We face
a critical time at theUniversity of Alaska Press
a critical time at the
An
essential portion of our financial support in the past six years has been
year-to-year money from a foundation account at the university. This funding is
no longer available. A permanent allocation of funds would provide sustainable
funding for UA Press. UA President Gamble is very supportive of the Press
and he chose, for the first time ever, to include a $200k request for UA Press
in this year’s operating request to the legislature.
essential portion of our financial support in the past six years has been
year-to-year money from a foundation account at the university. This funding is
no longer available. A permanent allocation of funds would provide sustainable
funding for UA Press. UA President Gamble is very supportive of the Press
and he chose, for the first time ever, to include a $200k request for UA Press
in this year’s operating request to the legislature.
I
cannot emphasize enough that this funding is critical to the survival of the
Press. It is typical for small university presses to receive up to 50% of their
income as institutional support. Book sales typically do not support scholarly
presses since we publish many books that are not primarily for the mass market.
Funding this request will bring our institutional support to 40% and allow us
to plan for a sustainable future.
cannot emphasize enough that this funding is critical to the survival of the
Press. It is typical for small university presses to receive up to 50% of their
income as institutional support. Book sales typically do not support scholarly
presses since we publish many books that are not primarily for the mass market.
Funding this request will bring our institutional support to 40% and allow us
to plan for a sustainable future.
We face
a significant challenge in getting this request through the approval process.
As a start, it is not necessarily clear to many people exactly what the value
of the Press is. I believe that as one of the few publishing options in the
state, we are critical to preserving the literature, history and cultures ofAlaska
a significant challenge in getting this request through the approval process.
As a start, it is not necessarily clear to many people exactly what the value
of the Press is. I believe that as one of the few publishing options in the
state, we are critical to preserving the literature, history and cultures of
UA
Press:
Press:
·
Preserves the distinctiveness of northern
cultures.
Preserves the distinctiveness of northern
cultures.
·
Provides a venue forAlaska
authors.
Provides a venue for
authors.
·
Gives a voice to minority cultures and
perspectives. (In the past five years, nearly 20 percent of our books included
an Alaska Native author.)
Gives a voice to minority cultures and
perspectives. (In the past five years, nearly 20 percent of our books included
an Alaska Native author.)
·
Enriches undergraduate and graduate education.
Enriches undergraduate and graduate education.
·
Extends the reach of theUniversity
ofAlaska
Extends the reach of the
of
·
Connects to the community by publishing books of
local interest.
Connects to the community by publishing books of
local interest.
·
Provides opportunities for students interested
in publishing careers.
Provides opportunities for students interested
in publishing careers.
Although
this FY14 operating budget request was included in the UA Board of Regents
request to the Governor, it was not put into the Governor’s budget. Right now,
the House Finance Committee is focusing only on what was included in the
Governor’s budget. However, because the UA Press increment was included in the
Regents’ request, it is ‘fair game’ to advocate for support, and I strongly
encourage you to do so now.
this FY14 operating budget request was included in the UA Board of Regents
request to the Governor, it was not put into the Governor’s budget. Right now,
the House Finance Committee is focusing only on what was included in the
Governor’s budget. However, because the UA Press increment was included in the
Regents’ request, it is ‘fair game’ to advocate for support, and I strongly
encourage you to do so now.
If
legislators, and particularly the House and Senate Finance Committee members,
do not hear from constituents, it is highly unlikely this operating budget
request will be funded. You can make a difference in the outcome here by
participating as an advocate and supporter and submitting a letter to your own
legislators as well as all members of the House and Senate Finance Committees.
(Members listed at the end of this post.)
legislators, and particularly the House and Senate Finance Committee members,
do not hear from constituents, it is highly unlikely this operating budget
request will be funded. You can make a difference in the outcome here by
participating as an advocate and supporter and submitting a letter to your own
legislators as well as all members of the House and Senate Finance Committees.
(Members listed at the end of this post.)
The
first hurdle in the legislative process is the House Finance Committee. This
would be an opportune time to begin sending letters of support to the members.
They are meeting between now and late February.
first hurdle in the legislative process is the House Finance Committee. This
would be an opportune time to begin sending letters of support to the members.
They are meeting between now and late February.
You can
also help by contacting any legislators you know personally, and by testifying
before the House Finance Committee later this month (www.legis.state.ak.us).
also help by contacting any legislators you know personally, and by testifying
before the House Finance Committee later this month (www.legis.state.ak.us).
Thank
you so much for your active support of this very important budget request.
you so much for your active support of this very important budget request.
Joan
Braddock
Braddock
Director,
University of Alaska
House Finance Committee members:
Representatives Alan Austerman and Bill Stoltze (co-chairs), Mia Costello,
Bryce Edgmon, Lindsey Holmes, Cathy Munoz, Mark Neuman, Steve Thompson, Tammie
Wilson, David Guttenberg and Les Gara.
Representatives Alan Austerman and Bill Stoltze (co-chairs), Mia Costello,
Bryce Edgmon, Lindsey Holmes, Cathy Munoz, Mark Neuman, Steve Thompson, Tammie
Wilson, David Guttenberg and Les Gara.
Senate Finance Committee members:
Senators Pete Kelly and Kevin Meyer (co-chairs), Anna
Fairclough, Mike Dunleavy, Donny Olson, Click Bishop and Lyman Hoffman
Fairclough, Mike Dunleavy, Donny Olson, Click Bishop and Lyman Hoffman
Email addresses follow the formula:
Representative (or Senator).First Name.Last Name@akleg.gov
Representative (or Senator).First Name.Last Name@akleg.gov
Joan,
Thank you for reaching out to the Alaska writers and reader community with such an important and critical call to action. The University of Alaska Press has stood firmly through the ups and downs of university press publishing and given voice to authors from across Alaska (and other northern regions.)
It is time us Alaskans make our voices heard on behalf of the University of Alaska Press.
Thanks for informing us about this. I was very excited to see that U of AK Press was moving steadily into publishing fiction this year and am excited by so many forthcoming titles. As readers of this blog know, AK writers keep emerging and growing as a diverse and talented group, with some real breakouts in the last decade, despite downturns in publishing generally. We need a press to support lit about and by Alaskans.