I received this recently. If his editors and biographers haven't made PAL turn over in his grave, this should do the trick:
The Larkin Press
Summary
Methods of media access and consumption evolve in-line with the production and dissemination technologies available to publishers and consumers. In 1999 the advent of the portable MP3 player radically changed the music publishing and distribution industries and, although on-line journals are nothing new, the last few years have seen both eBook reader manufacturers and progressive publishing houses further challenging existing book and journal print models. A variety of eBook creation tools and services exist to support self-publishers, however in an academic context there is a clear need to exercise levels of editorial control. The Larkin Press (the celebrated poet Philip Larkin being The University of Hull’s former Head Librarian) aims to produce a web interface for authors and editors to create, manage and disseminate multi-format academic output (eBook and Print) from The University of Hull, combining existing University activities into a publishing whole.
The Press will focus initially on the creative output from The Philip Larkin Centre. The platform will achieve its aims through the creation of a virtual community of editors and authors that will interface with The University’s digital archive and, through partnering with a local print company, facilitate print-on-demand. A key aspect is the ability to create differing communities of editors and authors to drive the various imprints of The Press, with a core aim being to encourage the creative output of students as well as academics.
The result for The University will be visibility of, and access to, high quality peer reviewed output, population of the existing archive and, in the scope and context of this project bid, help to establish East and North Yorkshire as an independent publishing force. Whilst initially addressing the publication of creative writing, the platform will be designed so that, post-project, a wider range of academic output can be integrated and made public. Opportunities to roll out the solution to other institutions will also be identified.
Objectives
· Review existing open-source elements relevant to the platform.
· Review rights management: to include legal agreements and business models.
· Review workflow and dynamic model of platform.
· To identify the role of the local digital archive in the publication process and integrate it accordingly.
· Define architecture including bespoke elements.
· Create visual design and look-and-feel of The Press, including publication template design.
· Iterative design and development of platform.
· Create a range of sample outputs using the project team to further evaluate the platform.
· Launch The Press with an event that ensures stakeholders have project buy-in.
· Carry out user participation and perception study post-launch.
· Close and evaluate project with sustainability plan in place.
Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes
· An open source multi-format publishing platform.
· A range of sample outputs (both Journal and Book) showcasing the creative output of both the Larkin Centre and the wider University body.
· An embedded, sustainable community of editors and authors that are supported by participatory nature of The Press.
· Project reports and documentation.
· Publications: User perception study and interface design reflection.
Project Staff
Dr. John Whelan
Prof. Martin Goodman
Dr. Tanko Ishaya
Mr Chris Awre
Josh Brown, Programme Manager
JISC Executive
j.brown@jisc.ac.uk