ManofHarlech
@manofharlech.bsky.social
Richard Fisher on publishing/policy/politics/the past. Plus poor putting and very slow bowling. Also Associate Editor (sport) for Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
Slightly arcane but rather important publishing news...
Slightly arcane but rather important publishing news...
European Commission vote to amend EUDR welcomed by publishing sector
The amendment will remove all printed products from the regulations
www.bookbrunch.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 10:45 AM
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
Slightly arcane but rather important publishing news...
Slightly arcane but rather important publishing news...
Many Happy Returns to Quentin Skinner, 85 today (and still seminar-ing this evening!)
November 26, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Many Happy Returns to Quentin Skinner, 85 today (and still seminar-ing this evening!)
Bought John Watt’s new book on The Wars of the Roses last week and it is without doubt one of the single most thoughtful, most interesting and best-expressed works of serious history I have read in a very long time. Seriously recommended, and not just if you spend time 400 yards from Harlech Castle.
November 23, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Bought John Watt’s new book on The Wars of the Roses last week and it is without doubt one of the single most thoughtful, most interesting and best-expressed works of serious history I have read in a very long time. Seriously recommended, and not just if you spend time 400 yards from Harlech Castle.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/18/a...
This, and the comment thread below, is well worth reading. The author is a senior US university librarian.
This, and the comment thread below, is well worth reading. The author is a senior US university librarian.
In Defense of Pluralism and Diversity: A Modest Manifesto for the Future of Scholarly Communication (Part 2 of 2) - The Scholarly Kitchen
An invitation to embrace pluralism and diversity in scholarly communication models -- rather than attempting to impose a single solution.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/18/a...
This, and the comment thread below, is well worth reading. The author is a senior US university librarian.
This, and the comment thread below, is well worth reading. The author is a senior US university librarian.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/12/t...
This is a very good read, albeit inevitably North American scientistic in some of its driving presumptions...
This is a very good read, albeit inevitably North American scientistic in some of its driving presumptions...
The Next Open Revolution: Equity, Impact, and the Architecture of Knowledge - The Scholarly Kitchen
Today, Alison Mudditt reflects on a Charleston Conference session that asked: what would it take to make the scholarly communication system truly equitable, impactful, and future-ready?
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/12/t...
This is a very good read, albeit inevitably North American scientistic in some of its driving presumptions...
This is a very good read, albeit inevitably North American scientistic in some of its driving presumptions...
Springer Research reported revenue of €1,112.6 million (9M 2024: €1,044.4 million) with underlying growth 7.0% driven by the Journals portfolio, with particular strength in Full Open Access (FOA). The number of published articles rose by more than 10% and over 25% in FOA journals. Bookbrunch today
November 12, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Springer Research reported revenue of €1,112.6 million (9M 2024: €1,044.4 million) with underlying growth 7.0% driven by the Journals portfolio, with particular strength in Full Open Access (FOA). The number of published articles rose by more than 10% and over 25% in FOA journals. Bookbrunch today
Am increasingly worried by some of the very simplistic statements about ‘language’ being made in schol comm and OA contexts, and the notion that research content and the language in which it is expressed can be easily separated. Scientific Esperanto may be last ambition of the enlightenment project…
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Am increasingly worried by some of the very simplistic statements about ‘language’ being made in schol comm and OA contexts, and the notion that research content and the language in which it is expressed can be easily separated. Scientific Esperanto may be last ambition of the enlightenment project…
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/03/c...
Very helpful post from Lisa H, although as always massive NB for scholars outside the US that 'Fair Use' is not a global copyright concept
Very helpful post from Lisa H, although as always massive NB for scholars outside the US that 'Fair Use' is not a global copyright concept
Can a CC License Constrain Fair Use or Other Copyright Limitations or Exemptions? - The Scholarly Kitchen
Creative Commons (CC) licenses expand, not restrict, the permissible uses of copyrighted works.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
November 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/11/03/c...
