The Library Publishing Coalition, with a mission to “extend the impact and sustainability of library publishing and open scholarship by providing a professional forum for developing best practices and shared expertise,” published “An Ethical Framework for Library Publishing, Version 2.0” in May 2023. The second version is a significant departure from the first in that it moves from topics and recommendations, with external references, to a set of frames, statements and guidance. It is a radical approach that recognizes the convergence of two separate domains – libraries and publishing – and invites library publishers to explore and define their position, and align their policies and practices, in complex and evolving scholarly communication ecosystems. The Framework centers people within library publishing and its contexts.
“Library publishing is values-based” is the fundamental ethic from which the three other frames grow. Statements and guidance under this frame offer library publishers prompts to examine the contexts within which they operate and to explicitly define their values. “Library publishing is both librarianship and publishing” is the second frame; the statements and guidance here encourage library publishers to interrogate their roles, power and practices as they emanate from both traditions. “Library publishing is community-oriented,” the third frame with its statements and guidance, challenges library publishers to grapple with their agency as it relates to communities and individuals within them. The fourth frame, “Library publishing is dynamic,” calls out the unique attributes of library publishers and their opportunities to create positive change. The frames, statements and guidance sit in relationship to each other, each unique and together a blueprint.
Note below: In 2014 UMass Amherst was one of 27 founding institutions, with Educopia, of the Library Publishing Coalition. The 2023 Library Publishing Directory includes 159 libraries across the globe, up from 125 in 2018. At this time of building momentum for open science (see UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and U.S. Federal Agencies’ 2023 Year of Open Science), library publishers have a singular opportunity to become significant open, transparent, accessible actors in scholarly discourse for public good.
Note below – 2: I served on the task force that authored this Framework.
