History of the Book Series project

The CIPS book series was planned by the CIPS Book Series Committee in conjunction with the CIPS Board over the course of three years. The idea for the series was first articulated by Norbert Freedman, who thought it would be valuable for CIPS to have its own publication outlet with a CIPS imprint. The CIPS board, which had already been investigating publication options for a CIPS journal (an idea that proved to be unworkable), enthusiastically endorsed the idea of a book series and formed the Book Series Committee to explore and develop this option. The board appointed CIPS Treasurer Meg Beaudoin to chair this committee. Meg and the committee solicited expressions of interest from members, researched current research and writing projects of CIPS members, and worked with local society leaders and the CIPS board to develop an overarching theme for the series that would best include the expressed interests, as well as the potential future interests, of all our members. Meg and the CIPS board proceeded to solicit the participation of members in the development of volumes for the series. Six of these projects were included in the Book Series Proposal that was eventually accepted by Karnac Books, the publisher with whom we have formed a publication arrangement for the series.

With the negotiation of a formal publication arrangement with Karnac, the CIPS board voted to create an Editorial board to review book proposals and oversee the book series from an editorial perspective. With the establishment of the Editorial Board, the Book Series committee will refocus its attention to administrative and management issues, and will serve as a link between the Editorial Board and the wider CIPS community. Toward this end, the Book Series Committee has created a special "Book Outreach" subcommittee to link members from around the country who share converging interests in common topics and who may wish to collaborate on the development of new books.