Press (Re)Start: A Real-Life Roleplaying Adventure

description

This session brings together a group of information experts who have either started, or restarted, a university press in the last few years. Using the metaphor of a role-playing adventure (think publishing version of "Dungeons and Dragons"), the presenters will describe how they identified the character and motivations of their presses. They'll lead the participants through the choices they've made on the path toward sustainability, including both setbacks and lucky breaks. And they'll describe the various characters who've shaped the journey, from administrator wizards to author artisans. Running a new university press is not a game, and business decisions have real-life consequences. But we believe that the imaginative framing of this session will engage participants. We hope they'll leave with a clearer understanding not only of new university presses but also a framework for thinking through strategic choices their own organizations are making and how similar problems can be solved in different ways.