Publishing/Publishing strategy development, University of Glasgow

University of Glasgow

Publishing

Publishing strategy development

Senate

Court

Faculties

The University did not formally begin developing a publishing strategy until 1911. Before this, it did not undertake any publishing directly but, instead, appointed a series of printers and publishers to carry out any publishing on its behalf. In 1911, however, the Senate raised the question of developing a publishing strategy and remitted to the faculties the question of instituting a series of University publications embodying the results of work done in connection with the faculties. All faculties reported back but the matter was taken no further at that time. The matter was raised again after the first world war when the increased costs of printing and publication made the question more pressing. The Court appointed a Committee on University Publications to consider the matter and, on its recommendations, the Court appointed, in April 1925, a committee to make proposals regarding the conduct of university publications. It recommended that the University should not undertake the business of publication itself but that there should be constituted a Standing Publications Committee to offer assistance to members of University staff towards publication through the usual channels. The Committee was to have a sum of money placed at its disposal for this purpose and was to report to the Senate and thence to the Court. In deciding on the merits of individual works, the Committee was to refer them to faculties or special committees. Any works published at the cost of the University were to be to be issued under the general description of Glasgow University Publications. The Committee was appointed in May 1925. It changed its name to the Publications Committee in 1968. In 1973, it changed its name again, to the Publications Board, and, in 1984, it reverted to the title Publications Committee. By 1998, it had effectively become a subset of the University Research Committee.

Publishing strategy remained largely the same until 1969, when the University terminated its arrangement with its current publishers, Jackson Son and Company, and decided to pursue a more direct publishing strategy. Between 1969 and 1972, publications financed by the University Court or by lectureship foundations were published directly by the University through its Publications Office, which made use of the services of a number of different printing firms. Such publications continued to be described as Glasgow University Publications. In addition, and in continuation of earlier practice, a certain number of learned works were published for the University of Glasgow by the Oxord University Press on a commission basis, and similar arrangements were made with other publishing houses. In 1972, publishing strategy was developed further with the incorporation of a private company called the University of Glasgow Press Limited. The company was made responsible through the Publications Committee to the Court and Senate. The main object of its establishment was to protect the name of the University from possible use by unauthorised persons. The Publications Office continued to deal with every aspect of publishing. In 1978, it was replaced by the Information and Publicity Office which, in turn, was replaced in 1987 by the Information and Publicity Services Department. In 1996, the Department was renamed Publicity Services.

Indexes to Senate minutes 1911-1919 Ref: GB 0248 GUA SEN 1/2
 

Senate meeting papers 1911-1998 Ref: GB 0248 GUA Senate papers
 

Senate minutes 1911 to date Ref: GB 0248 GUA SEN 1/1
 

Court agendas 1911-1925 Ref: GB 0248 GUA C 1/3
 

Court camera minutes 1911-1944 Ref: GB 0248 GUA C 1/2
 

Court camera papers 1911-1944 Ref: GB 0248 GUA C 1/5
 

Court papers 1911-1964 Ref: GB 0248 GUA C 1/4
 

Court letters (in and out) 1911-1973 ref: To be confirmed
 

Court minutes 1911-1997 Ref: GB 0248 GUA C 1/1
 

Senate out letter books 1913-1947 ref: GB 0248 GUA 58533-58571
 

Minutes, annual reports, press cuttings, press releases, correspondence and papers of Publications Committee and its predecessors 1924-1987 ref: To be confirmed
 

Title of function/activity taken from Elizabeth Parker's Function Activity Model (report compiled for JISC). Function and activity description compiled according to GASHE's Standard for Creating Function and Activity Descriptions.

Publishing/Publication management, University of Glasgow

Publishing/Publishing policy development, University of Glasgow