Publishing Pro

Emma Molls works with researchers who are interested in shaking things up in publishing—and so is she. As Publishing Services Librarian for the University of Minnesota (UMN) Libraries, Molls leads the development of her department’s core principles. These statements outline the program’s values to guide Publishing Services through changes and shifts in open access (OA) and scholarly publishing.

Under her leadership, UMN developed a reputation as a publisher with expertise in systems like WordPress, Pressbooks, Manifold, and Open Journal Systems—tools that have enabled the program to expand and enhance what is possible with online, open access publications. Molls has published numerous scholarly journals, books, conference proceedings, and textbooks, all available to readers across the globe as OA publications. “Research ought to be a public good, not a commodity for the wealthy,” she says. “I want to be anywhere that work is happening.”

Molls’s advocacy extends to her own work; in 2018 she coauthored “Developing a Business Plan for Library Publishing” with UMN librarian Kate McCready. It has since been downloaded 4,950 times and received the Library Publishing Coalition’s 2019 Outstanding Scholarship in Library Publishing Award. Since its publication, Molls has been asked to serve on the MIT Press Advisory Board, and has presented to college classes, inspiring others to develop their own business plan for their programs. Recognizing the needs and interests of her students, she plans to expand her training sessions this year for student journal editors to address the role of racism and capitalism in scholarly publishing.

“Her drive to transform scholarly publishing is remarkable and vibrant,” says nominator Lisa German, university librarian and dean of libraries.