Society for Scholarly Publishing
A US-based nonprofit professional society that connects and educates participants across the scholarly communications industry.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) is a US-based professional society established in 1978 to improve communication, cooperation, and knowledge exchange across the scholarly publishing and scholarly communications community. It is organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational organization rather than as a commercial publisher or a conventional consumer-facing brand. Its membership brings together publishers, learned societies, librarians, researchers, editors, printers, technology and service providers, e-products developers, consultants, and other professionals involved in the creation, distribution, preservation, and use of scholarly information. SSP operates as a convening and professional-development organization. Its activities include an annual meeting, educational seminars, webinars, focus groups, presentations, career resources, and a job board. These programs give members opportunities to exchange practical experience and discuss developments such as open access, research assessment, journal and book publishing, library services, digital platforms, metadata, research integrity, and changing business models. The organization serves both commercial and nonprofit participants and includes people from large and small institutions. A defining feature of SSP is its sector-wide orientation. Rather than representing only publishers, librarians, authors, or technology companies, it provides a forum in which these groups can examine shared operational issues and disagreements. SSP has also described itself as distinct from some other scholarly communications associations because it does not take positions on political issues. Its role is primarily educational, professional, and community-building. SSP’s most visible editorial initiative is The Scholarly Kitchen, a blog launched in February 2008. The publication covers scholarly journals, books and textbooks, open access, metrics, research libraries, technology, and the wider information economy. Its volunteer contributors, known as the “Chefs,” come from varied backgrounds in publishing, libraries, government, consulting, and related fields. The blog is intended to explain research and industry developments, identify unresolved questions, and encourage informed debate. It became a prominent venue for discussion of the open-access movement and broader changes in scholarly communication. The Scholarly Kitchen also expanded into podcasting in 2013. SSP additionally collaborates with the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers on Learned Publishing, appointing the journal’s North American editor. Other resources include an archive of presentations from past events, a members-and-services directory, professional information for people entering the field, and online information about publishing and library programs. The organization is volunteer-led, with an unpaid board of directors and committees whose members must be in good standing. SSP also employs or contracts for administrative and operational support, including executive direction, programming, accounting, meeting planning, and database management. Publicly available material identifies a membership of approximately 1,100 people from 24 countries, although membership size and geographic composition may change over time. SSP remains an active professional association whose principal value lies in its network, educational programming, editorial platforms, and role as a neutral forum for the scholarly communications sector.
History
The Society for Scholarly Publishing was founded in 1978 in response to the need for stronger communication and professional networking among the many groups involved in scholarly information. Scholarly publishing spans a complex chain that includes academic and society publishers, commercial publishers, librarians, authors, editors, printers, subscription agents, software and platform providers, and other specialist suppliers. SSP developed as a forum broad enough to include these different interests rather than as an organization limited to one institutional category. From its beginning, SSP’s purpose was educational and connective. The society sought to disseminate information, encourage professional relationships, and help members understand new developments affecting scholarly publishing. Its membership model brought together commercial and nonprofit organizations, as well as individual professionals from large and small institutions. This cross-sector structure allowed participants to compare practices and debate issues that could not be addressed adequately from a single occupational perspective. SSP’s programs evolved around in-person meetings, educational seminars, and later online events and focused discussion groups. Its annual meeting became a central venue for presentations and networking, while webinars and other educational resources extended access beyond the organization’s principal events. The society also developed career and industry resources, including a job board, information for people considering work in scholarly publishing, and material related to publishing and library programs. An online archive of presentations from past events further extended the educational value of its programming. A major development came in February 2008 with the establishment of The Scholarly Kitchen, SSP’s editorial blog. The publication was designed to keep members and other interested readers informed about developments in publishing, interpret relevant research, identify gaps in industry