The Washington State University Press will continue to share the history, culture and creativity of the Pacific Northwest with readers, writing its next chapter under the stewardship of WSU Libraries.
Since its establishment in 1928, WSU Press has been an invaluable resource for the publication of works ranging from academic papers to works of poetry and personal stories. By Editor-in-chief Linda Bathgate’s count, the total works published in the press’ 96-year history total more than 260.
“The continued operation of the WSU Press maintains a significant part of the university’s land grant mission by disseminating research and knowledge to the communities we serve,” Bathgate said.
Preserving the press is about more than publishing books, she contends. It’s about maintaining and furthering relationships with alumni, donors, community members, and historians invested in the region, among others.
For much of its existence, the WSU Press operated as part of University Marketing and Communications. However, budget cuts within the department put the future of the WSU Press into question earlier this year.
Amid the uncertainty, options for preserving the press were explored. Pairing it with the libraries seemed well suited, as other universities like Oregon State and the University of Maryland have academic presses as part of their libraries.
The WSU Press is about more than giving regional authors an outlet to publish their work. It’s a way for us to bring forward underrepresented voices and overlooked histories, serving as an important form of outreach and education across the region we serve.
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