Welcome to the University of Cincinnati Press and Cincinnati Library Publishing Services open access titles.

The United States is involved in sustained, diverse nationwide outrage the likes of which has not been seen in many areas of our country for decades. Headlines, news stories, social media and diverse voices fill the daily news. Startling images, alarming data, science, activism and uncertainty drive voices across socioeconomic groups with the hope of creating change. University press publishers participate in this movement in many ways—of note publishing intellectual output which offers clarity, disciplinary perspective and broadens the knowledge created through academic research, data, scholarly theory and original thought.

With the launch of Platforms and Pathways for Social Innovation, the Press is now able to provide Press authors and the UC faculty community with a platform to lead and engage in commentary around open access books, iterative writing and conversation in many disciplinary pathways. Platforms and Pathways for Social Innovation offers open content on a platform where author, reader and community members can come together to engage in thoughts, comments, and questions and share content and discussion with others. We believe open access content is a social justice right which provides equitable access to peer-reviewed writing, otherwise limited to those with academic privilege. During these times, we recognize how important our authors and faculty are in leading the conversation and our role includes increasing distribution and access in a stable environment, in perpetuity. This space is dynamic and permanent; the excerpts books, iterative writing, comments and annotations available here will not be removed over time unlike most other publishers who open content temporarily based on news of the day.

This platform represents a major step for the University of Cincinnati Press to create our dynamic social justice and open access publishing program—one which strives to reduce the distance between the author and the reader, create a space for engagement, and allow for updates on scholarship. The pathways will expand over time to cover more social justice topics, casting fresh light on common problems in our global community.

We begin with the Racial Equity pathway and invite readers to engage with these open access excerpts by annotating, sharing and highlighting writing that you would like to call attention to and offer comment. Please create a Manifold account and join the dialog today.

Elizabeth Scarpelli
Director | University of Cincinnati Press

Browse sample chapters of published books and forthcoming works.