Small, but Mighty: Maintaining and Elevating the Value of Humanities Content through Strategic Partnerships

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The values and missions of small nonprofit publishers and university presses are not just big at heart—they are ambitious, impactful, and play a huge role in shaping humanities and social sciences (h/ss) scholarship around the globe. From individual journals published in university departments and societies to award-winning fiction and nonfiction books from university presses, small publishers are contributing to publishing on a mighty scale. These publishers bring a wealth of history, editorial experience, and top authors, all while prioritizing missions that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion. But these small publishers take on enormous financial risks to ensure the benefits of trusted scholarship are discovered around the world. How do these small publishers maintain the value of their content in an age of shrinking budgets, high production costs, and the devaluing of h/ss research in academia? This panel will explore how small publishers create and distribute content through community collaborations and strategic partnerships. Panelists will discuss the value of h/ss content and how partnerships can amplify groundbreaking ideas, reflect DEIA priorities, and enhance discoverability. Attendees will leave with ideas for building impactful partnerships that increase the reach and influence of h/ss scholarship.