What We’re Reading

What We’re Reading: Updates on the University of Missouri Press

by Meredith Kahn July 18, 2012

Here at MPublishing we’re paying close attention to the news coming out of Columbia, MO regarding the University of Missouri and its newly “reimagined” university press. If you’d like to learn more about this emerging story, MU’s initial press release is available here. According to MU Chancellor Brady Deaton: This new 21st century press will enable ...

UM Provost Phil Hanlon Signs Pledge Supporting Open Access

by Meredith Kahn February 24, 2012

University of Michigan’s provost Phil Hanlon, along with his counterparts in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, recently expressed their support for open access in a piece for Inside Higher Ed. In their statement, the provosts of the eleven CIC institutions voiced their concerns about restrictive legislation like HR 3699 (the Research Works Act) and their ...

Not Everything is Electronic (Yet)

by Meredith Kahn February 16, 2012

How many of us in the world of libraries or publishing have heard friends or family members casually assert that “everything is online” or that “print books are obsolete” thanks to their newly acquired Kindle or Nook? If you’ve ever found yourself struggling for an incisive response, this post (“Why Your Printed Book Isn’t an ...

Elsevier Boycott Attracts U-M Faculty

by Meredith Kahn February 1, 2012

Mathematician Timothy Gowers recently started a project to allow academics to publicly pledge that they will not publish in Elsevier journals, serve as referees, or do editorial work for Elsevier publications. The list of signatures has grown quickly, including a number of individuals affiliated with the University of Michigan. Gowers explains his reasoning for the ...

More Legislative Shenanigans: Research Works Act (H.R. 3699)

by Meredith Kahn January 5, 2012

In case SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, hasn’t given you enough heartburn, here’s another development on the legislative horizon to be concerned about–H.R. 3699, the Research Works Act. The Association of American Publishers has provided a summary of what they hope the bill will accomplish, which is a frightening read for those of us ...