tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995942807019832501.post2030260604372384133..comments2023-08-08T06:19:10.970-04:00Comments on Mediterranean Ceramics: Still Totally Ridiculous...Sebastian Heathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00323339285494849021noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995942807019832501.post-6874828201083224212008-09-17T11:58:00.000-04:002008-09-17T11:58:00.000-04:00Ed, interesting that OUP speaks of making a profit...Ed, interesting that OUP speaks of making a profit. It's US manifestation is a registered non-profit. Go to http://www.guidestar.org/ and search for "oxford university press". That entity has received NEH funding for some of its activities.<BR/><BR/>I do think there's a model for less expensive distribution of scholarly information. Printed books are probably not part of any such scheme. E.g., how much does RPC supplement 2 ( http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/01365174322303831865891/025000.pdf ) cost?<BR/><BR/>It's tempting to track down the process that set the original retail price of Brickstamps. It really does look like something went seriously wrong there.Sebastian Heathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00323339285494849021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995942807019832501.post-59558991172900525132008-09-17T09:47:00.000-04:002008-09-17T09:47:00.000-04:00ed said:"Do you think there is a business model fo...ed said:<BR/><BR/>"Do you think there is a business model for cheaper academic books?"<BR/><BR/>Two things:<BR/><BR/>1. The authors aren't making any money, right? So what's their incentive? Professional rewards (tenure, promotion, respect) and internal motivation (this is what they like to do).<BR/><BR/>2. Is this the kind of thing that should be in book form in the first place? Probably not.<BR/><BR/>We need a new model of information distribution.John Muccigrossohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06544834631983054987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7995942807019832501.post-66017812299490085642008-09-16T22:50:00.000-04:002008-09-16T22:50:00.000-04:00I wonder how the bean counters at Oxford Universit...I wonder how the bean counters at Oxford University Press choose retail prices? $750 did not discourage the 58 libraries that WorldCat reports. Would more libraries have chosen to acquire at a lower price point?<BR/><BR/>I am a fan of the business model where scholarly works are offered in an expensive 'library binding' hardcover and a paperback simultaneously at 1/3 the cost. Remaindering the hardcover through <A HREF="http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/36509" REL="nofollow">David Brown</A> at 1/3 the price seems more efficient but may discourage early sales. The Oxford University Press site <A HREF="http://www.oup.com/about/structure/" REL="nofollow">says the press has an obligation to provide the University with a financial return</A>; 30% of profits. I hadn't realized that until researching this blog comment! I would have expected OUP to be a non-profit and operate at a loss but for charitable contributions. I'm surprised it can function as a profit-center.<BR/><BR/>The goal of scholarly publishing is to get the information into the hands of scholars who need it. I find it frustrating when books I want to consult are only in a few libraries. The New York Public Library research division chose not to acquire <I>Brickstamps of Constantinople</I>. WorldCat reports that NYU bought a copy. Unfortunately the general public can't just walk into NYU's Bobst library. If I wanted to see the book I must go to NYPL, have a librarian verify that NYU has the book but NYPL does not, then request a special Bobst admission pass to see the one book. It's a pain.<BR/><BR/>Do you think there is a business model for cheaper academic books?Ed Sniblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17346392312959087285noreply@blogger.com