51ĀŅĀ×

51ĀŅĀ× Libraries is excited to celebrate Beth Prattā€™s appointment as director of the 51ĀŅĀ× Press. 

Pratt has worked at the 51ĀŅĀ× Press since she joined the staff as a production manager in 2000. Before that, she worked in publishing with the Faulkner Journal, at Kinkoā€™s, and at the University of Akron Press after earning her masterā€™s degree in English literature from the University of Akron.
ā€œBooks are so important to the advancement of scholarship and the exchange of ideas, so [this job] is living the dream,ā€ Pratt said. ā€œI really love the physical object of the book and also the idea that we are spreading knowledge. We are getting the voices of people out there that wouldnā€™t be heard otherwise.ā€ 

As director of 51ĀŅĀ× Press, Pratt is involved with nearly every part of the publishing process. She meets with acquisitions to oversee what proposals are coming in, oversees the current projects that staff are working on and plans academic meetings and conferences, just to name a few of the directorā€™s responsibilities. 

Pratt served as interim director for two terms before starting her current position on March 1, 2022. She said she is happy to have the opportunity to steer the direction of the press in a more permanent way, and to continue developing the relationship between the 51ĀŅĀ× Press and University Libraries. 

ā€œIā€™m looking forward to collaborating with the Libraries on projects, particularly some open access projects,ā€ she said. ā€œItā€™s always our goal to get our intellectual property out to as many people as possible...and I hope our partnership with the Libraries will assist both organizations in our missions to make the best possible material accessible.ā€ 

The press was realigned with University Libraries in October 2021, creating more opportunities for collaboration and exchange between the two entities. 

ā€œI am delighted to have Beth Pratt serving as the next director of the 51ĀŅĀ× Press,ā€ Neil Romanosky, dean of University Libraries said. ā€œShe is a proven leader. I look forward to collaborating with Beth in her permanent role.ā€

Photo by Billy Schuerman/51ĀŅĀ× Libraries