The Need: bridging Know-Do gaps in a real-world economy
People in emerging economies should be aware that scholarly publications are an important enabler in ''learning societies''.
Specific gaps regarding developing country publications and literature:
- In local languages1: ''illustrated how to guides'' for most economic activities - check out Actor Atlas pages and the tags per country for 419 economic activities and over hundred functions of government. For this kind of publications leanpub supports free updates for buyers of earlier versions of an e-book, and also price can be increased for newer versions.
- Into major global languages: translations of local literature, legends, stories, including drawings - as these stories are often part of cultural heritage, a cultural foundation may be suitable to use proceeds for shared cultural activities.
A first experience with an inclusive publication chain
The joint use of print and web-age services allow for new publication chains with low entrance hurdles and fair returns for causes, publishers, authors, editors, readers and curators.
The below publication chain has been applied in a joint initiative with Alliance for Aid Monitor Nepal (AAMN). Act!onAid International Nepal has supported AAMN for producing a book on Foreign Aid and the making of Democracy in Nepal.
Staff of AAMN has invited a considerable number of experts in the area to write a paper on the topic in their area of expertise. Over thirty experts responded and each of their papers was edited for language by an AAMN volunteer and AAMN and Wikinetix staff imported and edited the papers for compliance with the Leanpub guidelines. A first series of papers are being published in the volume displayed to the right.
AAMN has committed to publish seven hundred hard copies in Nepal. Via the Leanpub services readers from all over the world can acquire an e-book version in PDF, EPUB (for iPad) and MOBI (for Kindle) formats.
Summarizing the ''Fair Glocal Publishing business model''
In the below table the interests of the various stakeholders in the publication chain are clarified:| Stakeholder | Roles | Activities | Rights & Duties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act!onAid International Nepal | Provided seed funding towards creation of the book | use resources, influence and experience to help people find their own solutions | contract with AAMN |
| AAMN | Create and publish the book: publisher with a cause2 | website is no longer online | Copyrights of the papers3; publish 700 print copies in Nepal4; (proposed) 81% commission on the ebook sales5 |
| Leanpub | platform for e-publishing | support production and global sales of ebooks via a no-hassle storefront | 10% commission + 0,50 cents per ebook sale6 |
| Authors | Author and submit papers | write papers & ensure their correctness | ref. agreement with AAMN7 |
| Prabhash Devkota | lead editor; staff of AAMN | invite submissions and ensure their overall quality and suitability | 81% commission on the ebook sales for AAMN |
| Melody Smith | language editor; volunteer for AAMN | edit the English language of the papers | Volunteer: agreed to transfer her share to AAMN |
| Jan Goossenaerts | ebook enabler & supporting editor; on behalf of Wikinetix; supplier for AAMN | support the smart and fair publication chain8 | 9% commission on the ebook sales, to be used to launch similar publishing ventures |
The road ahead: author and editor livelihoods in emerging knowledge economies
People in emerging economies are encouraged to contribute to more inclusive publishing models that cater better to local knowledge needs and provide (partial) livelihoods for authors and editors.
Check out Actor Atlas and social capital wiki training and Fair Glocal Partnership to discover how small changes in individual actions can make a world of difference.
Questions, answers and comments