By Shaun Manning
Communications Coordinator, AAUP
The National Humanities Alliance (NHA) held its annual Humanities Advocacy Day program March 3 and 4, offering roundtable discussions and advocacy training on Monday before sending volunteer lobbyists to Capitol Hill. Meeting with congressional staff on Tuesday, the goal was to encourage senators and house representatives to support funding appropriations for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
For people like me who are new to lobbying, the idea of approaching Congress for millions of dollars can seem daunting. NHA seeks to prepare its lobbyists with group discussions on issues important to the scholarly community, such as “Humanities and the Civic World,” “Digital Media,” and “Research and Scholarship,” generating additional talking points by highlighting common concerns among a variety of organizations. An afternoon policy brief addressed the specific legislative priorities we would be addressing Tuesday—a $177 million appropriation for NEH and $12 million for NHPRC. In the FY2009 budget that President Bush submitted to Congress, NEH is slated to receive $144.4 million, and NHPRC is zeroed out for the fourth year in a row. While the proposed NEH appropriation is slightly up from last year’s, in real terms it represents a cut because of higher mandated administration expenses.
The training itself, presented by Jessica Jones Irons, Executive Director of NHA, and Ember Farber, Legislative and Advocacy Assistant with the American Association of Museums, focused largely on the importance of lobbying, the significance of timing Humanities Advocacy day early in a busy season, and what to expect during a meeting with congressional staff. There was also some discussion as to what not to do, such as making vote-related or other threats and distributing staffers’ direct-dial numbers obtained from business cards. The session was useful in promoting a feeling of “ready-as-I’ll-ever-be”—which is very necessary in calming nerves—but to me there remained a sense of wondering whether this would all go to plan.
Fortunately, I found myself in a group with people who had done this before. Our team, representing New York-based organizations, was led by Steven Wheatley, Vice President of the American Council of Learned Societies, and Rosemary Feal, Executive Director of the Modern Language Association, with myself and University of Cologne researcher Eva Bosbach contributing to the discussions. Once the very short meetings—averaging about seven minutes—had begun, the conversations were very relaxed, on-point but not overly formal or intimidating.
Mr. Wheatley and Ms. Feal set out the importance of funding the NEH at a level higher than the president’s budget requested, indicating programs that would need to be cut if the Endowment were to only receive $144.4 million and showing the congressional staffers an alarming chart representing the sharp cuts to NEH since 1994. For my part, I mentioned projects by AAUP member presses, such as the Founding Fathers papers and other documentary editions, that are funded by NHPRC and that would thus be endangered if the program were to be eliminated.
It was, of course, also fortunate that the senators and representatives whose staff we met were all sympathetic to the humanities. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-14), Maurice Hinchey (R-22), and Jerrold Nadler (D-8) are all members of the Congressional Humanities Caucus, and Rep. Hinchey is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer have been similarly supportive, each signing a “Dear Colleague” letter in 2006 requesting additional funds for NEH.
Most of the staff we spoke with nevertheless expressed doubts about significant success for this year’s appropriations cycle, noting President Bush’s past resistance to raising funding above the levels set forth in his budget. Still, congressional support has been instrumental in keeping the NHPRC alive, as the historical publications program has received $5.5-7.5 million per year in FY06-08, years in which the president has sought to eliminate the program entirely. FY04 was the last year the NHPRC was fully funded at its authorized level of $10 million.
Whatever the level of appropriations the NEH and NHPRC ultimately receive, the lobbying efforts of universities, scholarly societies, and other cultural institutions coordinated by the National Humanities Alliance sends a clear and concerted message about the value of these programs. For congressional staff who may not be familiar with our goals, or for members of congress who do not intrinsically share our priorities, the opportunity for discussion on Humanities Advocacy Day gives us the chance to inform and, hopefully, to influence.
Online resources for humanities advocacy are available at http://www.humanitiesadvocacy.org/
More information on Humanities Advocacy Day, including photos from the 2008 event, can be found at http://www.nhalliance.org/
By Michael McCutcheon
The University of Iowa Press had considered developing an internship program for several years—thinking of what the Press wanted and could offer, planning the logistics of recruitment, and researching other internship programs on and off campus. Yet it wasn’t until the spring semester of 2005 that the idea took root.
