Major University Press Goes “Primarily Digital”

The University of Michigan Press announced that more that at least 50 of the more than 60 monographs they produce each year will now be released in digital form.

While a system will be in place for readers to create print-on-demand versions of the individual texts, digital copies will be the main form for the majority of the press’ output. Insider Higher Ed noted recent layoffs at the University of Missouri Press and State University of New York Press, and reported that Utah State University Press is in danger of losing its backing–pointing towards the economic benefits of going digital.

Here’s more from U of M Press Director Phil Pochoda: “I have been increasingly convinced that the business model based on printed monograph was not merely failing but broken … Why try to fight your way through this? Why try to remain in territory you know is doomed?”