact”

Can we become publishers? If so, should we want to?

The Columnist Speaks Out My views are my own—the “marketplace of ideas” is their crucible I see a nascent demand for more scholarship, more metadata, and more taxonomy that is conducted by librarians —and we can do that The profession’s core skills are indispensable on the information continuum I see a much lower threshold for the creation of extremely high quality digital publications I see a vast cohort of like-minded colleagues who can curate, edit and write I believe that reference and collections experts are just one step away from high-level publishing, right now

My views are my own—the “marketplace of ideas” is their crucible

I see a nascent demand for more scholarship, more metadata, and more taxonomy that is conducted by librarians —and we can do that

The profession’s core skills are indispensable on the information continuum

I see a much lower threshold for the creation of extremely high quality digital publications

I see a vast cohort of like-minded colleagues who can curate, edit and write

I believe that reference and collections experts are just one step away from high-level publishing, right now

Talk and Opinion are Cheap… How about some examples: Blogs, Blogs, Blogs Library Guides “New” library work: existing editorial roles POD technology: it’s here

How about some examples:

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs

Library Guides

“New” library work: existing editorial roles

POD technology: it’s here

POD at MLibrary In trial stages (per their Web FAQ) Small number of popular titles Must be between 90-440 pp Color cover, B&W pages Cost: $6 for a shorter title, $10 for longer titles Cover art may not be included; a generic cover is provided Cannot print in-copyright materials without express permission

In trial stages (per their Web FAQ)

Small number of popular titles

Must be between 90-440 pp

Color cover, B&W pages

Cost: $6 for a shorter title, $10 for longer titles

Cover art may not be included; a generic cover is provided

Cannot print in-copyright materials without express permission

The Espresso Book Machine (and competitors) Has Traction: MLibrary hopes to offer: Access to most of the Library's out-of-copyright books Printing and binding of theses and dissertations Reprints of faculty-authored out-of-print books Printing and binding of new materials written by faculty and students Caverly, Doug. “Google Books Opens Door to On-Demand Printing.” September 17, 2009, www.webpronews.com

MLibrary hopes to offer:

Access to most of the Library's out-of-copyright books

Printing and binding of theses and dissertations

Reprints of faculty-authored out-of-print books

Printing and binding of new materials written by faculty and students

Caverly, Doug. “Google Books Opens Door to On-Demand Printing.” September 17, 2009, www.webpronews.com

Soon: A Leap in Scale? The Library of America How about “Berkeley Editions” Thematic, interpretative series of digital objects, flowing from the library and the faculty in concert The concentrated intellectual power in the academy is beginning to speak a common language Partnerships strengthen imprimatur Consortia, library-publisher, 2.0 “community”

The Library of America

How about “Berkeley Editions”

Thematic, interpretative series of digital objects, flowing from the library and the faculty in concert

The concentrated intellectual power in the academy is beginning to speak a common language

Partnerships strengthen imprimatur

Consortia, library-publisher, 2.0 “community”

Forecasts and Trends We face a choice: either to allow technology to force us into action, or to take action and manage the process “Change agents”—imaginative staff—will lead if library administrators cannot or will not Research universities and prestigious libraries can use imprimatur to gain “attention”

We face a choice: either to allow technology to force us into action, or to take action and manage the process

“Change agents”—imaginative staff—will lead if library administrators cannot or will not

Research universities and prestigious libraries can use imprimatur to gain “attention”

Conclusions We are becoming publishers We can embrace that role There are many venues to engage in It is possible to integrate rigorous publishing into our existing workflows Our core skills inform our future “interpretative” skills It’s all worth a try

We are becoming publishers

We can embrace that role

There are many venues to engage in

It is possible to integrate rigorous publishing into our existing workflows

Our core skills inform our future “interpretative” skills

It’s all worth a try

References (in order of presentation) Huwe, Terence K. “Publishers in Libraries.” Computers in Libraries 29 (No. 4), April 2009 The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, http://www.arl.org/sparc/ The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, http://www.mellon.org/ Fink, Eleanor E. “The Getty Information Institute: A Retrospective.” D-Lib Magazine 5 (No. 3), March 1999 Abbott, Andrew. The system of professions . Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1988 Abbott, Andrew. “The Traditional Future: A Computational Theory of Library Research" College and Research Libraries , 69 (No. 6), November 2008 Bergman, Barry. “A Public Option for Scholarship. The Berkeleyan , October 2, 2009, http://berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2009/10/02_open-access.shtml Caverly, Doug. “Google Books Opens Door to On-Demand Printing.” September 17, 2009, www.webpronews.com

Huwe, Terence K. “Publishers in Libraries.” Computers in Libraries 29 (No. 4), April 2009

The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, http://www.arl.org/sparc/

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, http://www.mellon.org/

Fink, Eleanor E. “The Getty Information Institute: A Retrospective.” D-Lib Magazine 5 (No. 3), March 1999

Abbott, Andrew. The system of professions . Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1988

Abbott, Andrew. “The Traditional Future: A Computational Theory of Library Research" College and Research Libraries , 69 (No. 6), November 2008

Bergman, Barry. “A Public Option for Scholarship. The Berkeleyan , October 2, 2009, http://berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2009/10/02_open-access.shtml

Caverly, Doug. “Google Books Opens Door to On-Demand Printing.” September 17, 2009, www.webpronews.com

Publishers “in” Libraries: New Agents, New Roles, New Challenges Terence K. Huwe Institute for Research on Labor and Employment Library University of California, Berkeley Long Island Library Resources Council October 30, 2009