Founded in 1956, Penn State University Press publishes rigorously reviewed, high-quality works of scholarship and regional and contemporary interest, with a focus on the humanities and social sciences. The publishing arm of the Pennsylvania State University and a division of the Penn State University Libraries, the Press promotes the advance of scholarship by disseminating knowledge—new information, interpretations, methods of analysis—widely in books, journals, and digital publications.
As a vital member of the University community, the Press strives to reflect many of the University’s academic strengths in the liberal arts. It collaborates with alumni, friends, faculty, and staff in producing works about aspects of University life and history. Its thriving internship program provides valuable experience for Penn State students interested in careers in publishing. And as part of a land-grant and state-supported institution, the Press recognizes its special responsibility to develop publications about Pennsylvania, both scholarly and popular, that enhance interest in the region and spread awareness of the state’s history, culture, and environment.
Scholarly publishing has faced monumental challenges over the past few decades. The Press takes its place among those institutions moving the enterprise forward. Its innovative projects continue to identify and embrace the technological advances and business models that ensure scholarly publishing will remain feasible, and widely accessible, well into the future.