By Khaled Adra---

The Office of University Publications is responsible for AUB Press and campus publications for external audiences. In addition, the Publications Office has recruited talented part-time employees and the workspace has been organized and refurbished. It is under the supervision of Acting Director Mr. Ibrahim Khoury and Associate Director Mrs. Lucy Koons. In 1984 the Director of the Office of University Publications, Mr. Zahi Khoury, was kidnapped. After the incident Radwan Mawlawi, Associate Director, managed the office as acting director for a short while. Then during the 90Õs a number of student assistants supervised the office and had to send a weekly report to the VP for academics, currently replaced by the post of the provost. Unfortunately the office wasnÕt operating the way it should. Until recently, around October 2000, the publications office workspace was cleared of fifteen years of debris, and most of the older files (some over 30 years old) have been archived. Rooms were reorganized, and the office equipped. One goal for the publications office is to have all campus publications for external audiences unified in look and quality. This involves selecting a family of fonts, pantone colors, a basic design, and a policy ensuring that all departments produce their brochures and promotional material for external audiences through the publications office. The office has worked steadily toward this goal over the past few months. Already produced projects include the 2001-2002 academic catalogue, the Student Handbook, six Admissions brochures, the Graduate Program for Environmental Sciences brochure, and many other. In the past, books published by the American University of Beirut were simply stamped with the words ÔAmerican University of Beirut.Õ Today they are identified as being published by American University of Beirut Press and receive an AUB Press logo. The logo is a basic design at the moment but will be further developed by a designer, a current or former AUB student. Developing the Press included the registration of AUB Press with the Publishing Syndicate of Lebanon. AUB Press also registered for and received ISBNs, which is essential in marketing books abroad. The publications office also created copyright verbiage to place on the copyright page of AUB Press books. Production standards have been put in place that include production checks for correct content and order in front matter, interior, back matter, covers and dust jackets, and quality control during printing. In short, book production has been brought up to international standards. During this period the Press published the second edition of MouroÕs An American Nurse Amidst Chaos. Preliminary production, including copyediting and image collecting by the author, was concluded on TalhoukÕs Insects and Mites Injurious to Crops in the Middle East. Since February 1, AUB PressÕs acquisition drawer has grown to 11 manuscript proposals. AUB Press has developed administratively too. Prospectus requirements were created for manuscript proposal submissions as were Policy and Procedures for reviewing manuscripts. The latter is used by the Publications Committee and the Office of University Publications during their joint task of overseeing AUB Press. A production schedule and referee sheets were created for AUB Press journals. The office has on a part-time basis Dina Abou-Salem, Tomoko Furukawa, and Clare Leader, to help with production of AUB Press books and campus publications for external audiences. Also the office has a support staff like student Hassan Kassouf, and Mr. Nabih Hashim, an AUB employee for the past 47 years, who was previously in charge of the University Bookstore before the contract with Malek last year. Mr. Hashim steadily works on the inventory of AUB Press publications stored in College Hall store room, and manages distribution of those publications to both individuals and to two distributors: one for Lebanon and Europe, and the other for Canada and the United States. ÒThe only problem we are still facing is marketing our publications,Ó said Mrs. Koons. ÒThe distributors are not being quite efficient in the circulation of the books in some countries,Ó she added. One solution to this problem is the service of part time Sally Merar, who was in charge of marketing in the Chicago Press. Another solution would be the currently under construction website for the office, and the update of the existing website for AUB Press.