The Scholarly Kitchen: A Moderated Blog on Scholarly Publishing and Networking
The Scholarly Kitchen is a moderated and independent blog founded by the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) in 2008. It aims to foster communication and networking among scholars, library professionals, and other stakeholders in the scholarly publishing community. The blog covers various topics related to journals, textbook publications, open access, research metrics, and research libraries.
The Scholarly Kitchen provides a platform for authors, editors, and scholars to share their thoughts, opinions, and insights on the latest trends and developments in scholarly publishing. The content published on the blog is not endorsing any specific viewpoint but rather reflects the diversity of opinions within the scholarly community.
The Scholarly Kitchen has become an important site for discussing open access initiatives and advocating for the rights of researchers. The blog has been instrumental in bringing together differing opinions on open access, sharing research reports and projects, and educating the community on relevant research findings.
The blog is supported by a group of active bloggers, known as "Chefs," who represent various organizations in scholarly communications. These chefs contribute their expertise, opinions, and experiences to the blog, providing insights into their perspectives on scholarly publishing and networking.
One of the most prominent features of the Scholarly Kitchen is its podcast, which features interviews with renowned scholars and professionals in the field. These interviews provide a glimpse into the latest developments and challenges faced by the scholarly publishing community.
In addition to its blogs and podcasts, the Scholarly Kitchen also provides resources for students and professionals interested in pursuing careers in scholarly publishing. The organization maintains a library of presentations from past events, an online directory of members and services, and an active job board listing career opportunities within the industry.
The Scholarly Kitchen is governed by an unpaid board of directors and committees, all of whom must be SSP members in good standing. The organization has a full-time executive director, a part-time program director, and contracts with a professional management company for accounting, meeting planning, database management, and other services.
Despite its achievements, the Scholarly Kitchen has faced threats and legal action in the past. In March 2013, Edwin Mellen Press threatened to sue SSP for material critical of the press hosted on the Scholarly Kitchen. However, the blog posts were eventually reinstated by the SSP board after a temporary withdrawal.
The Scholarly Kitchen continues to grow and evolve, offering valuable resources and opportunities for scholars and professionals in the scholarly publishing community. As the platform continues to expand its reach and impact, it remains an essential resource for anyone interested in the latest developments and challenges facing the scholarly publishing landscape.