Very helpful post from Lisa H, although as always massive NB for scholars outside the US that 'Fair Use' is not a global copyright concept
Very helpful post from Lisa H, although as always massive NB for scholars outside the US that 'Fair Use' is not a global copyright concept
And, lest we forget, it was this book which inspired the Coalition Government in its pursuit of Open Access and everything that led to the Finch Report. OA was going to be 'the steam' for a 2nd British Industrial Revolution, howsoever defined...
Nice piece from @antonhowes.bsky.social on @britishacademy.bsky.social Fellow Joel Mokyr who won the economics Nobel. As Anton brings out, it’s great to see the prize recognising economic history, especially that which comes out in books
www.worksinprogress.news/p/what-makes...
www.worksinprogress.news/p/what-makes...
What makes Joel Mokyr great
His Nobel is a triumph for history and the importance of ideas
www.worksinprogress.news
October 14, 2025 at 10:16 AM
And, lest we forget, it was this book which inspired the Coalition Government in its pursuit of Open Access and everything that led to the Finch Report. OA was going to be 'the steam' for a 2nd British Industrial Revolution, howsoever defined...
If the below turns out to be well-founded, then this is a pretty significant moment in the tangled history of North American schol comm and library infrastructure…
And the library infrastructure for print books continues to crumble. No more binderies, no more distributors. Getting pretty bleak!
Baker & Taylor appears to be shutting down. A post on the r/libraries subreddit from an employee of B&T breaks the news and there appear to be other employees in the comments confirming the situation.
October 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
If the below turns out to be well-founded, then this is a pretty significant moment in the tangled history of North American schol comm and library infrastructure…
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/08/18/s...
Rick Anderson on some of the stark fiscal realities, and misunderstandings thereof, in schol comm in 2025...
Rick Anderson on some of the stark fiscal realities, and misunderstandings thereof, in schol comm in 2025...
Subscribe-to-Open Is Doomed. Here's Why. - The Scholarly Kitchen
A scholarly communication ecosystem that relies on voluntary support rather than charging for access to content becomes radically less capable of keeping money in the system.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
August 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/08/18/s...
Rick Anderson on some of the stark fiscal realities, and misunderstandings thereof, in schol comm in 2025...
Rick Anderson on some of the stark fiscal realities, and misunderstandings thereof, in schol comm in 2025...
'Springer Nature revenue group rose by 6%, and adjusted operating profit by 10%. First half revenue increased to €926 million and AOP to €241 million, supported by a favourable revenue mix. Growth was driven by the Research segment.' From Bookbrunch this morning.
August 13, 2025 at 8:58 AM
'Springer Nature revenue group rose by 6%, and adjusted operating profit by 10%. First half revenue increased to €926 million and AOP to €241 million, supported by a favourable revenue mix. Growth was driven by the Research segment.' From Bookbrunch this morning.
Probably the wisest thing said on social media about academic publishing this year. Up there with the other abiding, and related mantra: never, ever, underestimate in the worlds of schol comm what otherwise intelligent people don’t know…
Publishing is one of those topics on social media that everyone has an opinion about but far fewer people seem to appreciate the huge disciplinary differences in publishing traditions, so it often descends into everyone talking past one another.
August 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Probably the wisest thing said on social media about academic publishing this year. Up there with the other abiding, and related mantra: never, ever, underestimate in the worlds of schol comm what otherwise intelligent people don’t know…
Redcliffe Salaman's History and Social Influence of the Potato from the 1940s was famously described by Eric Hobsbawm as a 'magnificent monument of scholarship and humanity'. Salaman did many things including being Master of Fox Hounds...
If you're teaching global history (or, frankly, just history) in the coming year, this 10-min talk will be a fab resource, and can be supplemented by Rebecca's articles on the history of food & her book on the history of the potato, Feeding the People: The Politics of the Potato (Cambridge, 2020).
July 29, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Redcliffe Salaman's History and Social Influence of the Potato from the 1940s was famously described by Eric Hobsbawm as a 'magnificent monument of scholarship and humanity'. Salaman did many things including being Master of Fox Hounds...
