The past, present, and future of American university presses: A view from the left coast

Key points American university presses have proved remarkably resilient but now face a daunting set of internal and external challenges. At the heart of university press challenges is the future of the monograph – critical to scholarship, resistant to change, and declining in sales volume. Internal pressures on presses to be more accountable and self‐sustaining are growing. Presses are beginning to address current challenges – individually and collectively – with energy and optimism and a renewed level of collaboration.