The Gutenberge Online History Project

1
The Gutenberg-e Online History Project

• Changing Roles of players and implications for
  scholarly communication

2
Background on Project

• Prizes awarded by the American Historical
  Association
• Digital monographs published by Columbia
  University Press
• Ten monographs published to date
• 50 institutional subscriptions
• Prizes awarded for five years (1999-2003)
• One more year of prizes to be awarded

3
Traditional versus collaborative publishing
process

• Author writes monograph and submits it to
  publisher for editing, design, and production in
  print form.

• Author works closely with web designer,
  production manager, and information technology
  staff in shaping the content, organization,
  design, and functionality of the digital work.

4
Issues for authors and publishers in digital
environment

• Must historical narrative appear in linear form?
• Can one present an authorial voice while
  allowing readers options in choosing how to read
  a work?
• Can illustrations and archives become central
  organizing structures of a work?
• What value can be created by integrating research
  and teaching materials?

5
New Roles in Scholarly Communication

• Editors as researchers implementing new models of
  scholarship
• Authors become active collaborators
• Scholars and publishers must educate themselves
  in potential of technology
• Publishing process must make use of skills of all
  the players

6
New Skills Required

• Better understanding of our users and their work
  patterns
• Openness to new forms of content, design, and
  functionality
• Understanding of libraries and their changing
  roles and needs
• Willingness to collaborate with other innovators
  in the scholarly communication field
• Ability to understand what is valuable from
  traditional publishing along with the potential
  for enhanced value and efficiency in digital
  publishing.