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Bloomsbury Publishing selects PCG as Global Partner for Churchill Archive and Drama Online

In customer service, library market, marketing, PCG, publishing industry, sales on February 28, 2012 by pcgplus

Bloomsbury Publishing selects Publishers Communication Group
to represent Churchill Archive and Drama Online
PCG to provide global sales, marketing and customer service for new digital collections

Cambridge, MA, February 27, 2012 – Leading independent publisher Bloomsbury and industry consultancy Publishers Communication Group (PCG) today announce an exclusive sales, marketing and customer service partnership for Bloomsbury’s two newest ventures, the Churchill Archive and Drama Online.  The two digital collections will launch during 2012 under the Bloomsbury Academic imprint of the London-based literary and reference publisher.

Specializing in the humanities and social sciences, Bloomsbury Academic publishes more than 1,000 books each year, maintains a backlist of about 20,000 titles, and is aggressively expanding its online portfolio of digital resources with collections such as Berg Fashion Library, Churchill Archive and Drama Online.

With this agreement, PCG continues to grow its program of full-service global representation for scholarly publishers. By leveraging local networks in Europe, North America, Latin America, India and China, PCG will execute sales and multi-channel marketing programs, as well as manage all library-facing customer service and fulfillment duties for these two collections.

The Churchill Archive makes accessible nearly one million documents amassed by Winston S. Churchill throughout his life.  Published electronically in collaboration with the Sir Winston Churchill Archive Trust and Churchill Heritage Ltd, and previously only available on microfilm, the collection is designed as a research and teaching resource documenting Churchill’s engagement in national and international affairs over six decades of public life as soldier, journalist, wartime leader and historian.  Drama Online aggregates the most studied, performed and critically acclaimed plays from the last two and half thousand years from the Methuen Drama, Arden Shakespeare and Faber lists.   The collection meets the full range of drama teaching needs, incorporating critical analysis, contextual information, performance and practitioner texts from theory to backstage and acting guides coupled with video and audio material.

Douglas Wright, Director of PCG commented: “We are excited to work with Bloomsbury on these prestigious, groundbreaking collections. Both the Churchill Archive and Drama Online are ambitious projects, and we are uniquely positioned with the necessary global infrastructure, cross-functional expertise and library connections to deliver this valuable content to educators, students and researchers of 20th century history and theatre studies around the world.”

Jonathan Glasspool, Managing Director of Bloomsbury Academic said “We are really looking forward to working with PCG to make these fabulous resources available to as wide a market as possible.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries, please contact:
Michael Groth, Publishing Technology plc
Tel: +1 617 395-4089
Email: michael.groth@publishingtechnology.com

About PCG:
Publishers Communication Group, Inc., a division of Publishing Technology, is a full-service marketing and sales consulting firm with locations in Boston, Oxford, São Paulo, New Delhi and Beijing. PCG was established in 1990 as a resource for scholarly publishers to more effectively work with the global library market. PCG offers international multi-lingual telemarketing services, qualitative and quantitative marketing research, customer services operations based in the UK, US, Brazil, India and China, sales representation and strategic consulting.
Related Links:

Visit www.pcgplus.com, PCG+ blog at www.pcgplus.wordpress.com, or follow on Twitter @pcgplus.

About Bloomsbury Publishing:

Bloomsbury Publishing is a leading independent publishing house with companies in London, New York, Berlin and Sydney.  Bloomsbury publishes fiction, nonfiction, children’s and reference works and databases, including the Harry Potter series.  Specializing in the humanities and social sciences, Bloomsbury Academic publishes about 1,100 new titles each year with a backlist of about 20,000 titles and a growing program of digital services.  With authors that include many world-leading writers, Nobel laureates and researchers in their fields, Bloomsbury Academic’s output includes journals, digital collections, textbooks, supplementary course books, research monographs, reference works and professional books.

Visit www.bloomsbury.com, www.churchillarchive.com, and www.dramaonlinelibrary.com.

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PCG Signs Three-Year Agreement with JISC on behalf of the Independent Scholarly Publishers Group (ISPG)

In Europe, library consortium, library market, PCG, sales on February 27, 2012 by pcgplus

A few weeks ago PCG finalized a three-year agreement between JISC Collections and the Independent Scholarly Publishers Group (ISPG) to bring ISPG’s collection of world-class science and medical journals to the UK academic community. From the official press release:

The Independent Scholarly Publishers Group (ISPG) and JISC Collections have successfully concluded a three year NESLi2 agreement for the higher education and further education communities in the UK.  This agreement offers libraries access to the prestigious medical and life-sciences society journals, which are part of the ISPG and will enable institutions in the UK to access the entire collection. 
    
The ISPG Collection – Europe, a very recent and ambitious initiative in scholarly publishing, is made up of fifteen independent society publishers, and thirty-five journals, which are all hosted on HighWire Press. UK academic institutions will now have the singular opportunity to benefit from research published in these high-impact society journals for their libraries.
    
“The recent JISC Collections agreement represents a very important development for the ISPG publishers in that they have the opportunity to work closely with UK institutions in improving access to cutting-edge resources,” commented ISPG Facilitator and Spokesman, Tom Taylor. “We are extremely excited about this collaboration and opportunities for the near future.”

