Value-added Processes in Publishing and the Impact of ICTs, the Democratization of Publishing and Globalization

By:
Dr Stuart Ferguson
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The spread of information and communication technologies into publishing is generally seen as a boon – to authors, publishers, readers and a number of intermediaries such as libraries. Like many of the technologies associated with the ‘knowledge society’, publishing technologies are often interpreted as part of a welcome process of democratization, allowing and individual authors and organizations to publish reasonably high quality books of their own creation. This paper examines the value-added processes of publishing from the perspective of the Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University – a small, niche librarianship publisher in Australia, with a strong record of book publishing and the beginnings of a presence in e-publishing. Based on the Centre’s experience, the paper suggests that the costs of publishing in a growing, competitive and global market make it increasingly difficult for publishers to continue adding value in what many have come to call a knowledge society.


Keywords: Small presses; Specialist presses; Value-added processes
Stream: Publishing
Presentation Type: 30 minute Paper Presentation in English
Paper: Value-added Processes in Publishing and the Impact of ICTs, the Democratization of Publishing and Globalization

Dr Stuart Ferguson

Senior Lecturer, Information Management & Librarianship, School of Information Studies
Faculty of Science & Agriculture, Charles Sturt University
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA

For almost ten years, Dr Stuart Ferguson has been Director of the Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University, Australia, which is a small, niche publisher in Library and Information Management, Teacher Librarianship and Children’s Literature. He is also a Senior Lecturer in Information Management and Librarianship and Course Coordinator of a postgraduate course in Library and Information Management. He has an academic background in politics and political theory, and has a PhD in literary history and theory. Research interests include information ethics, information politics, knowledge management and the knowledge society. His publications include books, articles and conference papers on information ethics, knowledge management, computers in libraries and education for library and information management.

Ref: B06P0221