Library as Publisher: Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Launches VCU Publishing, a Digital Press For Faculty, Students and the Community

From VCU Libraries:

VCU Libraries is launching an initiative that will spearhead the digital publishing of scholarship by Virginia Commonwealth University faculty, students and the community, including books, peer-reviewed journals, digital scholarship and more.

The initiative, VCU Publishing, aims to amplify scholarly and research findings from the VCU community, and provide publishing opportunities and experiences for students and faculty.

“Scholarly publishing is undergoing fundamental changes as a result of unsustainably increasing costs for scientific publishing combined with reduced publishing opportunities for humanities and social sciences (in part because of the vast increases in pricing for STEM journals),” said John Ulmschneider, dean of libraries and university librarian. “VCU Publishing directly addresses these challenges by creating new publishing venues, technologies and opportunities for the VCU community, supporting and amplifying scholarly and creative expression from VCU communities in cost-effective ways.”

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The initiative will rely on existing staff and resources. VCU implemented a university wide hiring freeze on April 20 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Learn More, Read the Complete Launch Announcement (approx. 870 words)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Libraries, News, Publishing