Having been invited to give a talk about a career in publishing to the undergraduate students enrolled in the university’s English Honors Program, Holly Carver, the Press Director, met her counterpart, Mary Anne Rasmussen, the Director of the undergraduate English program. The two quickly found themselves on the same page regarding a formal internship program. “It’s the sort of thing everybody loves,” said Carver. In part, it provides the kind of hands-on experience for undergrads that leads to jobs, while pushing the university to further recognize the advantages of having a press.
The relationship between the press and the English Honors Program imparts prestige to the internship and ensures that the Press receives high-aptitude students. “Publishing has become more and more professionalized, it’s become much more of a career,” said Joe Parsons, Acquisitions Editor, University of Iowa Press. “We are reflecting that professionalization.”
Several of the students who attended Carver’s talk would later become some of the first interns in the program. “The point of the talk was to introduce English students to what they could do,” remembered Sarah Remington (‘06). “Holly spoke, and her words, I’ll never forget them, ‘Publishing is an excellent place for high performing introverts.’ That struck a chord…. The first feeling, in a long time, that there was a place for me in the professional world.”
Applying to become an intern at the Iowa Press is the same as applying for any other job. Prospective interns fill out a general application, and a few are then chosen for in-person interviews. The last hurdle is a difficult copyediting test. Once chosen, interns are asked to work 10-15 hours per week on top of their regular course-load. Students register for the internship each semester with the university’s registrar. Although they don’t receive course credit for the experience, the registration ensures that the experience shows up on their transcript, providing the student with an incentive to work for free. “I knew publishing was a competitive field—all those English majors that don’t go to grad school,” said Laura Avey (’06). “I wanted the experience before I tried to get the job.”
In Iowa’s program, intern tasks are standardized in the form of a checklist. The intern meets with the director and editors twice a year to go over the duties they’ve been given. These can include evaluating manuscripts, finding readers for a manuscript, filling out Library of Congress forms, writing rejection letters, and fact-checking, among other tasks. The program culminates in a final project that often tests the intern’s abilities—a book launch. “I hand off the project to each of the students,” says Parsons, “and they launch the book, running the agenda at the launch meeting. Some find that task very intimidating. They come into the meeting and get unanticipated questions.” But it is their chance to stand at the “head of a conference table and present the material to colleagues.”
Bringing along interns at this speed does require significant time from the staff. Asked what her duties are when it comes to the interns, Charlotte Wright, Managing Editor, responds, “I help interview and then choose the interns, work with them to set up their work schedules, introduce them to the primary reference books…teach them the various procedures necessary for the work that comes out of my office, check their completed projects, and make myself available to answer any questions they have about publishing.” The natural follow-up question was, “Is it worth it?” To which Wright’s reply was, “Definitely.”
The interns bring a number of intangibles that go beyond the completion of office tasks. Parsons remarked enthusiastically that, “the interns are enthusiastic, everything is new to them…. It forces us to think again about the jobs we do. It keeps the job fresh for us. In the process, we reconsider the way we do things.” Wright complemented this view with the observation that, “We get to meet the young, motivated individuals who are in all likelihood the future of university press publishing. Often, we are their first contact with the publishing world, so we have an incredible opportunity to influence their philosophy and work ethic.”
For the interns’ part, they enjoy the experience of working at the Press and being involved in the workflow. “I spoke with Joe every day and Charlotte almost every day,” Avey remarked. “Joe would come down to the kitchen and tell me about a manuscript, about his sales pitches to get an author to publish with Iowa…but it wasn’t all work. We would also talk about politics, local events, and sports.” Sarah Remington added that, when the internship was over, “I felt comfortable operating in a work environment. That was something I couldn’t learn from school. Something I could have only learned from [the Press]. Little things, like when to ‘cc’ people…what to say in a meeting, what things are helpful, how to ask colleagues to do something for you.”
