Cornell University Press facts for kids
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| Parent company | Cornell University |
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| Founded | 1869 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Ithaca, New York |
| Distribution | Longleaf Services |
| Publication types | Books |
| Imprints | ILR Press |
The Cornell University Press is a special publishing company connected to Cornell University. It's like the university's own book publisher! It's located in Sage House, which used to be the home of Henry William Sage. This press was first started in 1869. That makes it the very first university publishing company in the United States! However, it took a break and didn't publish books from 1884 to 1930.
Contents
How the Press Began
The Cornell University Press started in a department called the College of the Mechanic Arts. This was where students learned about things like mechanical engineering in the 1800s. Engineers were chosen to run the press because they knew how to use the big, steam-powered printing presses.
Students and the Press
From the very beginning, the press helped students. Students who already knew about printing could work there. They were paid to help set up the text and run the machines. These machines printed textbooks, small booklets, a weekly student newspaper, and official university papers. This was a great way for students to earn money for their education.
What Cornell University Press Publishes Today
Today, Cornell University Press is one of the biggest university publishers in the country. Each year, they publish about 150 new books. These books are all non-fiction, meaning they are based on facts and real information.
Topics Covered by the Press
The press publishes books on many different subjects. These include:
- Anthropology (the study of human societies and cultures)
- Asian studies (learning about Asia)
- Biological sciences (the study of living things)
- Classics (ancient Greek and Roman studies)
- History
- Industrial relations (how workers and employers get along)
- Literary criticism and theory (studying and understanding books)
- Natural history (the study of nature)
- Philosophy (the study of knowledge and existence)
- Politics and international relations (how governments work and countries interact)
- Veterinary science (animal health)
- Women's studies (the study of women's lives and experiences)
How the Press is Funded
For most of its history, the university helped pay for the press. But now, the press mostly relies on selling its books to make enough money to keep going.
New Ways of Publishing
In 2010, a group called the Mellon Foundation gave the press $50,000. This money was to help the press find new ways to publish important academic books. These books were often about subjects that not many people bought.
The "Signale" Book Series
With this money, the press started a book series called "Signale: Modern German Letters, Cultures, and Thoughts." For each book in this series, only 500 paper copies were printed at first. If more copies were needed, they would be printed as people ordered them. This helps save paper and resources.
Other Book Series
The press also has other active book series. These include "Expertise: Cultures and Technologies of Knowledge" and "Police/Worlds: Studies in security, crime and governance". These series focus on specific topics and bring together different ideas.
Book Distribution
When books are published, they need to be sent out to bookstores and libraries. In the United States, another company called Longleaf Services helps distribute the books for Cornell University Press.
See also
- List of English-language book publishing companies
- List of university presses
Images for kids
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A booth at a conference in 2008, showing books from the press.
