II Round Table. Open Access Publishing in Asian Studies

Open Access publishing means that ebooks can be read by anybody in the world with access to an internet connection. Because open access titles are openly-licensed and downloadable as well as free-to-read online, they are now also available for integration into digital scholarship projects. As book publishing moves increasingly digital, an International Institute collaboration with the U-M Press and with the Asia Library offers new opportunities for imaginative publishing that transcends disciplinary boundaries, reaches readers outside as well as inside the academy, and extends the understanding of Asian culture, history, and society around the world.

Over the last 50 years, the centers now housed in the University of Michigan International Institute have published over 300 ground-breaking books about East, South, and Southeast Asia. In 2018, these centers collaborated with University of Michigan Press and the U-M Asia Library to successfully apply for a Humanities Open Book program grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aimed at making important backlist books broadly available again. This funding has allowed a complete record of the centers’ publications to be compiled and for 100 selected titles to be brought back into print and made digitally-available open access. These are now all freely available on major online platforms including JSTOR, Project MUSE, OAPEN, and as part of the University of Michigan Press Ebook Collection.

This event highlights the impact of the Michigan Asian Studies Open Access Books Collection so far, and asks “where do we go from here?” While it is focused on the Michigan publications as a case study, the panel aims to explore more broadly the opportunities for Open Access publishing in Asian studies more generally.

Register for the event at https://myumi.ch/r8w17

Program (All Times US Eastern)

1:00–1:05 pm Moderator Welcome
Charles Watkinson, Director, University of Michigan Press

1:05–1:15 pm Introductory Remarks
Mary Gallagher, Director, International Institute

1:15–1:30 pm “The Humanities Open Book Program: Its Goals and Impact”
Brett Bobley, Director, Office of Digital Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities

1:30–2:00 pm The Michigan Asian Studies Open Access Books Collection: Lessons Learned
Editorial: Christopher Dreyer, Acquiring Editor, Asian Studies, UMP
Technology/IP: Joe Muller, Digital Publishing Coordinator, Michigan Publishing
Impact: Emma DiPasquale, Engagement Manager, Michigan Publishing

2:10–3:00 pm Panel 1: Open Access and Digital Scholarship: Going Beyond the Book
Moderator: Youngju Ryu, University of Michigan
Emily Wilcox, College of William and Mary
Jonathan Zwicker, University of California, Berkeley
Karil Kucera, St. Olaf College
Markus Nornes, University of Michigan

3:10–4:00 pm Panel 1: Extending Impact and Reach through Open Access: Toward Equity and Inclusion?
Moderator: Dawn Lawson, University of Michigan
Aswin Punathambekar, University of Virginia
John Ciorciari, University of Michigan
Liangyu Fu, University of Michigan
Lisa Trivedi, Hamilton College

4:10–4:30 pm “Where can we go from here? What future opportunities do open access approaches offer Asian studies? And what challenges do these approaches pose?”

4:30–5:00 pm Whole Group Discussion

Thank you to the directors of the participating centers (CJS, CSAS, CSEAS, LRCCS, NCKS) and Asia Library: The Center for Japanese Studies: Reginald Jackson; The Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies: Twila Tardif; The Center for South Asian Studies: Jatin Dua; The Center for Southeast Asian Studies: Laura Rozek; The Nam Center for Korean Studies: Nojin Kwak; The Asia Library: Dawn Lawson.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at lib.accessibility@umich.edu or 734-763-9020. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.