This document discusses a project examining the role and purpose of academic books in serving scholarship and learning. The project has two phases: the first involves literature reviews and evidence gathering to understand issues, and the second establishes a community coalition to conduct focused mini-projects. The goal is to investigate opportunities and challenges of technological developments while extensively consulting the academic, publishing, and library communities. The project aims to sustain and enhance the impact of arts and humanities research by navigating breadth and depth of impact from all perspectives.

1. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
Context and debate
1. What do we mean by a book?
2. How would new forms better serve the purpose of
scholarship?
3. How do we exploit the points of contact with wider
developments in communications and media?
“…if we are to get the best out of the possibilities of digital
technology for the arts and humanities, then we must learn to
shape it, and not merely consume it”
(Transferred Illusions: Digital Technology and the Forms of Print,
Marilyn Deegan and Kathryn Sutherland, 2009)

2. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
Core aims and object ives
To examine the roles and purposes of
academic books to serve scholarship and wider learning
learning
To examine and analyse the dynamics of academic book
academic book production, curation, and use
To investigate and assess the opportunities
and challenges associated with
technological developments
(via 2 phases of act ivi ty )

3. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
Phases of Act ivi ty
Phase 1: Macro exploration and evidence gathering
gathering through literature review, quantitative and
and qualitative evidence gathering leading to testing
testing finding with the community.
Phase 2: Bridging macro to micro approach investing
investing time and resources in a Community
Coalition and also mini-projects, carried
out by coalition members, focusing on
different aspects of the research questions.

4. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
Consul t ing the Communi ty
The Project has an extensive process of consultation
consultation and engagement built into its structure
structure and methodology.
The broadest possible community consultation
and engagement, and a wide range of focused
discussions and workshops, will be essential to our
our success in working with a diverse
range of communities in:
academia, publishing, libraries and other
intermediaries, and new initiatives
and platforms.

5. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
Proposed Engagement Plans
Core Management Group Project Board
Project Board Chair:
Professor Kathryn Sutherland
(Professor of Bibliography and
Textual Criticism, Oxford University)
Stakeholders
Partners
Community Coalition
AHRC/BL Steering Group

6. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
Impact
• Underlying aim of the project is to sustain and enhance the
the impact of arts and humanities research
• Success criteria recognise importance of navigating between
between breadth and depth of impact - focus will vary at
different stages of the project
 Establishing sustainable momentum across a broad base of
of communities of practice
 Rooted understanding from all
perspectives & no set agendas: scholarly,
publishing, library, economic & public

7. Communi t ies of Pract ice
Th e Ac a d emi c Bo o k o f t h e Fu t u r e
“…if we are to get the best out of the possibilities of digital
technology for the arts and humanities, then we must learn to
shape it, and not merely consume it”
Transferred Illusions: Digital Technology and the Forms of Print,
Marilyn Deegan and Kathryn Sutherland, 2009
"What do scholars want?" Whether we work with digital or
paper-based resources, or both, our basic needs are the same. We
all want our cultural record to be comprehensive, stable, and
accessible. And we all want to be able to augment that record with
our own contributions.”
Jerome McGann, Sustainability: the Elephant in the Room.
Paper for the 2010 Conference, Digital Humanities Scholarship: The Shape of
Things to Come, University of Virginia.