AAP CORE COMMITTEES
AAP Compensation Survey Steering Committe
The AAP Compensation Survey Steering Committee oversees AAP's survey of compensation and personnel practices. The survey is open to nonmembers as well as members of AAP and provides timely, accurate, industry specific compensation data that helps book publishers in recruiting and retaining high quality staff. The survey includes six major segments of the book publishing industry including college, elementary/high school, mass market, trade, technical, and general publishing. The Steering Committee works with an outside consulting firm to plan the survey, develop position profiles, and review and approve survey input documents. It also serves as a forum for the discussion of general compensation issues.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan - AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org, 212-255-0275
AAP Human Resources - Diversity Committee
AAP's Diversity/Recruit & Retain Committee works to attract more talented, diverse voices to the book publishing industry. At the heart of the Committee’s work is the “Book Yourself a Career” campaign, and the centerpiece of the campaign is the Bookjobs.com website. Bookjobs.com serves as a comprehensive database of jobs and internships in the industry as well as a “one-stop-shopping” resource for information about book publishing. The jobs database includes job and internship listings from nearly 300 book publishers of all types — large and small, consumer, professional, and educational. The website has a wealth of information including types of publishers, information about various companies, types of jobs in publishing, matches between college majors and particular job departments, publishing programs, and events in the industry. Seminars include the intensive Introduction to Publishing, which is held annually and is designed to give entry-level employees an overview of the industry.
The DRRC has a College Outreach initiative to publicize the website on college campuses, with a focus on those schools with high academic standards and a diverse student population.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org 212-255-0275
AAP Educational Programs Committee
The AAP Educational Programs Committee designs programs for publishing industry personnel including a one-day seminar that gives editors and editorial managers a financial perspective on their business, a seminar on human resources and legal issues related to work-for-hire, contracted services and freelance work and a tax seminar covering current state, local and federal developments affecting the publishing industry.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org, 212-255-0275
AAP Freedom to Read Committee
The Freedom to Read Committee is the publishing industry’s early warning system, watchdog and advocate on all issues pertaining to freedom of expression and the free marketplace of ideas. The Committee works on behalf of publishers to safeguard free speech rights through participation in First Amendment court cases, by lobbying on freedom of speech at the national and state level, and by sponsoring educational programs.
Staff Contact: Judith Platt — AAP Washington, jplatt@publishers.org, 202-220-4551
AAP Smaller and Independent Publishers (SIP) Committee
The SIP Committee was created in 1998 to meet the specific needs of AAP's SIP members. The Committee plans and creates high quality panels for AAP's annual meeting for SIP publishers, which was held for the first time in March 1999. Issues addressed at the meetings include current trends in technology including the sale of books from publishers' own websites, selling to the library market, working with independent and chain bookstores, and working with publicity agents. Moving forward, the Committee will continue to plan an annual meeting and will also examine different ways that AAP can serve this constituency.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org , 212-255-0275
AAP Statistics Committee
The AAP Statistics Committee was formed in January of 2000 to revamp AAP's Statistics Program. The Committee is working to ensure that AAP collects and distributes the most useful and current statistical information for its members and others involved in the book publishing industry. The Committee is currently examining and revising monthly and annual sales questionnaires and annual operating data questionnaires and will develop an efficient, electronic method of collecting data. The Committee is also working to partner with outside groups to share data. Once the Statistics Program has been revised, the committee will review the Program on a regular basis. Statistical questionnaires are sent to more than 2,000 book publishers including both members and nonmembers of AAP. Outside entities include the Book Industry Study Group, International Digital Publishing Forum, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and others.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org, 212-255-0275
AAP Libraries Joint Committee with ALA/ALCTS
The AAP Trade Libraries Committee, one of AAP’s longest-standing committees, is made up of book publishers who service the library market. The mission of the committee is to consider ideas and issues that pertain to the sale of books into all types of libraries with a focus on public libraries in order to provide information to the book publishing industry, librarians and to the public on topics of common interest and to encourage the exchange of ideas among publishers, wholesalers, and librarians.
