A two-year research initiative on the future of academic books has reported its findings, which show academic publishing "at a crossroads".
14 June 2017
The future of the academic book is at a crossroads, project finds
The Academic Book of the Future project has reported its findings, which show academic publishing "at a crossroads".
Researchers on the Academic Book of the Future project – including King's academics Professor Marilyn Deegan and Professor Simon Tanner – are recommending that academics and publishers work together to develop a new vision for the sector that embraces technology and focuses on enhancing the readers' experience.
The reports highlight that although there is a clear willingness to collaborate across the different stakeholder groups, greater dialogue involving academics, libraries, publishers, sales agents, booksellers, intermediaries and beyond is vital for sustaining vibrant scholarly communications in the arts and humanities in the future.
The report also stresses that, while there are already diverse examples of digital innovations transforming academic book publishing, more research is needed to understand reader behaviours in online environments, to capitalise on the true potential of digital technologies, and to address concerns around the preservation of digital texts.
You can read the full report on the Academic Book of the Future website.
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Professor of Digital Humanities and Honorary Research Fellow
Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts & Humanities (Interim)