About CSLP

The library publishing community is engaged in meaningful work, collaborating on a range of content at various stages of the publishing process. For those interested in the details, it can be difficult or time-consuming to find information about a particular project. What resources were required to embed videos within an open-access textbook? What roles do library publishers play in the acquisition, creation, and dissemination of content? What strategies have helped ensure the long-term success of a journal? How do individual members of a team contribute, and how are those contributions acknowledged? Our community is curious and eager to learn from each other, and Case Studies in Library Publishing (CSLP) will create dedicated space to do so in an annual publication. 

The mission of CSLP is to provide concrete project examples to inspire and support those involved with library publishing as we ground and grow our work. We seek contributions that exemplify capacious perspectives on “publishing” aligned with the Library Publishing Coalition’s working definition of “the set activities led by libraries to support the creation, dissemination, and curation of scholarly, creative, and/or educational works.” While we acknowledge that it is often academic libraries and consortia with the resources to undertake publishing initiatives, we will strive to include contributions from public and special libraries, as well as independent publishing initiatives.

Each article published in CSLP will describe a specific publishing project, delving into workflow, goals, resources, and ultimate impact. Articles will include a summary of the project, links to view the project, and key takeaways for readers, with space for authors to add additional discussion and reflection. The primary output of CSLP will be case studies, with potential to include reviews in the future. Submissions may focus on incomplete or ongoing projects; where possible, we encourage authors to share what has not worked or lessons learned that might inform others’ projects. We recognize the importance of formal research in library publishing, but believe that need is suitably filled by existing publications (such as the Journal of Librarianship in Scholarly Communication, the Journal of Scholarly Publishing, and others). By providing a structured format to consider project workflow and outcomes, CSLP will support the research of the library publishing community as well as the everyday work that we do. 

Editors and Editorial Board

Co-editors: Perry Collins and Chelsea Johnston (University of Florida)

Editorial board: Christine Turner (University of Massachusetts-Amherst) and jaime ding (University of California-Los Angeles)

Designer: Tracy MacKay-Ratliff

CSLP will be supported long-term by 1-2 editors. An editorial board of 2-4 individuals, potentially growing with the journal, will help shape journal policies; recruit content; help ensure an inclusive and equitable approach to workflows and policies; and act as peer reviewers when appropriate. CSLP will commit to seeking editorial board members who represent a variety of lived and professional experiences informed by race, ethnicity, gender, and ability. We will also strive for representation across position, institutional type, size of publishing program, and emphasis of program. 

Acknowledgments

We especially thank the editors and staff of the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication for allowing us to repurpose policy language and of Reviews in Digital Humanities for offering guidance during development of this journal. Thanks to Laurie Taylor for her guidance and support as Editor-in-Chief of LibraryPress@UF.