So far, the program has been a success. Of the four interns to go through the Iowa program, “one is at Chicago, two are at Michigan, and one hasn’t graduated yet,” remarked Carver, “We’re batting 1.000.” And whether it is setting up informational meetings between interns and potential employers at the AAUP Annual Meeting, or other general lobbying on their behalf, the Iowa Press graduates top interns that find their way back into scholarly publishing.
“At Iowa, Joe, Holly, and Charlotte realized that even though we were ‘just interns,’ we were intelligent people who could handle difficult tasks,” said Avey, who now works at the University of Chicago Press. When asked about any tasks she didn’t like, she responded, “making copies. But alas, that is part of the point of having interns. I have a student now that I have make copies. I’ve learned to delegate.”
by Shaun Manning
Communications Coordinator, AAUP
Participants in this year’s Whiting Week-in-Residence program often found themselves taking a “big picture” approach to professional development. The program, sponsored by the AAUP and the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation, allows mid- and upper-level staff of member presses to spend one week observing another press’s operations. While the 2007 residents traveled to larger university presses seeking a greater understanding of marketing, rights management, acquisitions, and production, in many cases they were treated to a more complete picture of the publishing process—a view which might not be possible during the course of one’s day-to-day responsibilities.
John P. Hussey, Sales Manager at University of Kentucky Press, visited Columbia University Press, where he worked with Marketing and Sales Director Brad Hebel. Hussey was interested in Columbia’s practice of consulting the marketing department early in the acquisition process. He also took notes on Columbia’s international sales initiatives and database structure, which led to ideas which he hopes can be implemented on a scale appropriate for Kentucky’s operations. “I’m not embarrassed to say that we should think of Columbia as a fantastic model for us to follow and as an ultimate end goal,” Hussey said. “Both in terms of productivity and inter-office relationships, Columbia exceeded any expectation I may have had.”
University Press of Florida also had the chance to share its marketing expertise, as Sales and Marketing Director Dennis Lloyd played host to Iowa’s Associate Marketing Manager, Allison Thomas. Thomas had the opportunity to sit in on marketing meetings, discuss business strategies, and speak with members of the design and production team to gain a greater understanding of the overall publishing process. “My main goal was to come away with a better understanding of the press as a whole entity and my role in it,” she said, “and because I was able to talk to the managers of different departments and attend so many meetings, I took away a very solid look at the bigger picture.” Thomas also enjoyed visiting her host press’s warehouse. “This was especially interesting because I haven’t been to our warehouse, the Chicago Distribution Center, yet,” she said.
Susan Petrie, Publicist for SUNY Press, visited University of Minnesota Press to learn more about “how a well-established publicity program functions.” Heather Skinner, Minnesota’s publicist, provided Petrie with examples of promotional materials and marketing plans that may be employed for various campaigns. Petrie also paid a brief visit to the Minnesota Historical Society Press, where she gained further advice on publicity strategies. “This week in residency came at a very valuable time for both me and for SUNY Press as we prepare to transition to a new director,” Petrie said. “I made an in-house presentation already to staff here, and there is a lot of enthusiasm to hone and improve our current systems.”
Alan G. Thomas, Editorial Director (Humanities and Sciences), and Gretchen Linder, Foreign Rights Manager, at University of Chicago Press hosted University of British Columbia Press’s Darcy Cullen. Cullen, an editor at UBC, reports that she was sent materials in advance of her residency, which “were not only informative but also served to make me feel welcome.” Though she was able to observe many aspects of the editorial acquisition process, Cullen was most intrigued by the thinking that goes into acquiring foreign-language books for translation. Related to this, Cullen also gained a more informed perspective on rights and permissions, including those related to translated works, collections, and monographs.
A focus on rights management also benefited Mollika Basu, former Acquisitions/Permissions Assistant at Wayne State University Press. Basu traveled to Temple University Press, where she shadowed Rights and Contracts Manager Matt Kull. Kull showed Basu Temple’s process for organizing and tracking rights and permissions, as well as the intense preparation necessary for a successful appearance at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Basu also learned about the costs and benefits of various e-publishing initiatives, and was able to meet with other members of the press to discuss overall workflow, database, and marketing issues.
