University press

A university press is an academic publishing house specializing in monographs and scholarly journals. They are often an integral component of a large research university. They publish work that has been reviewed by scholars in the field.^[2] They produce mainly academic works but also often have trade books for a lay audience. These trade books also get peer reviewed.^[2] Many but not all university presses are nonprofit organizations, including the 160 members of the Association of University Presses.^[3]

Because scholarly books are mostly unprofitable, university presses may also publish textbooks and reference works, which tend to have larger audiences and sell more copies. Most university presses operate at a loss and are subsidized by their owners; others are required to break even.^[4] Demand has fallen as library budgets are cut and the online sales of used books undercut the new book market. Many presses are experimenting with electronic publishing.^[5]