aaup 2014: lessons from books for understanding
TRANSCRIPT
{
SLIDES for UNDERSTANDING
Online bibliographies of AAUP members’ publications on current events and issues in the news
www.booksforunderstanding.org
Originally published as standalone “Books for Understanding September 11” published September 2001
Scholarship Beyond the Headlines
Bestsellers
Backlist
So Much More
1100+ Titles
~80 Publishers
Expanded February 2002 (“Civil Liberties” and “The Enron Affair”)
Almost 60 lists published by June 2014
Approximately 12,000 titles listed
118 presses featured
BFU Today
No Idea Has Not Been Had
“AAUP Best Books” (late 90s)
Interface to upload and feature extensive book information—image, description, reviews, etc.(Designed by Illinois’ Paul Arroyo)
No buy-in from overburdened press marketing & publicity staff
Immediacy
Simplicity
Simplicity
Simplicity (and immediacy)
Reasons for Initial Success
{Pay no attention to the mandatabase behind the curtain!
How does it work?
Editorial Development
Email Submissions
Cranky FileMaker Database
Idiosyncratic Web Architecture
Basic Promotion
Static/Text Web Pages
Annual Updates
How does it work?
Automated acceptance of metadata feeds
APIs to create “Buy/Find This Book Links”
Visual interest
Analytics
[Your More Exciting Ideas Here]
How Could It Work?
Compelling illustration of the value of university presses
Immediately comprehensible by/useful to many audiences
Why Make it Work?
Tomorrow’s Books for Understanding?
http://www.nap.edu/academ-scope/
Brenna McLaughlinDirector, Marketing & CommunicationsAssociation of American University [email protected]