To achieve its goals, the Committee works with and supports the initiatives of a variety of groups including the American Library Association (ALA), Public Libraries Association, and the New York Public Library to develop programs that increase awareness of titles and books among the collection librarian communities.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org , 212-255-0275
AAP Trade Publishers Executive Committee
The mission of the AAP Trade Executive Committee is to create and support national efforts which advocate reading, increase book buying in all formats, or stimulate ideas contributing to the profitability and health of our industry.
The committee also seeks to identify opportunities or offer solutions on current and potential issues pertinent to the trade publishing and bookselling industries. Further, the committee endeavors to define and promote our industry in the context of the changing marketplace.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org , 212-255-0275
AAP CORE COPYRIGHT COMMITTEES
AAP Copyright Committee
The AAP Copyright Committee advises the AAP Board on legislative, regulatory and legal issues that affect the copyright protection provided to the publishing industry. The Committee also serves as an information resource for the membership and the community at large and oversees the Copyright Education Committee (CEC), the Rights and Permissions Advisory Committee (RPAC), copyright litigation and amicus briefs, and related initiatives. The Copyright Committee has established several task forces to focus on issues such as Distance Learning, Parallel Importation, Document Delivery, Database Legislation, and the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act.
Staff Contact: Allan Adler — AAP Washington, adler@publishers.org , 202-220-4544
International Copyright Protection Committee
The International Copyright Protection Committee (ICPC) manages the anti-piracy programs and related efforts of the AAP by identifying specific countries and territories for action to protect existing markets and expand new market potential. The ICPC conducts enforcement actions and educational efforts around the world, working closely with U.S. and foreign government officials to ensure adequate protection of intellectual property for book and journal publishers. The ICPC also reviews draft copyright laws and proposed amendments to insure that book publishing interests are protected, and provides statistics on sales losses due to piracy for inclusion in the annual report prepared by the International Intellectual Property Alliance for the U.S. government. AAP directs policy efforts as needed worldwide, focusing most intensely on active enforcement territories and key markets such as India. Enforcement efforts are more targeted and are currently underway in the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, S.A.R., Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Staff Contact: Lui Simpson — AAP Washington, lsimpson@publishers.org , 202-220-4541
Copyright Education Committee
The Copyright Education Committee (CEC) creates and distributes educational materials to the campus and library communities in order to encourage copyright compliance. In consultation with the CCC, NACS, AAUP, and SIAA, members wrote Questions and Answers on Copyright for the Campus Community (7th Edition), available at http://www.publishers.org/about/copyqa.cfm. Through education and dialogue with the reproducers, distributors and users of copyrighted material, CEC members hope to inspire an understanding of and respect for the importance of copyright protection. The committee also works to clarify the law and facilitate compliance in areas such as the production of course packs, the use of copyrighted materials over networks, and the creation of digitized library holdings for instructional purposes. CEC provides appropriate input to the AAP Copyright Committee on matters relating to copyright education and takes on special projects at the request of that Committee.
Staff Contact: John Tagler — AAP New York, jtagler@publishers.org, 212-255-0200 ext. 223
Rights and Permissions Advisory Committee
The AAP Rights and Permissions Advisory Committee (RPAC) has primary responsibility for education and training programs in the subject areas of copyrights and permissions. The Committee also provides appropriate input to the AAP Copyright Committee on matters specifically relating to rights and permissions (such as campus copyright compliance) and takes on special projects at the request of the Copyright Committee.
The RPAC is comprised of approximately 20 committee members who work in the area of copyrights, licensing and/or permissions. Participation on the Committee is only open to AAP members and there are no term restrictions on membership. The Committee meets every 8-10 weeks, usually at the AAP New York office.
Staff Contact: John Tagler — AAP New York, jtagler@publishers.org, 212-255-1407
AAP CORE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES
International Freedom To Publish (IFTP)
AAP’s International Freedom to Publish Committee defends and promotes freedom of written communication worldwide. The Committee monitors human rights issues and provides moral support and practical assistance to publishers and authors outside the United States who are denied basic freedoms. The Committee carries on its work in close cooperation with other human rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and PEN American Center.
Staff Contact: Judy Platt — DC office, 202/220-4551; jplatt@publishers.org.
