Covid is still with us, along with many restrictions and quasi-restrictions, even though this summer has in some ways appeared to be more “normal”, at least in the UK, than last. “Freedom Day” happened, although it was a bit of a damp squib – essentially, it consisted of the government telling us that it isContinueContinue reading “The 2021 – 2022 Academic Year: Covid, academia, academic publishing and Gold Leaf’s birthday!”
Category Archives: Academic Publishing
Sustainability I – FSC certification
Following the advent of digital publishing at the start of the millennium, one of the key arguments to encourage the switch from print was ecological. Digital enthusiasts were quick to claim that using less paper and shipping fewer print books would help to save the environment. Maintaining sustainability in the publishing sector is, however, muchContinueContinue reading “Sustainability I – FSC certification”
Don’t Tax Reading: the case against VAT on knowledge
The removal of VAT from electronic publications earlier this year was the triumphant culmination of a vigorous campaign that had been led by publishers, booksellers, writers, librarians, teachers and readers over many decades to protest against taxation on knowledge. Originally it was started to save print books from tax: after VAT was introduced to theContinueContinue reading “Don’t Tax Reading: the case against VAT on knowledge”
From Open Access to Open Research: a summary of developments
As the OA movement picked up momentum, there were some watershed moments in the UK: the publication of the Finch Report (2012), which – to the surprise of many – chose the Gold “author pays” model (in which the author or his or her institution pays an APC, or Article Processing Charge) over the GreenContinueContinue reading “From Open Access to Open Research: a summary of developments”
Apprenticeships in academic publishing – part 3: Germany
For the past two weeks this blog has focused on apprenticeships in academic publishing. In earlier blog posts, we talked about the – relatively new – system of apprenticeships in the UK. Today, we would like to look at Germany, where the apprenticeship scheme has been long established and where apprentices have worked in publishingContinueContinue reading “Apprenticeships in academic publishing – part 3: Germany”
Gold Leaf 