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Getting Started: Scholarly Communication

Scholarly Communications

The Texas State University Libraries scholarly communication services helps scholars navigate shifting landscapes of scholarly publishing, open access, research data management, intellectual property, and output metrics to promote research dissemination, accessibility, and impact. Our goal is to help connect researchers with the resources and tools to maximize the impact of their work. Contact us: scholcomm@txstate.edu

University Libraries Scholarly Communications Team 2021 - 2022

  • Anthony Guardado, Head of Round Rock Campus Libraries
  • Scott Pope, Continuing Resources Librarian
  • Arlene Salazar, Research, Instruction & Outreach Librarian
  • Sheila Torres-Blank, Music Cataloger Librarian
  • Stephanie Towery, Copyright Officer
  • Laura Waugh, Digital Collections Librarian
  • Jess Williams, Head of Information & Undergraduate Services

What is Scholarly Communications About?

Scholarly communication is a multi-faceted term that encompasses various aspects of research and scholarship. It can be defined succinctly as "the system of people, procedures, and tools through which the results of research and scholarship are registered, evaluated, disseminated, and preserved" (Ober, 2008).

Issues that may be considered under the umbrella of scholarly communication include:

  • Authors’ rights,
  • Open access and other publishing models,
  • Control of intellectual property,
  • Copyright, 
  • Cost of commercial publications,
  • Role of scholarly associations,
  • Preservation of intellectual property, and
  • Institutional repositories. 

These issues impact:

  • Collaborative research,
  • An author's use and dissemination of his or her work,
  • The accessibility of unpublished and published books, articles, and other products, and
  • The archiving of scholarly output. 

Decisions made in these areas may have a broad impact in the classroom, in the conduct of research, and the ways in which research and scholarship are shared. The position that an academic institution takes on these matters can affect not only its students, faculty, and staff, but also its standing and reputation.