Understanding the University Press Segment: Q&A with Paula Barker Duffy, Director, University of Chicago Press
EXTRA: Do you believe it’s crucial for other university presses to develop their own areas of expertise?
DUFFY: Every university-based publisher seeks to develop core competencies and to establish a strong reputation in particular areas so that it can attract the best scholarship in specific disciplines or fields. On average, only 8 to 10 percent of the original titles we publish are written by Chicago faculty; my impression is that most university presses, like Chicago, work hard to publish notable books in areas for which the university itself is noted. This of course means reaching out to authors doing first-rate work at a variety of institutions. Our editors consult frequently with Chicago faculty members to identify authors and reviewers at other research universities.