knowledge, and connect experts across the scholarly information community. Its coverage has included journals, books, open access, metrics, research libraries, technology, and user behavior. Contributors are often referred to as “Chefs” and write in their individual capacities, representing a range of organizations and professional backgrounds. The blog became an influential discussion venue, particularly during debates about open access and the transformation of scholarly communication. Kent Anderson founded The Scholarly Kitchen and served as its editor-in-chief until 2013, when he became president of SSP. David Crotty subsequently served as executive editor. In the same year, the blog added a podcast, broadening SSP’s editorial and educational reach through interviews with scholarly communications professionals. SSP also established a collaboration with the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers around Learned Publishing, a journal serving nonprofit and commercial publishers as well as librarians, authors, teachers, subscription agents, printers, and other suppliers. SSP appoints the journal’s North American editor, giving the society an additional role in professional knowledge exchange. The organization has generally presented itself as a neutral professional association. It does not take positions on political issues, although its members regularly discuss subjects with policy and commercial implications, including open access, research evaluation, licensing, technology, and publishing economics. Its governance is volunteer-led through an unpaid board and committees, supported by staff and contracted administrative services. In 2013, SSP faced a legal threat from Edwin Mellen Press over critical material published on The Scholarly Kitchen. The disputed posts were temporarily removed, and the threat itself was publicized; the SSP board later reinstated the posts. The episode illustrated the editorial and reputational tensions that can arise when an industry association hosts commentary about participants in its own field. SSP has continued to operate as an active nonprofit society and professional network for the international scholarly communications community.
- 2013
Leadership transition at The Scholarly Kitchen
[1]Kent Anderson moved from editor-in-chief of The Scholarly Kitchen to the presidency of SSP, with David Crotty subsequently serving as executive editor.
- 2013
Scholarly Kitchen Podcast introduced
[1]The Scholarly Kitchen expanded into podcasting through interviews with professionals in scholarly communications.
- 2010
Webby Award nomination
[1]The Scholarly Kitchen was nominated for a Webby Award in the business blog category.
- 2008
The Scholarly Kitchen launches
[1]SSP launched The Scholarly Kitchen as an editorial blog covering developments, research, and debates in scholarly communications.
- 1978
Society founded
[1]The Society for Scholarly Publishing was established to promote communication, networking, and professional development across scholarly publishing.
Products and positioning
A cross-sector, nonprofit professional association for scholarly publishing and scholarly communications, positioned as an educational, networking, and discussion platform rather than as a commercial publishing company or political advocacy organization.
Industry blog · 2008
The Scholarly Kitchen
SSP’s editorial blog, launched in 2008, provides commentary and analysis on scholarly journals, books, open access, research metrics, libraries, technology, and changing publishing practices. Its volunteer contributors, known as Chefs, come from across the scholarly communications ecosystem and write from their own professional perspectives. The publication is intended to explain research, identify emerging issues, and encourage debate among industry participants.
Podcast · 2013
The Scholarly Kitchen Podcast
A podcast associated with The Scholarly Kitchen that features interviews with people working in scholarly communications. It extends the blog’s educational and discussion-oriented role into an audio format.
Professional conference
SSP Annual Meeting
SSP’s annual meeting brings together publishers, librarians, researchers, editors, technology providers, consultants, and other scholarly communications professionals. The event combines presentations, networking, and discussion of developments affecting the industry.
Professional journal collaboration
Learned Publishing collaboration
SSP collaborates with the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers on Learned Publishing, a journal serving scholarly publishing professionals across nonprofit and commercial organizations. SSP appoints the journal’s North American editor.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2013
Editorial leadership transition at The Scholarly KitchenOtherBackground
Kent Anderson had led The Scholarly Kitchen since its launch and became president of SSP in 2013.
Action taken
David Crotty subsequently took on the executive editor role at The Scholarly Kitchen.
Aftermath
The blog continued as SSP’s principal editorial platform for analysis and debate in scholarly communications.
2013
Restoration of material disputed by Edwin Mellen PressOtherBackground
Edwin Mellen Press threatened to sue over critical posts published on The Scholarly Kitchen, prompting their temporary removal.
Action taken
SSP’s board later reinstated the posts after the organization made the legal threat and its response public.
Aftermath
The incident became a notable example of the editorial, legal, and governance challenges involved in hosting criticism within a professional publishing community.
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