Scholarly Book Publishing Practice: Academic book publishers' policies and practices in online publishing

ALPSP is seeking proposals to carry out a study of scholarly publishing practice by academic book publishers with a particular focus on online publication.

Request for proposals (RFP) (PDF)

Background

ALPSP has carried out three similar surveys of policies and practices related to online journal publishing which were conducted in 2003, 2005 and 2008*. The 2005 survey did include a limited number of questions on eBooks. However with the increased importance of eBooks in scholarly communication and other changes such as Print on Demand affecting academic book publishing, ALPSP has therefore decided that a comprehensive survey of the policies and practices of book publishers is appropriate. This will enable subsequent surveys to track changes in policy and practice from a 2009 baseline.

It is proposed that the new survey should review book publishing policies and practices overall to establish the context within which online publishing is presently being developed.

The Survey

The survey should cover a representative sample of non-profit, commercial, university presses and other academic publishers throughout the world. It should include ALPSP members but also provide a wider sample from such organizations as the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), the Association of American University Presses (AAUP), the Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), and other publishers as appropriate. It should be noted that a total of 400 questionnaires were sent out for the Scholarly Publishing Practice, Third Survey 2008, with a total of 263 responses received.

The survey should include the use of an online questionnaire which ALPSP will promote to its membership and to the wider academic publishing community.

The detailed answers received from individual publishers will remain confidential, and only the findings will be summarised and provided to ALPSP and through publication to its members and others.

Contents

Suggestions for what might be covered in the survey should be proposed by the researcher/s.  A list of topics which might be included are set out in the RFP.

Proposals should include:

• Full details of the survey methodology and suggestions on how the report will presented
• Timescale for each stage of the work
• Details of the researcher/s who would be involved in the work
• Cost and payment schedules

Deadline

Proposals must be received by 15 April 2009, and should be sent to

Nick Evans
Chief Operating Officer
ALPSP
9 Stanbridge Road
Putney
London
SW15 1DX
nick.evans@alpsp.org
+44 (0)20 8789 2394

It is expected that go-ahead will be given in early May 2009, and that the survey results should be available for publication to coincide with the ALPSP International Conference in September 2009.

*Scholarly Publishing Practice: Academic journal publishers' policies and practices in online publishing. First Survey 2003, Second Survey 2005, Third Survey 2008. By John Cox and Laura Cox.