The Role of Lead City University Press in Scholarly Communication

This study examined the role of Lead City University Press in scholarly communication.
Specifically, it investigated the roles performed by the Press in scholarly communication,
its contributions to the dissemination of scholarly knowledge, the challenges confronting
its operations, and measures for enhancing its effectiveness. The study adopted a mixedmethods approach, employing a descriptive survey design and in-depth interviews. The
population comprised 46 staff members of Lead City University Press, and a total
enumeration technique was adopted because of the manageable population size. Data were
collected through a structured questionnaire and interviews with five key informants.
Quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, while
qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that the Press plays
significant roles in scholarly communication through the publication of academic journals,
books, conference proceedings, editorial services, graphic design, typesetting, printing, and
production services. The study further established that the Press contributes substantially
to the dissemination of scholarly knowledge through the publication of peer-reviewed
journals and other scholarly materials. However, inadequate funding, shortage of skilled
personnel, inadequate publishing facilities, and limited visibility of publications were
identified as the major challenges confronting the Press. The study concluded that
university presses remain indispensable to scholarly communication by supporting the
production, dissemination, and preservation of academic knowledge. It recommended
increased institutional funding, continuous staff training, improved publishing facilities,
stronger marketing and distribution strategies, and enhanced collaboration with academic
institutions to improve the effectiveness of university press operations.