Purdue Press to Start Ebook Only Monograph Program

Posted on November 10, 2000

Beginning in January 2001, Purdue University Press will begin to accept monographs for publication in its new e-only monograph imprint, Digital-I books. Facing the ever-increasing need to produce titles for smaller market segments in Academe, the Digital-I imprint will provide an outlet for scholarly information that does not presently exist. Each project will undergo the same rigorous acceptance routine that regular scholarly monographs now undergo, including approval by the Press’s editorial board. However, unlike traditionally published books, the Digital-I imprint will take advantage of the new ebook software and programs now being developed by organizations like Microsoft, NetLibrary, and other ebook vendors.

Thomas Bacher, Director of the Purdue University Press, indicates that this initiative is a perfect fit for scholarly publishing. “We intend to give our authors a voice that they might not have had before. Each Digital-I book will be vetted, registered with the Library of Congress, and carry the Purdue University Press imprimatur. We will be able to maintain our quality standards, return a greater percentage of revenues to authors, and be able to print Digital-I books on demand if the market calls for it. We think that this is a good step for scholarly publishing.”

Purdue University Press, now in its fortieth year, was founded in 1960. The Press is a department of the Libraries at Purdue University. Specializing in the areas of business, technology, and health, the Press publishes between 30-35 traditional books annually.