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Ann Arbor MI - June 1, 2020 - The University of Michigan Press (UMP), part of the University of Michigan Library, and the Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA), a research and collection museum within the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan, are pleased to announce the creation of a new partnership to advance the work of the Museum’s publication program. The Museum’s complete catalogue of titles is now being included in the University of Michigan Press Ebook Collection, and all older titles are back in print. The Museum series includes dozens of classics on archaeological sites in North America, such as Jane Holden Kelley’ study of southeastern New Mexico and James B. Griffin’s The Fort Ancient Aspect . There are also early works on the archaeology of Michigan and Paleoindian sites across the Midwest.

“The partnership between UMMAA and UMP advances the sustainability of the Museum’s independent publishing program and supports future digital innovation. It is exciting to already see the reach of UMMAA’s scholarship spreading , amplifying recognition of the University around the world,” commented Charles Watkinson, Director of University of Michigan Press.

Established in 1922, the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) has published more than 200 academic books that feature excellent scholarship, meticulous research, and innovative interpretation. UMMAA continues this tradition today, producing data-rich books on the archaeology and ethnology of Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, and Europe.

Ensuring public engagement with UMMAA’s publication series is top of mind for Dr. Michael Galaty, Director of the Museum.

“Working with Michigan Press and Fulcrum is a game-changer for UMMAA. Ours is one of the oldest and most important archaeological presses in the world, and now we can bring our historic backlist, as ebooks, to all archaeologists everywhere, and to an enthusiastic general public.”

The series is available on Fulcrum as part of the University of Michigan Ebook Collection (UMP EBC). The platform supports illustrations, photographs, tables, interactive maps, and 3D models. Dr. Galaty's upcoming book, about the Shkodra Archaeological Project in northern Albania, will take advantage of these features. For UMMAA, publishing the collection on Fulcrum was key for future academic innovation.

“This partnership between UMP and UMMAA has not only brought archaeological classics back into print, but it also allows for more and better access to current archaeological data. We anticipate acquiring and publishing more titles that include archaeological data gathered through the latest technologies (for instance, LIDAR), and now we will be able to make those data available to all of our readers,” said Elizabeth Noll, editor of the UMMAA series.

For the publication series, working with the Press and the University of Michigan Library’s Digital Conversion Unit (DCU) to move from print into a digital format was essential. DCU, led by Larry Wentzel, handled the digitization of the backlist and completed the scanning of all UMMAA titles. The project was funded by the University of Michigan Library.

The UMMAA partnership adds to the wide array of digital scholarship offered in the University of Michigan Press Ebook Collection, which is available to read for free (but not download) through June 30, 2020, at https://www.fulcrum.org/UMMAA . Further information about Fulcrum, including an interview with Dr. Galaty, visit https://www.fulcrum.org/ .

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For more information, please contact:
Lanell White
Director of Sales, Marketing, and Outreach
lejames@umich.edu