International Sales Committee
Members direct export sales in AAP houses producing mass-market paperbacks. Major issues are piracy, export on-line, distribution and currency issues associated with export sales to the US Military, overseas schools, hotels, bookstores and airports and bookseller/distributor presence at major book fairs.
Staff Contact: Tina Jordan — AAP New York, tjordan@publishers.org. 212/255-0275
AAP DIGITAL ISSUES COMMITTEES
Digital Issues Working Group
A forum for publishers to share information and learn about business opportunities and strategies on the Internet. Topics include digital distribution and marketing among other subjects.
Staff Contact: Ed McCoyd — AAP New York, emccoyd@publishers.org, 212-255-1851
Higher Education Critical Issues Task Force (CITF)
The CITF works on issues involved with the provision of accessible textbooks and other instructional materials to students with print disabilities in postsecondary education. Participation is open to representatives from book publisher members of AAP.
Staff Contact: Ed McCoyd — AAP New York, emccoyd@publishers.org, 212-255-1851
Look-Up Service Subcommittee
AAP's Publisher Look-Up Service, an online search tool found at www.publisherlookup.org was created by the subcommittee to help college disability services professionals search for the appropriate contacts at textbook publishing companies to request electronic formats of textbooks and/or scanning permissions to enable them to create alternate formats for use by print-disabled students.
Staff Contact: Ed McCoyd — AAP New York, emccoyd@publishers.org, 212-255-1851
Online Piracy Working Group (OPWG)
A forum for AAP member publishers to share information about and discuss strategies to combat online piracy of books in digital formats. The OPWG conducts periodic Internet monitoring to find instances of online trading of electronic files containing the full texts of copyrighted books without the publisher's authorization.
Staff Contact: Ed McCoyd — AAP New York, emccoyd@publishers.org, 212-255-0200 x 264
AAP Paper Issues Working Group
The mission of the AAP Paper Issues Working Group is to provide its members with a forum to obtain concise and accurate information on issues pertaining to the environmental aspects of the production of paper used in books. The information compiled may be used independently by AAP member companies to make decisions regarding their paper supply. The Group convenes regularly with various constituents with interests in book production and the environment.
The AAP Paper Issues Working Group seeks input from a variety of sources. Some of these sources include paper mills, regarding their current capabilities and future plans in the areas of sustainable forest management and recycled paper production, and certification organizations and environmental groups, to better understand the issues involved and various ways of addressing them.Staff Contact: Edward McCoyd — AAP New York, emccoyd@publishers.org, 212-255-0200 x264
Subcommittee for Books Online for Discovery, Search, Distribution, and Reading
The mission of the AAP's Subcommittee for Books Online is to define standards for the discovery, browse, search, and rendering of book content online. Publishers need standards to communicate content and data with syndication partners (search engines, retailers, distributors, online communities, and other third-party Web sites). The standard will be a platform-independent, open standard to enable easy implementation by any publisher or syndication partner. Participation on the Subcommittee is open to representatives from book publisher members of AAP.
Staff Contact: Edward McCoyd — AAP New York, emccoyd@publishers.org, 212-255-1851
AAP HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
AAP Higher Education Committee
The AAP Higher Education Committee supports all aspects of production, marketing and distribution of instructional materials for post-secondary education by linking publishers to university faculty, students, administration and college stores. A major goal is improving the perceived value of instructional materials from college publishers, and protecting intellectual property rights on campus. The Committee includes an Executive Council (composed of the members' leading heads of house), and a Campus Copyright Education Program.
Staff Contact: J. Bruce Hildebrand — AAP Washington, bhildebrand@publishers.org, 202-220-4542
SCHOOL DIVISION
School Division Executive Committee
AAP’s School Division Executive Committee provides leadership and sets the policy and direction for the AAP School Division. Meets about seven to eight times per year.
Staff Contact: Jay Diskey — AAP Washington, jdiskey@publishers.org, 202-220-4549
California Committee
Focuses on the adoption and distribution of instructional materials in California, as well as industry related legislative and non-legislative issues. Members include AAP and publisher lobbyists.
