Today, we are pleased to share a newly released study that speaks to the vital role of scholarly book publishing in Canada, and explores strategies to ensure its health and relevance in the 21st century.
In a study commissioned by the Federation, researchers Vincent Larivière and Delphine Lobet find that scholarly books play a unique and important role in the creation and communication of knowledge that benefits our society. Yet, there are pressing questions about their future viability as funding sources decrease and other formats seem to adapt more readily to the digital age.
This study provides important insights as the Federation plans the future of its book funding program: the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP). Since its founding in 1941, the ASPP has supported the publication of over 8,000 works that have enriched the social, cultural, and intellectual lives of people across this country and the world.
As part of this broader initiative to review and modernize the ASPP, the Federation envisions its continued impact and value to Canadian scholars and society, through the lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID). We look forward to sharing the outcome of this review with you this spring.
Until then, we welcome the humanities and social sciences community to read the study and engage in conversation around the critical need to preserve scholarly books in the years to come. Feel free to share the report and follow the conversation on social media via @federation_hss.
Sincerely,
Gabriel Miller
President and Chief Executive Officer
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences