As 2018 comes to a close, you are likely putting the final touches on your 2019 operating budget. One important area that may be overlooked is events — conferences, seminars, and trade shows. Many such events exist for those involved in academic publishing, each with a different focus and purpose. When you are planning your budget, study the upcoming events and pick a few that best align with your work and needs.
When choosing a conference, first determine your objectives. Are you interested in learning the latest publishing trends or research in your field? Do you want to network with service providers or potential authors? Will you have a manned booth to promote your brand or recruit members?
Also, make sure that the conference is reputable. Along with the rise in predatory journals has come a rise in associated conferences that will take your money and provide little value in return. If you attend just one or two events, choose well-established events that have good reputations and are well-attended by important members in your field.
The following list is a good overview of some important and reputable annual conferences, as well as a good place to start researching your 2019 conference plan.
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When: February 6-8, 2019
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Academic, independent, and professional publishers as well as librarians and educators
Why: The PSP Annual Conference focuses on copyright, law, policy, and business practices that affect professional and scholarly publishers in the United States.
When: March 12-14, 2019
Where: London
Who: People from all sectors of the publishing industry. The London Book Fair has a special area devoted to academic, scholarly, and STM publishing.
Why: The London Book Fair is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film, and digital channels.
When: April 10-12, 2019
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Academic and professional authors and publishers, as well as members of societies, nonprofits, and the research community
Why: Exchange ideas and information in areas such as copyright, technology developments, and end-user and library relations.
Council of Science Editors (CSE) Annual Meeting
When: May 4-7, 2019
Where: Columbus, OH
Who: Editorial professionals publishing in the sciences
Why: Catch up on the latest trends and technologies in scientific scholarly publishing and network with editorial professionals in the sciences.
Journal Article Tag Suite Conference (JATS-Con)
When: May 20-21, 2019
Where: Cambridge, U.K.
Who: Scholarly, independent, and professional publishers, as well as others interested in journal tagging standards
Why: Gather with others who work with the NISO JATS project for all the latest on XML tagging standards.
Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Annual Meeting
When: May 29-31, 2019
Where: San Diego, CA
Who: Scholarly publishers, librarians, printers, editors, academics, and more
Why: Professionals in the scholarly publishing field meet to discuss challenges and opportunities, as well as how to best serve the industry sector’s mission of publishing and distributing quality content.
Association of American University Presses
When: June 11-13, 2019
Where: Detroit, MI
Who: Cross-discipline university press colleagues
Why: Get together at this annual event to share information, experiences, and ideas to deal with stakeholders in the ever-changing world of academic publishing.
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American Library Association Annual Conference
When: June 20-25, 2019
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Librarians, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators, and others dedicated to children’s libraries and services
Why: Leaders with a shared passion for library access for children and underprivileged families gather with others passionate about books, libraries, and shaping the industry’s future.
Association Media and Publishing (AM&P) Annual Meeting
When: June 24-26, 2019
Where: Washington, D.C.
Who: Nonprofit print and digital publishers, as well as marketing, communication, and media professionals
Why: Share insights on the latest communication trends and marketing techniques in association publishing while networking and establishing connections with exhibitors, peers, and colleagues.
International Society of Managing and Technical Editors (ISMTE)
When: August 1-2, 2019
Where: Durham, NC
Who: Office staff members who drive technical and professional editorial publishing processes in the fields of science, academics, technology, and medicine
Why: Editorial office staff attendees and session leaders will network and train as they discuss publishing trends and best practices, as well as new products, services, and technologies to help them and others in their editorial offices work faster and smarter.
The Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers
When: September 11-13, 2019
Where: Berkshire, U.K.
Who: Scholarly and professional publishers in nonprofit organizations and institutions
Why: Share information and knowledge, learn about new initiatives, connect, and engage in open discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing international publishers today.
Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association
When: September 24-26, 2019
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Who: Global open access publishers in the scientific, technical, and scholarly fields
Why: Members meet to exchange information about open-access ideas, experiences, standards, best practices, and business models, as well as promote the open-access agenda.
When: October 16-20, 2019
Where: Frankfurt, Germany
Who: People from all areas of media publishing, writers, and cultural enthusiasts from all over the world
Why: The world’s most important fair for the print and digital content business, as well as an outstanding social and cultural event. Attendees network, exchange ideas, make decisions, get inspired, and join together in celebration.
When: Fall 2019; check website for dates
Where: Charleston, SC
Who: Librarians, publishers, consultants, and vendors
Why: Open to everyone as those involved in scholarly publishing, CEOs, librarians, and more come together to casually discuss issues of importance to all involved in scholarly publishing to find solutions to their publishing problems.
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Publishing conferences can provide immense value, but make sure you do your research before attending. Make sure the conference is being hosted by a reputable organization and the program is aligned with your publishing goals. The list above is a good place to start.
