Call for Projects: IU Libraries Publishing

IU Libraries Publishing invites proposals for books and other long-form scholarly, creative nonfiction, and public-facing works written by members of the Indiana University Bloomington community.

IU Libraries Publishing is a selective open-access publishing program based in IU Libraries. Our publications are published online and made freely available worldwide at no cost to authors or readers, and our authors retain their copyright.

Proposals are reviewed by the publisher and the IU Libraries Publishing Advisory Board, and only a limited number are selected for publication.

Projects may be at any stage of development; completed manuscripts are welcome but not required. 

  • CFP Opens: March 30, 2026
  • Submission Deadline: May 29, 2026
  • Notification of Decisions: June or July 2026, depending on submission volume and review timing

We publish long-form nonfiction of enduring intellectual, cultural, or institutional value, including:

  • Scholarly monographs
  • Edited collections (including conference proceedings and occasional papers)
  • Creative nonfiction (such as memoirs and travel writing)
  • Scholarly editions of primary sources
  • Reports and white papers
  • Translations
  • Exhibition catalogs and catalogues raisonnés

We especially welcome works that:

  • Incorporate digital affordances, including multimedia, interactivity, or data-driven scholarship
  • Present public scholarship accessible to broader audiences
  • Engage institutional, local, or regional communities, and/or address topics of institutional, local, or regional relevance
  • Advance underrepresented topics or emerging fields
  • Experiment with new forms of scholarly or creative expression
  • Cross disciplinary or genre boundaries

Proposals may be submitted by members of the IU Bloomington community, including:

  • Faculty (tenure-track, non–tenure track, and emeriti)
  • Research centers and institutes
  • Alumni

Proposal (1–4 pages)

Include:

  • Abstract or overview of the work (maximum 300 words)
  • Chapter outline (if available; 100–150 words per chapter)
  • Statement of significance
  • Intended audience
  • Publication status (original work, previously published work, translation, etc.)
  • Estimated length (actual or projected word count)
  • Timeline for completion (if not yet complete)
  • Author information (names, titles, affiliations, and brief bios)
  • Description of any digital or multimedia components

Sample Chapter (optional)

If available, please include a sample chapter.

Submission does not guarantee publication. Proposals are reviewed comparatively through the process below, and only the strongest projects are selected.

  1. Publisher Review
    Initial assessment of mission fit, scope alignment, and production feasibility.
  2. Advisory Board Evaluation
    Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the IU Libraries Publishing Advisory Board for scholarly or creative merit, significance, and potential impact.
  3. Publication Decision
    Final publication decisions are made by the publisher, taking into account advisory board recommendations and program capacity.

The number of projects accepted will depend on proposal quality and program capacity.

We welcome inquiries and consultations before submission. 

Contact us at libpub@iu.edu. 

Submit a Proposal

Proposal Form