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Forty academic presses, including 12 from the UK are to create a Europe-wide University Press Association, following a meeting at the Frankfurt Book Fair. A total of 12 countries were represented.
As reported previously, the British presses also met to discuss a domestic association, which is expected to work closely with the European body when it is created. A committee of representatives from the various countries and existing national associations will now prepare the ground for setting up the association, as well as organise its first timetable and activities.
Andrew Peden Smith, publisher at Northumbria University Press, said: "I believe it is important from a UK, and personal, perspective to be involved in the creation of a European Association as it will give the British Association the opportunity to help develop and shape this important European-wide organisation.
"As part of this focused European approach we will also be looking at possible funding from the EU. Taking an historical perspective I believe lessons can be learnt from Britain’s initial reluctance to be involved in the development of the then EC."
The aim of the association is much the same as the idea behind the British association, but on a broader scale, Peden Smith said.
The European meeting, which representatives from university presses of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Exeter, Wales and Nottingham also attended, set out points such as supporting new presses, collaborating on projects and increasing visibility, as areas of focus for the association. Northumbria UP has offered to host the association website.
"We can help and support each other by sharing information and discussing common topics, creating an annual directory or joint online catalogue, having cooperative marketing and advertising programmes, negotiate favourable rates and sharing stands at book fairs and conferences," said Peden Smith. "If we can do all this - and hopefully reduce costs - that can only help the association members."
Eelco Ferwerda of Amsterdam University Press, who chaired the meeting, added: "We are very happy with the turn up at the meeting. There is a genuine interest in starting the association and collaborating at the European level, and we’ve already received a number of offers to support the initial effort setting up the association in the first year.
"We are looking forward to working with university presses across Europe in order to to improve our visibility, share knowledge and strengthen our common mission to support scholarly communication."
Earlier">http://www.thebookseller.com/news/101482-middlesex-university-press-to-c... this week The Bookseller reported that Middlesex University Press was to close.