c/o Katina Strauch 209 Richardson Avenue MSC 98, The Citadel Charleston, SC 29409 ALA ANNUAL ISSUE TM volUME 28, NUMBER 3 JUNE 2016 ISSN: 1043-2094 “Linking Publishers, Vendors and Librarians” Perspectives on the Future of the Monograph by Adriaan van der Weel (Book and Digital Media Studies, Leiden University) <
[email protected]> and Colleen Campbell (Director, Institutional Participation and Strategic Partnerships – Europe, JSTOR | Portico) <
[email protected]> he theme of this issue of Against the lectual at least as much as they are economic from the exorbitant prices charged by the large Grain is the future of the monograph. or technological. What are the implications scientific publishers for must-have journals. TIt is hard to find anyone who is not con- of regarding the monograph primarily as an Even taking into account the global growth vinced that the monograph is important and de- intellectual tool? Is it still fulfilling that func- in the sheer number of academics looking serves a future. Certainly none of the contrib- tion? Are monographs actually being read? to publish their research output, the problem utors to this issue express any doubt What pressures are exerted on the could simply be regarded as a preponderantly about it. Yet the continued role monograph’s function? economic issue. That had the undeniable of long-form scholarly output Libraries experience benefit of also suggesting where the solu- such as the monograph is difficulty in purchasing tion might be found: libraries needed more by no means assured. The enough monographs for funding to buy books.