Interesting that overall OUP numbers have now been pretty static for three years. Profitability of about 9% on £795m turnover seems about right for a UP which funds its parent university (very) significantly. Surplus of between 5 and 10% I always thought the UP sweetspot...
July 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Interesting that overall OUP numbers have now been pretty static for three years. Profitability of about 9% on £795m turnover seems about right for a UP which funds its parent university (very) significantly. Surplus of between 5 and 10% I always thought the UP sweetspot...
After T&F yesterday, RELX incl Elsevier posted FY25 results showing underlying growth of 7% and profit growth of 9% to 35% for the whole group (which includes exhibitions like London Book Fair and many non-publishing things). But Elsevier STEM shows ‘good growth and developing momentum’…
July 24, 2025 at 9:36 AM
After T&F yesterday, RELX incl Elsevier posted FY25 results showing underlying growth of 7% and profit growth of 9% to 35% for the whole group (which includes exhibitions like London Book Fair and many non-publishing things). But Elsevier STEM shows ‘good growth and developing momentum’…
T and F (including Routledge) showing first-half global revenue growth of 12% in FY2025. Underlying growth of 4% when you strip out one-off data licensing agreements. Subscription income still doing just fine, in the main…
July 23, 2025 at 8:32 AM
T and F (including Routledge) showing first-half global revenue growth of 12% in FY2025. Underlying growth of 4% when you strip out one-off data licensing agreements. Subscription income still doing just fine, in the main…
I would argue that this is a 'science' problem as much as a 'publishing' problem per se. Scale will be central to any enterprise in which e.g. American, Indian, Chinese scientific researchers see themselves as working on common problems, and this is bit different from more fragmented worlds of AHSS
I think this is an interesting way of looking at the future of publishing. Both challenges of curation and meaingful dialogue are somewhat antagonistic to scale, which is the value that most shapes publishing at the moment but is perhaps the real cause of so many of its problems.
I thought this was an interesting slide. I was thinking that the conversations and challenges hadn't moved on, but this makes me think differently - its slow progress, but it is progress.
July 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I would argue that this is a 'science' problem as much as a 'publishing' problem per se. Scale will be central to any enterprise in which e.g. American, Indian, Chinese scientific researchers see themselves as working on common problems, and this is bit different from more fragmented worlds of AHSS
Really strong and important piece from Karin Wolf on the SK. UK experience has obvious similarities, but also some important divergences. Ultimately every single thing that has happened in my time in the sector has accelerated the relative flow of research resource away from AHSS towards STEM.
Did My Father’s World Die with Him? Grieving the Incalculable Costs of “STEM.” scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/06/26/d...
Did My Father’s World Die with Him? Grieving the Incalculable Costs of “STEM.” - The Scholarly Kitchen
Grieving my father's death feels inextricably tangled with grieving the catastrophe overtaking the whole of our research infrastructure.
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
June 26, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Really strong and important piece from Karin Wolf on the SK. UK experience has obvious similarities, but also some important divergences. Ultimately every single thing that has happened in my time in the sector has accelerated the relative flow of research resource away from AHSS towards STEM.
thebookseller.com/comment/facing-north
Interesting but what I always demur at in pieces of this kind are the implied assumptions about 'the South' which invariably mean simply 'London'. Cities like Plymouth are far more marginalised in cultural terms than e.g. Manchester or Leeds or Newcastle....
Interesting but what I always demur at in pieces of this kind are the implied assumptions about 'the South' which invariably mean simply 'London'. Cities like Plymouth are far more marginalised in cultural terms than e.g. Manchester or Leeds or Newcastle....
Facing north
How can we create better infrastructure for British authors and readers across the north of England?
thebookseller.com
June 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
thebookseller.com/comment/facing-north
Interesting but what I always demur at in pieces of this kind are the implied assumptions about 'the South' which invariably mean simply 'London'. Cities like Plymouth are far more marginalised in cultural terms than e.g. Manchester or Leeds or Newcastle....
Interesting but what I always demur at in pieces of this kind are the implied assumptions about 'the South' which invariably mean simply 'London'. Cities like Plymouth are far more marginalised in cultural terms than e.g. Manchester or Leeds or Newcastle....
The demographic trends impacting BBC TV news audiences really show up in its current treatment of universities, and problems thereof, and contrast sharply with its treatment of e.g. NHS challenges. There is an inherent (and justified) assumption that those most impacted won’t be watching…
Seriously, with the whole university system on the brink, this is what the OfS and the BBC focus on? A dereliction of duty.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Be ready to be shocked and offended at university, students told
Guidance has been published by the Office for Students on new free speech rules coming into force this year.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
The demographic trends impacting BBC TV news audiences really show up in its current treatment of universities, and problems thereof, and contrast sharply with its treatment of e.g. NHS challenges. There is an inherent (and justified) assumption that those most impacted won’t be watching…
In Academic Markets Informa (owners of T&F/Routledge) report 'Underlying revenue growth of 13.7%, reflecting core like-for-like growth of 3-4%; Business is performing to plan and we continue to sign non-recurring licensing agreements with AI companies.' Still the most used book imprint for the REF.
June 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM
In Academic Markets Informa (owners of T&F/Routledge) report 'Underlying revenue growth of 13.7%, reflecting core like-for-like growth of 3-4%; Business is performing to plan and we continue to sign non-recurring licensing agreements with AI companies.' Still the most used book imprint for the REF.
This is a fundamental post on a fundamental topic. It’s always important to remember that UPs can differ in governance just as much as can universities themselves. But the nature of the good UPs can do remains elusive to (far) too many people within universities. Sadly.
What is a University Press?
On the acquisition of AUP by T&F (and my anger at it), the governance link between universities and university presses, and putting one's labour where one's values are.
eve.gd/2025/06/08/w...
On the acquisition of AUP by T&F (and my anger at it), the governance link between universities and university presses, and putting one's labour where one's values are.
eve.gd/2025/06/08/w...
What is a University Press?
I was having a pretty good week last week, until we got to the closing minutes of play. At that point, I learned that Amsterdam University Press (AUP) had been acquired by the for-profit corporate pub...
eve.gd
June 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This is a fundamental post on a fundamental topic. It’s always important to remember that UPs can differ in governance just as much as can universities themselves. But the nature of the good UPs can do remains elusive to (far) too many people within universities. Sadly.
Much to ponder here but at the same time this is 100% the US academy perspective: from outside the US, the market and readership dynamics are very different. Fundamentally most US UP publishing is about readers in the US, and fundamentally most UK UP publishing isn’t about readers in the UK…
Here's a long thread on an issue dear to my heart. This Tuesday evening I’m doing an Intellectual Publics with Macarena Gomez-Barris on publishing. Like last year’s conversation with Denise Cruz, or the prior year’s with Racquel Gates, we will talk about how to find a publisher, turn a thesis... 1/
Remember to register!
Ken Wissoker in conversation with Macarena Gómez-Barris
Tues June 3rd at 6:30pm ET via Zoom
bit.ly/impossibleti...
Ken Wissoker in conversation with Macarena Gómez-Barris
Tues June 3rd at 6:30pm ET via Zoom
bit.ly/impossibleti...
June 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Much to ponder here but at the same time this is 100% the US academy perspective: from outside the US, the market and readership dynamics are very different. Fundamentally most US UP publishing is about readers in the US, and fundamentally most UK UP publishing isn’t about readers in the UK…
This is vvvv well worth reading (and not just on a wet Bank Holiday!). Super to have this level of critical engagement from a leading UK humanities scholar/funder…
Some thoughts on the new US Executive Order on Gold Standard #Science, and why it should encourage us to think harder about policy, metascience and the importance of context.
anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/g...
anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/g...
Gold Standard Science
Science is expensive – and increasingly so. People need to be paid properly or they will find other things to do. Equipment costs rise. Mitigating the environmental impact of scie…
anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com
May 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
This is vvvv well worth reading (and not just on a wet Bank Holiday!). Super to have this level of critical engagement from a leading UK humanities scholar/funder…