Contract Committee
Focuses on state adoption processes and procedures that impact publisher contracts and works closely with the National Association of State Textbook Administrators (NASTA).
Critical Issues Committee
This Committee focuses on identifying and recommending strategies to deal with critical public policy issues that involve K-12 publishing. Issues such as errors in textbooks, size and weight of textbooks, “dumbing down” of instructional materials and cultural diversity are among the issues this committee has considered.
Depository Task Force Committee
This Committee convenes on an as-needed basis to discuss issues pertaining to state textbook depositories. Occasionally, members meet with state depository managers.
Early Education Committee
The Committee was created to help educational publishers identify and deal with challenges and opportunities of early (pre-kindergarten) childhood education.
Electronic Task Force Committee
This Committee designed an RFP and hired a firm to do a study/market analysis about the needs of publishers and textbook buyers in establishing a standardized electronic ordering system for textbooks.
Executive Committee
Provides leadership and sets the policy and direction for the AAP School Division. Meets about seven to eight times per year.
Florida Committee
Focuses on the adoption and distribution of instructional materials in Florida, as well as industry related legislative and non-legislative issues. Members include AAP and publisher lobbyists.
Federal Relations Committee
The goals of the committee are to monitor Federal legislation and regulatory activity; establish positions when necessary and communicate positions.
Lawyers Committee
This committee consists of School Division members’ house counsel. Members meet to discuss legal issues relevant to school publishing and distribution, and provide expert advice to the Division when necessary.
Serving Students with Disabilities Committee
This Committee was formed to facilitate the timely, efficient, and cost-effective production of accessible instructional materials for students with visual disabilities. Members meet with Braille specialists to discuss current technology and formats, and the School Division works with state administrators and legislators and keeps members informed of current state laws and regulations.
Summit Planning Committee
The Summit planning committee is comprised of publishers involved in the issue area that is the focus of that year’s Summit.
Supplemental Publishers Committee
This committee, consisting of publishers of ancillary and supplemental instructional materials, was created to identify public policy issues unique to this segment of the business. The committee is also charged with recommending to the School Division Executive Committee strategies, policies and activities to help the association better represent the needs of this segment of the educational publishing industry.
Technology Committee
This Committee was established to help educational publishers identify and deal with the challenges and opportunities created by new technologies for delivery of instructional materials such as the Internet, e-books and customization publishing.
Test Committee
This committee, composed of educational testing publishers, meets on a regular basis to discuss current issues regarding assessment tools for the school test publishing industry.
Test Lobbyist Committee
Comprised primarily of publishers’ DC lobbyists, this committee works on educational testing issues.
Texas Lobbyist Committee
Focuses on the adoption and distribution of instructional materials in Texas, as well as industry related legislative and non-legislative issues. Members include AAP and publisher lobbyists.
Texas Steering Committee
Provides direction and priorities regarding the adoption and distribution of instructional materials in Texas, as well as industry related legislative and non-legislative issues.
Textbooks Specifications Committee
This committee serves as the AAP branch of the Advisory Commission on Textbook Specifications (ACTS). ACTS is made up of members from AAP, NASTA, and the Book Manufacturers Institute (BMI). Members of all three groups participate in the update and review of the ACTS publication, Manufacturing Standards and Specifications for Textbooks, a reference guide used by publishers.
For additional information: Jay Diskey, 202/220-4549, jdiskey@publishers.org; or Julie Copty, 202/220-4548, jcopty@publishers.org.
PROFESSIONAL & SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING DIVISION
PSP Executive Committee
The PSP Executive Council seeks to defend copyright and protect its members' intellectual property worldwide; explore the opportunities and ramifications of technologies that affect the changing structure of academic, educational and business publishing in the distribution of information; improve relationships with the library, academic and user communities; and monitor and influence government and regulatory developments worldwide bearing on PSP interests. The Council also presents annual PSP Awards for Excellence at the Division's Annual Conference.
PSP Professional Development
PSP Books Committee
PSP Electronic Information Committee (EIC)
PSP Journals Committee
PSP Public Issues Task Force
PSP Public Relations Committee
Staff Contact: John Tagler — AAP New York, jtagler@publishers.org, 212-255-1407