Library to manage electronic press

(l-r) Professor Graeme Davison, champion of the e-press, and University Librarian, Cathrine Harboe-Ree

In what is believed to be an Australian first, Monash has established an electronic press to publish its research and scholarly journals.

The e-press will be managed by the Monash Library for a two-year trial period, with the first items expected to be published before the end of the year.

The university has committed $700,000 towards the project, which is designed to streamline and promote academic publishing.

Deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and Planning) Professor Alan Lindsay said the e-press would enhance Monash's position as a leading research institution and fit well with its reputation for developing innovative solutions through new technologies.

"We believe the e-press will lead the way in Australia towards shifting control of scholarly information away from commercial publishers and back to the researchers and academics who produce it," he said.

Acting deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Gary Bouma said the e-press would open up Monash's high-quality research and academic work to the world and overcome the lengthy delays experienced with traditional publishing and questions of intellectual property ownership.

University Librarian Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree thanked Professor Graeme Davison from the School of Historical Studies who has championed the idea of an electronic press and who was involved in the steering committee to establish it.

Ms Harboe-Ree also said the decision to manage the e-press from the library was a reflection of the innovative use that a contemporary academic library such as Monash's made of digital technology.

"Works to be considered for publication will still go through the usual process for publishing scholarly information, including peer review and approval by an editorial committee," she said.

"The difference will be the immediacy that publishing in an electronic format allows, as well as the ready access and electronic presence it will provide for Australian research activity."

25 March 2003

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