The Frankfurt Book Fair, scheduled for October 8-12, 2014, has announced a cooperation with Latin American University Presses. Born as an initiative of Latin American networks including university presses and the Frankfurt Book Fair, the International Convention is a worldwide opportunity to present and create interaction among national and regional networks of University Presses, and to provide a platform for discussions on common issues in academic publishing at international level.
The Convention will establish a meeting point for the exchange of ideas and reflection, where relevant topics of academic publishing are engaged, such as: common practices of the exchange of experience, commercialization, co-edition, license trade, information dissemination in the academic world, etc.
This convention, scheduled for October 11, is realized in collaboration with REUN – Network of National University Presses Argentina and AAUP – Association of American University Presses. More information on the programme is available online at http://buchmesse.de/en/fbf/01537/index.html.
At the Frankfurt Book Fair, Hall 4.2 is the home for publishers working in Science, Specialist Information, and Education. It is in some ways the avant-garde of the book industry since digitization took hold earlier here than in other industry sectors. Susanne Funk, Director, Science, Business Information, Education at the Frankfurt Book Fair, is keen to stress that STM publishers and specialist information providers are among the most advanced when it comes to building viable and successful (i.e. money making) business models, building databases, and working with big and smart data. Exhibitors in Hall 4.2 are a blend of STM and academic publishers including numerous international market leaders, specialist information providers, and technological service providers.
It is not just the publishers who are reinventing themselves. Pressure to innovate is also high for service providers who have traditionally acted as an intermediary between publishers and institutions. As publishers now have direct contact with their readers through the Internet, these service providers need to reposition themselves, too.
Apart from exhibitor stands and the two Hot Spots - Professional & Scientific Information and Education - the International Library Centre (ILC), a working area for librarians and information scientists, is another important component of Hall 4.2. Guest of Honour Finland with its outstanding library system will feature prominently here with the Finnish National Library hosting a reception on October 8. There will also be a half-day event for information professionals with a keynote by Lexis Nexis.
More content will be delivered at the Forum STM and Specialist Information during the 'Book Fair Talks' focused on the latest industry trends. If publishing in the digital age is characterized by constant change, the 'knowledge hall' 4.2 is the place to see how and where innovation is taking place within the industry.
