By: Kimberly Davis, Blog/Web Editor & Copywriter for The Teaching Press during Spring 2021

In the big wide world of publishing presses, it can be overwhelming for the most savvy of clients (and the most eager of interns) to not only narrow down their options from a professional perspective, but to pinpoint what exactly each and every press does from an organizational one. Although publishing presses can certainly offer their clients and staff with an extremely individualized experience—due to their wide range of services/capabilities, community/literary focus, and even the unique personalities they have on staff—there are undoubtedly similarities that can be detected across the board. So, let’s go on and ahead and get down to business. (The publishing business, that is!)

THE UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED PRESS:

To start off, we will first consider the university-affiliated press. The category ‘university-affiliated press’ gains its name from the fact that it branches off from, or is in collaboration with, its parent institution (a university). These not-for-profit presses are commonly known for publishing works of academic merit; however, they may also inch into publishing creative or general interest works as well. More often than not, the university-affiliated press is willing to provide university students—those with applicable majors and/or related interests—with an outlet for early exposure to the inner-workings and operations of the publishing industry. Considering that these presses tend to reach a smaller audience (specialists or regional), it is not completely uncommon for them to operate in a way similar to micro-presses

A glimpse into the Book Arts Collaborative workshop, a university-affiliated press (image courtesy of the Book Arts Collaborative website).

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EXAMPLES OF UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED PRESSES: 

Cornerstone Press with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Book Arts Collaborative with Ball State University

The Publishing Laboratory with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington

University of Wisconsin Press with the University of Wisconsin-Madison

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BIBLIOGRAPHY (& ALSO RESOURCES FOR FURTHER READING!):

THE UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED PRESS

 https://aupresses.org/the-value-of-university-presses/about-university-presses/

https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/knowing-the-difference-between-types-of-publishers

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MORE FROM THIS SERIES:

Independent, small, and micro-presses

Boutique, hybrid, and vanity presses

Trade book publishers