In 2020, the United Nations launched a Publishers Compact to inspire action and accelerate progress toward its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as part of a Decade of Action to end poverty, rescue the planet, and build a peaceful world. To date, many organizations, including independent publishers and university presses, have signed up to publish books and journals that champion sustainable practices and mobilize governments, civil society, businesses, and all people to deliver on the 17 global goals.
Much of this indispensable content—across regions, formats, nonprofit, educational, and commercial providers—previously existed only in silos when the kind of research that can make an impactful contribution to real-world problems is interdisciplinary and extends beyond the ivory tower. Fortunately, some visionary publishers and institutions are taking advantage of unified delivery technology, advanced analytics, and Open Access content to curate collections tied to global social challenges and reach new audiences, disciplines, and geographies.
This panel discussion will combine the perspectives of several prestigious, independent social science publishers, along with a technology provider and open resources librarian at an institution taking up the charge to reduce inequalities, to deliver use cases on bringing mission-driven research to a wider audience for greater civic engagement. The presenters will address how they consolidated book and journal programs with other types of content on a single platform; addressed user needs by diving into the data to expand and create new book programs; launched specialized portals in new regions; developed new Open Access publications to decolonize participation and access; and communicated these resources to broaden their reach, break down boundaries, and gradually transform society.
