Library Publishing for the 99%: Why Neoliberalism and Scholarly Publishing Need a Divorce

Ghamandi, Dave Library Publishing for the 99%: Why Neoliberalism and Scholarly Publishing Need a Divorce., 2017 . In Library Publishing Forum 2017, Baltimore, MD, 03/20-03/22/2017. (Unpublished) [Presentation]

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English abstract

In this presentation, I will argue that the “serials crisis” and the subsequent need for library publishing are best understood not by focusing on the singular actions of individuals or publishers, but through an analysis of neoliberalism—the nation’s predominant economic ideology. In a discourse of critique, I will analyze scholarly journal publishing using the following major elements of neoliberalism: the primacy of the “free market,” privatization, deregulation, and using individualism to justify cuts to social services and to discredit notions of the public good. Critics argue that neoliberalism, a set of political and economic policies that have become widespread over the past 35 years, is a pernicious system that disproportionately benefits a small number of major corporate shareholders. Its effects, which include widening inequality and being prone to crises, are masked by the public’s ignorance, historical amnesia, propaganda, indifference, and austerity. In a discourse of possibility, I will discuss the transformative potential of library-publishers creating and participating in cooperatives. Library publishing can attain greater sustainability and impact through a more robust system of state and regional partnerships based on two major types of cooperatives: worker cooperatives, where the creators of goods and services collectively decide the fate of their work, and purchasing cooperatives, where members mutually benefit by acquiring in solidarity with each other. Cooperative economics is increasingly seen as a viable alternative to neoliberalism, and there are successful stories across the globe. Additionally, the transition by several Latin American nations away from neoliberalism by democratizing their economics and emphasizing the public good and cooperation will be explored. Attendees will be able to contextualize the so-called serials crisis with greater clarity, advocate for library publishing more compellingly, identify more impactful solutions, and have an increased sense of individual and collective agency.

Item type: Presentation
Keywords: library publishing, open access, neoliberalism, cooperatives, critical theory, critical librarianship, serials crisis, scholarly publishing
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BE. Information economics.
D. Libraries as physical collections. > DD. Academic libraries.
E. Publishing and legal issues. > EB. Printing, electronic publishing, broadcasting.
E. Publishing and legal issues. > ED. Intellectual property: author's rights, ownership, copyright, copyleft, open access.
F. Management. > FA. Co-operation.
G. Industry, profession and education. > GA. Information industry.
H. Information sources, supports, channels. > HN. e-journals.
Depositing user: Dave Ghamandi
Date deposited: 15 Apr 2017 01:18
Last modified: 15 Apr 2017 01:18
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/31122

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