{"id":7837,"date":"2020-10-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.library.ualberta.ca\/ualbertapressblog\/?p=7837"},"modified":"2020-09-30T12:17:40","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T18:17:40","slug":"publisher-of-the-year-some-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.library.ualberta.ca\/ualbertapressblog\/2020\/10\/02\/publisher-of-the-year-some-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Publisher of the Year: Some Highlights!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We are honoured to have earned the Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year award from our publishing peers, recognizing our activities in 2019. Here are some of the highlights from a remarkable year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Visual Identity.<\/strong> Our goal was to honour the Press\u2019s legacy while reflecting our current publishing program, which is increasingly diverse, urban, and multidisciplinary. The new visual identity<\/a> was rolled out with our new colophon appearing on books, an enhanced website design, newly formatted catalogues, updated printed promotional materials and display pieces, and stationery. Our website<\/a> and blog<\/a> pages were also overhauled, with a clean modern look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retooling for Growth. <\/strong>We hired two acquisitions editors, laying the groundwork for the Press\u2019s sustainability and growth for years to come. Mat Buntin<\/a> works remotely in Guelph, Ontario and focuses on the social sciences. Michelle Lobkowicz<\/a> is tasked with building on the our strong lists in Canadian literature, history, Indigenous Studies, and poetry. Between them, our acquisitions editors hold decades of experience in publishing. We also welcomed Elisia Snyder<\/a> as our new Administrative Assistant. We further started a new and exciting partnership with the Department of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta, training one of their PhD students for a term of two years. The first candidate was Tanvi Mohile<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasing Our Visibility. <\/strong>During the year we were preparing to move our office space on the University of Alberta campus to the main floor of the historic Rutherford Library South. We also increased our investment in attendance at conferences, which amplified our visibility in several key communities both nationally and internationally and allowed us to move our acquisitions conversations in new directions. And we participated in dozens of events: author readings and book launches, author lectures, literary festivals, media interviews, and displays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our List.<\/strong> UAlberta Press has created a diverse and far-ranging scholarly, trade, and literary publishing program. Our books make an important contribution to Canadian literature, culture, and knowledge. In 2019 we published 22 books from a remarkable group of authors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commitment to Diversity.<\/strong> We are committed to maintaining and increasing the diversity of authors on our list because we believe strongly that representation matters. Examples of our work in these areas includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n