University of Michigan Press extends free-to-read ebook access, announces flat pricing for 2021, and requests library investment

By: Lanell White | Date: June 25, 2020
University of Michigan Press extends free-to-read ebook access, announces flat pricing for 2021, and requests library investment

Ann Arbor, Michigan - University of Michigan Press (UMP) will extend free-to-read access to the University of Michigan Press Ebook Collection (UMP EBC) until the end of August 2020, strengthening its support of students, librarians, and faculty who need ebook access as they continue to transition to online learning and teaching.

Additionally, in recognition of the budget constraints that many libraries now face as a result of COVID-19, UMP will also keep UMP EBC prices flat for the 2021 calendar year.

“Being a part of the U-M library really allows us to align with the values of our larger library community,” says Emma DiPasquale, Library Engagement Manager for Michigan Publishing. “The feedback we’ve received from libraries as well as the support from the Press’s faculty Executive Committee and University leadership reinforce this decision to collaborate more deeply with the library community.”

There is clear evidence that UMP content is being more widely used since free-to-read access began in March. Free-to-read and fully open access models are a growing norm for the Press. The Press will be reaching out to librarians and faculty in the coming months to further the conversation about future access models. The value that free-to-read provides to authors is of particular interest to UMP.

“I’m very happy to have the free-to-read model available—it keeps our students learning and making progress,” says Danielle Fosler-Lussier, Professor of Musicology at The Ohio State University and author of the recent UMP title Music on the Move . “As we plan for future teaching at least in the short term, online resources are going to be necessary.”

University of Michigan Press is a publisher of specialist monographs and coursebooks and sales to libraries are still a major source of income. We ask libraries at institutions whose students and faculty have benefited from the free-to-read program to purchase a UMP EBC collection and support digital scholarship infrastructure.

“Through UMP EBC, we have seen access to and affordability of content grow, in a format that is easy to use and interoperable with many different research tools and systems. Supporting the development of this publishing platform will continue to increase the visibility of our academic community in a sustainable manner," says Sarah Schaff, Discovery Librarian at Denison University, a UMP EBC library partner.

To learn more about UMP EBC, please visit press.umich.edu/librarians. To view transparent licensing and pricing terms, please visit the LYRASIS product page .

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For more information, please contact:

Emma DiPasquale

Library Engagement Manager

ejdip@umich.edu