History of Oxford University Press: Volume IV

Abstract

Volume Abstract: In 2004 as in 1970 the Oxford University Press occupied a leading position among national and international publishers. Despite this seeming constancy the Press underwent significant changes, prompted by technological, economic, educational, and political developments in Britain and elsewhere. Part I considers the Press as a whole, beginning by examining the response to the 1970 Waldock Report, the business history of the Press—its structure, leadership, and finances, and its relationship with the University of Oxford. Case studies explore in detail the removal of the London Business to Oxford, the relocation of distribution facilities to Corby, and the closure of the Printing House. Subsequent chapters trace broader developments including OUP’s approach to sales and marketing, changes in book design, the impact of technological change, and the Press’s relationship with its staff and with the built environment in Oxford and around the world. Part II looks at the Press through its publications. These seven chapters each consider a part of the OUP list: academic titles, textbooks, and monographs; trade titles, including children’s books; schoolbooks; dictionaries and reference titles; journals; music, hymnals, and bibles; and poetry. Part III assesses the global outreach of the Press, examining OUP’s English-language teaching division and detail the operations and publications of its international branches. The volume describes the evolution of OUP—sometimes gradual, sometimes controversial—into a more streamlined and financially minded organization that nevertheless remained dedicated to its scholarly mission to provide excellent academic and educational resources for readers of all ages, nationalities, and interests.