Monash University ePress

ePress commissioning policy

If you would like to submit a proposal to the ePress, please read the following guidelines before contacting the ePress manager to discuss your proposal.

General guidelines

Proposed publications that showcase the research and teaching activities of Monash University may be given preference.

Both unpublished and previously published material will be considered for publication, including material already published or material being published (in the case of journals, for example) in electronic form.

In the short-term, the selection of material for publication will be guided in part by the need to demonstrate the features and functionalities of the ePress: along with text-based content, the ePress will publish image-rich titles.

Publication types and subject matter

The ePress will focus on publishing electronic journals in under-served and emerging disciplines. However it will also publish monographs, conference proceedings and working paper series.

The ePress will primarily serve the humanities and social sciences fields. Within these fields, the ePress is subject-matter neutral at present. As the ePress list grows, however, the ePress will foster strengths in specific subject areas.

Quality

The selection of material for publication will reflect the ePress commitment to quality. Indicators of the quality of the proposed publication include peer review (existing or proposed), the composition of editorial boards, and whether or not the material has an authoritative sponsor or producer such as a well-known research institute or scholarly organisation.

The preferred method of peer review for ePress content is double-blind peer review: neither the author nor the referee know the other's identity. It is also preferable that reviewers be provided with clearly defined review criteria. In the case of journals, it is preferable that the selection of reviewers be a shared decision rather than the ongoing preserve of one particular editorial board member.

Audience

The size of the likely or existing audience for the content is a relevant factor. Where the content has already been published on a commercial basis, in print or electronic form, audience size may be indicated by sales figures. Where the content is being published digitally on a non-commercial basis, usage statistics can provide an indication of the audience for the content.

Comparability with print version

Where content is already being or will be published in print by another publisher, the content available for the electronic version should include all features provided in the print counterpart: the complete articles, chapters or essays, with accompanying graphics, tables, references, and text.

Back issues

If the proposed material is a journal/series already being published or previously published, whether in print or in electronic form, the number of back issues available for digitisation is relevant. Where the journal/series is forthcoming, it should be able to commit to making a significant run of issues available in full-text format in their entirety. Sample issues alone are not appropriate.

Electronic publication rights to back-issue content should be available to the ePress. For example, where a journal is currently being published in print by another publisher, electronic publication rights may be held by that publisher, and therefore not available to Monash University ePress.

Currency and updates

Where the proposed material is a journal/series, the frequency of publication (proposed or actual) may be relevant. Where the journal/series is being published, a demonstrated record of timely publication is desirable.

Where content is being published concurrently in print, the ePress will seek simultaneous electronic publication. Delays between print and electronic publication are not desirable. Therefore it should be possible for content to be provided to the ePress for electronic publication on a schedule that allows simultaneous print and electronic publication.

Cost recovery

In order to achieve sustainability, publication of content will involve cost-recovery mechanisms: most ePress content will be offered on a subscription and pay-per-view basis.

The costs of publishing quality content online are significant, if under-appreciated. They include software licensing (modules include content management, storage, publish-to-web, authoring and conversion tools, ecommerce, and access control) hardware, installation and maintenance, customer support, modifications, and site design. These are in addition to standard costs associated with publishing: editorial, marketing and administration.

Licensing and access

Previously or concurrently published material may present copyright and licensing issues. Such content may have restrictions on use and publication that are incompatible with the license sought by ePress; for example content that comes with time limits on electronic publication (i.e. the content must be taken offline by a certain date) and territorial or other restrictions on the potential audience (i.e. by region or institutional affiliation).

The ePress license will include permission for specified uses by Monash University Library. Restrictions incompatible with these uses are not desirable - for example, limits on interlibrary loan or electronic reserves; restrictions on library users viewing, downloading or printing; limits on the library's right to reformat data or provide links to other library holdings; other limitations on fair use for non-commercial educational, instructional or research purchases.