Making the most of her week-in-residence, University of Washington Press’s Ashley Saleeba witnessed the inner workings of two university presses, a book packager, a compositor, and a letterpress printing and design shop. Co-hosted by Deb Wong at Duke University Press and Rich Hendel of University of North Carolina Press, Saleeba, Washington’s Senior Designer, spent two days at each university press while also making time to visit BW&A Books, Tseng Information Systems, and Horse and Buggy Press, all conveniently located in the Chapel Hill/Durham area. “My plan was to interview as many people as possible whose responsibilities mirrored or intersected my own,” Saleeba said. She was interested to see that Duke’s editorial and production teams were part of the same department, while the organization at UNC more closely mirrored her home press, with Production and Design separated into its own department. The two host presses, however, did show similarities that may inform the future of University of Washington Press. “I was surprised to learn that UNC, like Duke, reviews only one round of interior proofs,” Saleeba said. “Because both Duke and UNC are confident in this workflow, we are now considering eliminating first text proofs from our workflow, particularly for monographs. A change of this magnitude could mean a significant savings in time and shipping costs.”
The Week-in-Residence program is one of AAUP’s most successful professional development initiatives. Sharing knowledge between member presses has provided for new perspectives on how to best achieve the goals of small and larger scholarly publishers, and observing colleagues in action proves an exceptional experience for the program’s residents. Applications for the 2008 Whiting Week-in-Residence program will be available at http://aaupnet.org/programs/ in March.
by Tim Staley
Development Officer, University of Texas Press
originally published Fall 2003
Two congruent sides with congruent base angles. This is the formula for an isosceles triangle, but it is also an ideal metaphor for a healthy development program. The perfect isosceles triangle is not easy to create, however. The various levels and forms of giving that it requires demand a great range of staff skills and talents.
Atop this triangle sit your largest donors: individuals or foundations whose generosity provides your Press with gifts of $25,000 to $100,000, or even a million dollars! These gifts are typically made in the form of series endowments and significant title subsidies, or some other larger initiative such as an electronic project. Donor relations at this level require ongoing personal interaction. Once a prospect is identified, the cultivation process begins. This entails one-on-one visits between the donor and your director and other members of the staff, including the development officer if you have one, he editor-in-chief, the editor who acquires in the donor’s area of interest, or perhaps someone from your marketing department.
Lunches, tours of your Press, gift books, etc. are also fundamental to good donor relations. But above all, open, effective communication is required. You must come to a clear understanding of the donor’s intentions and whether your Press will be able to appropriately honor them. As appealing as a $500,000 endowment may be, if it is restricted to support only the publication of books in a very narrow field, it won’t do much good for either party.
While your aim should certainly be to increase the height of your triangle, it is also important to establish a broad base of support by involving as many people in your development program as possible.
This widening of the base of your triangle is most effectively accomplished with a Friends program. Friends will provide your Press with smaller gifts of $100 to $1,000, but more importantly, they will expand the reach of your Press throughout the community and will provide, ideally, a pool from which you can identify other potential donors.
A Friends membership will help your Press reach a broad range of people, but it will not bring in much money, at least relative to the amount of effort it will require of your staff. Successful Friends programs require very little of the intense personal interaction necessary to court even one large donor, but they are very labor intensive. In addition to an enormous amount of written communications (thank yous, renewals, catalog letters, invitations, and newsletters), maintaining a Friends group also entails hosting special events, such as author parties and book signings.
The middle of your triangle is made up of gifts in the range of $2,000 to $25,000, which typically take the form of title subsidies. Title subsidies are perhaps the most common form of support that university presses receive. These gifts are customarily given by individuals or foundations, but can be pursued in a variety of different ways. Editors can be very helpful in identifying and pursuing possible sources for title subsidies. Authors also can play an effective role in obtaining title subsidies from their universities or associations related to their field of study.
Avoid circles, squares, rectangles, and trapezoids, or any other undesirable shapes: create an Advisory Council. Whether your Press is developing and maintaining a Friends program or cultivating large donors, enlist the assistance of even just a few people in your community who either have the ability to give money themselves, or who can involve others who can give. Their help in heightening and widening your triangle will be invaluable.