What is Digital Publishing?
Digital publishing encompasses a wide variety of publishing strategies and methods, from traditional publishing in e-formats to open access publishing, digital collection development, and more. Overall, digital publishing allows scholars to reconsider what scholarship can look like and who is able to access it.
Tools and Software
The University of Illinois provides support for several digital publishing tools, including Omeka, Scalar, and Pressbooks. Users interested in using one of these tools can contact Scholarly Communication and Publishing for more information.
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Omeka
Omeka allows users to create online, interactive exhibits that can showcase a variety of multi-media. There are currently three different versions of Omeka available to use; please visit the library guide to Omeka linked below to learn more about what version is right for your needs. -
Scalar
Scalar is an open source publishing software in which you can create multi-media online publications. Its design encourages the creation of non-linear, interactive, and flexible publications. -
Pressbooks
Pressbooks is a WordPress-based platform for self-publishing books in a variety of formats. Users interested in publishing with Pressbooks should reach out to Scholarly Communication and Publishing to discuss what Pressbooks plan is right for them.
Resources
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Omeka S: A User's GuideA library guide to getting started with Omeka S. It also provides an overview to the three different versions of Omeka and what you should use for different types of projects.
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Scalar: An IntroductionA library guide about how to get started with Scalar. It also includes several example projects built and published in Scalar.
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Publishing in PressbooksA library guide about how to get started with Pressbooks for self-publishing, how to build your Pressbooks site, and where to find additional Pressbooks resources.
Example Digital Publishing Projects
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Commentaries on the Cantatas of Johann Sebastian BachThis Scalar project, created by Hans-Joachim Schulze and translated by James A. Brokaw II, uses Scalar's non-linear paths to explore different aspects of Bach's works, from when they were first performed chronologically to the particular occasions on which they were performed.
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Reading Social Science MethodsThis Pressbooks publication, written by Ann Reisner, combines text, graphs, images, and other interactive content to discuss different kinds of social science methods.
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Provenance: The History of the BookThis Omeka site, built by students for Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) at Michigan State University, showcases how Omeka can be used to build digital exhibits that cover a wide variety of topics and items.