When did the University Press of Kansas open its doors?
The University Press of Kansas opened its doors in 1946 within the state of Kansas. It began as a single entity under the University of Kansas before evolving into a consortium by 1976.
Questions about University Press of Kansas
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Which universities are part of the University Press of Kansas consortium?
The University Press of Kansas represents six state universities including Emporia State University and Fort Hays State University. The group also encompasses Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, and Wichita State University to guide operations today.
Who became director of the University Press of Kansas in 1981?
Fred Woodward became director of the press in 1981 with a specific vision for growth. He decided to focus on building a list exploring the politics of the United States which established specialty areas including American politics and military history.
What happened to leadership of the University Press of Kansas in 2022?
Mike Haddock took over as interim director in 2022 following Kevin Smith's departure from KU Libraries in 2021. Current operations fall under library administration rather than independent press governance after these administrative shifts.
How does the University Press of Kansas support open access scholarship?
The Mellon Foundation provided funding for the Kansas Open Books initiative project to scan out-of-print books published by the University Press of Kansas. These digitized titles are offered for free download to the public to ensure older works remain accessible despite being out of print.