About the LibraryPress@UF
LibraryPress@UF (LP@UF) has a dual relationship as an imprint of both the UF Press and the George A. Smathers Libraries. It has a distinct identity focused on open access (OA), accessible, library and community-driven scholarship. It pulls together UF Press’s production, distribution, and marketing capabilities, and Smathers Libraries’ resources, preservation, subject experts, and collections. This structure enables LP@UF to maintain a unique scope, emphasizing OA accessible, collaborative monographs, textbooks, and creative works. Our approach is a unique hybrid style of digital-first open access publishing with some traditional features. We publish content that may not fit traditional models but is vital to scholarship and access.
This partnership allows us to blend the Libraries’ initiatives and resources with a university press’s expertise and outreach. For example, through our partnership with UF Press, our print books have the opportunity to reach major retailers like Amazon and Target, with full print support and global distribution.
Check out this episode of the Learning the Libraries podcast where Tracy and Val talk about what LibraryPress@UF is and what makes it unique. Thanks to our hosts, Rae and Alex, for inviting us to talk about our work!
The LibraryPress@UF team
Associate Dean of Research, Executive Director of LibraryPress@UF
Valrie I. Minson
As Associate Dean, Valrie leads Student Success, LP@UF, Assessment, and Research. A member of the senior leadership team, she helps guide strategic initiatives and key library decisions. After early roles at UF Press and Marston Science Library, Valrie worked at Dickinson College (2003–2005) before returning as Agricultural Outreach Librarian. She became Chair of Marston in 2014 and Assistant Dean for Assessment and Student Success in 2019. Outside of work, Val enjoys music, ultimate frisbee, and cycling the Hawthorne Trail.
Director of LibraryPress@UF, Editor-in-Chief of SOURCE Magazine
Tracy E. MacKay-Ratliff
Tracy values building positive, compassionate partnerships with authors and editors to ensure successful publications. She manages editorial workflows, supports journals, oversees design projects, coordinates communications, executes promotional strategies, and contributes to Libraries-wide publishing initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring St. Augustine, strolling downtown, and relaxing on Crescent Beach with her family and dogs.
digital Publishing and Institutional Repository (IR) Coordinator
Kat Nguyen
Kat provides support to more than 20 active journals and guides new journals through the publishing process, from initial consultation to full publication. In addition, she works closely with the Director of LP@UF to support other scholarly publications (including monographs, digital scholarship projects, and more) through editorial review, author relations, content creation, and other needs related to digital and print publications. Kat also coordinates the services offered by the Libraries’ Institutional Repository (IR).
Publications Design Intern
Brielle Jean Baptiste
Brielle supports our publications’ design and layout needs in InDesign and Pressbooks. She is an architecture student at the University of Florida.
The Editorial Collective
The LP@UF Editorial Collective is designed to serve as a vehicle for insight and guidance on new publications and ongoing program development.
The Collective is charged with:
- Fostering proposal development of new books built from the Libraries’ collections, utilizing the uniqueness of these collections coupled with opportunities supported through the UF Digital Collections for digital and public scholarship
- Developing and refining LibraryPress@UF operations and processes
- Reviewing unsolicited proposals when they meet twice a year (fall and spring).
- And serving for two-year terms, with the LibraryPress@UF team members participating ex officio.
Representatives from the Libraries:
- Stephanie Chancy, dLOC
- Perry Collins, ARCS
- Laura Marion, Governor’s House
- Lourdes Santamaria-Wheeler, Exhibits
- Trey Shelton, Library Admin
- Laura Spears, Assessment & User Experience
- Alyson Young, Borland
- Val Minson, ex officio
- Tracy MacKay-Ratliff, ex officio
- Kat Nguyen, ex officio
Interested in becoming a member of the LibraryPress@UF Editorial Collective? Please email Tracy at tmackayratliff@ufl.edu.
The original 2018 LP@UF Editorial Collective Charge is available at https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00040577/00006/pdf.