Should libraries become involved in publishing? An increasing number of institutions in North America and internationally think so. In 2007, 65% of ARL members were reported to be either offering or developing publishing services, but still very experimentally. A new survey, conducted by Purdue, Georgia Tech, and Utah university libraries as part of an IMLS-funded research project, suggests that almost 80% of ARL members are now offering publishing services that are increasingly well organized. This is also an active area of interest in liberal arts colleges and medium-sized institutions. What types of publishing are these institutions involved in? What are the future prospects for this emerging area of library services? And, crucially, should established society publishers view these library upstarts as a threat or an opportunity? Building off evidence gathered by the research project, this session explores these issues, illustrated with real examples of some of the most interesting initiatives.