For more information, please contact PCG’s ISPG representative in Europe, Jas Atwal (jatwal@pcgplus.com).

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Meet PCG at the ASA Conference in London

In conferences, PCG on February 27, 2012 by pcgplus

PCG managers will be in attendance at the Association of Subscription Agents & Intermediaries (ASA) Conference in London today and tomorrow. Contact us to arrange a time to meet!

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New York Public Library re-initiating plans to overhaul branches

In budgets, North America, public libraries on February 22, 2012 by pcgplus

The New York Times reports that the New York Public Library plans to proceed with next stage of plan to overhaul its branches. As part of this plan, two libraries will be sold: the Mid-Manhattan branch and the Science, Industry and Business Library.

To address the needs of patrons, a new circulating library will be built inside of the main branch to replace the Mid-Manhattan library. However, some are concerned that this will result in the availability of fewer books, as the main branch is currently a non-circulating research library. Additionally, the potential for overcrowding in the main branch would also need to be addressed.

Funding for the project will come from the city, donations, and the sale of library properties. The total cost of the project is about $1 Billion. While librarians have expressed concern about the elimination of positions and city residents have questioned the ability to invest in such an undertaking during an economic downturn, the project is meant to revitalize the libraries and meet the needs of all New Yorkers who use the branches to study, read, take classes, and use computers for free.

Read more at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/books/new-york-public-library-revives-its-overhaul-plan.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

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The Largest Library Consortium West of the Mississippi

In library market, North America, public libraries, publishing industry on February 1, 2012 by pcgplus

Michael Kelly at Library Journal reports that the Missouri Library Network Corporation and Amigos Library Services are exploring the possibility of merging their two operations, potentially creating ”the largest library consortium west of the Mississippi River, with approximately 1,000 libraries and cultural heritage institutions in 22 states.”

Read the Library Journal article here and Amigos statement here.

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The Booksellers Association states volunteer-run libraries are “unsustainable”

In budgets, business models, Europe, public libraries, publishing industry on January 13, 2012 by pcgplus

The Booksellers Association, along with the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors, provided written statements to the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of an inquiry into library closures. These three entities aim to provide support for public libraries in the face of substantial funding cuts and a growing urgency for substantial changes to create a financially viable system in the long-term.

The BA argued that “There are no comprehensive guidelines for voluntary-run libraries and we cannot believe they will be sustainable in the long term.” Prominent library campaigner Desmond Clarke also added, “The committee’s decision to inquire into library closures indicate they are very much aware of the level of public concern and anger. While people understand that cuts are necessary, there is a strong feeling that these have been disproportionate and too little has been done to improve operational efficiency and reduce the 151 separately managed authorities.”

To view the complete article at the Bookseller, go to: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/libraries-are-essential-trade-tells-mps.html

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The ACRL Approves New “Standards for Libraries in Higher Education”

In budgets, higher education, PCG, publishing industry on November 2, 2011 by pcgplus Tagged: , ,

LibraryJournal.com reports that the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Board of Directors approved a comprehensive revision of the association’s Standards for Libraries in Higher Education (SLHE) in October. This revision is meant to provide a stronger framework by which research libraries can demonstrate their value while facing growing scrutiny in a tough economic environment.

“These standards differ from previous versions by articulating expectations for library contributions to institutional effectiveness,” said University of Nevada-Las Vegas Dean of University Libraries Patricia Iannuzzi, who chaired the SLHE task force. “They also differ structurally from the previous version by providing a comprehensive framework using an outcomes-based approach, with evidence collected in ways most appropriate for each institution.”

To access a copy of the approved standards as well as to sign up for a introductory webcast, please go to:

 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/standardslibraries.cfm

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Google’s Infinite Digital Bookcase

In Uncategorized on October 21, 2011 by pcgplus

On Tuesday, the Google Blog unveiled their latest offering to the eBook world – a digital “infinite bookcase”. Google explains “…we imagined something that looks like the shelves in your living room, but is also capable of showcasing the huge number of titles available online—many more than fit on a traditional shelf. “ While still in its experimental phase, some users will be able to browse the bookcase at WebGL Bookcase or you can check out a quick tour below:

 

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The People’s Library

In North America, PCG, public libraries, Uncategorized on October 19, 2011 by pcgplus Tagged: , , ,

An interesting byproduct of the Occupy Wall Street movement cropped up shortly after the start of the protest on September 17th. Starting as a pile in a cardboard box, a collection of books has grown into a full-fledged library for the OWS population, complete with a reading room and online catalog provided by Library Thing. An article in the American Libraries Magazine, the magazine of the American Library Association, details this development and explains some of the changes facing the library. “OWSL also has issues of space and access, growth being among its biggest concerns,” as book donations from individuals, publishers, and booksellers are constantly flowing in. You can read the full article here: http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/10182011/library-occupies-heart-occupy-movement

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Semantic Web – what gives?

In online platforms, PT, publishing industry, publishing technology, Uncategorized on October 17, 2011 by pcgplus Tagged:

If you, like many publishers, have been wondering why there is so much talk about semantic web, Publishing Technology has a series of videos on its blog that can give you the quick basics.

These cover the details of what semantic web technology can do for you as a publisher and why you should care. To discuss it in more detail, you can contact Rebecca Appleby in our Cambridge, MA office (rebecca.appleby@publishingtechnology.com).

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