By the Book12

Publishing Futures

Taking place:

Oxford Brookes University, Oxford UK

Wednesday 16 to Thursday 17 June 2027

We are delighted to announce that in 2027 the conference will be held in Oxford in the UK.

The By the Book conference, this year in its twelfth edition, serves as a nexus for industry experts, educators, and researchers to explore key aspects of book publishing and to advance the discipline of publishing studies. By the Book integrates academic insights with industry perspectives. Presentations will take different forms to accommodate the range of academic and industry voices that make By the Book such a unique conference. In past years, our discussions have covered themes from the art of curation to the intricate dynamics within the publishing sector.

As the publishing industry becomes increasingly concentrated globally—driven by economies of scale, risk aversion, and technological advancement—understanding how to navigate the challenges of the new AI era on a small scale seems particularly urgent. Whether in academia or in the book business, we face a daily struggle to ensure data reliability and comparability, to establish robust tools and controlled methods for analysis, and to interpret results within their proper contextual background—so that we can offer meaningful commentary rather than merely report figures in red or black. In this context, simply the question of how to define a book becomes important not only from an academic perspective, but also for tax authorities and for organizations measuring sales statistics.

Submission deadline: 22 January 2027

The conference fee, payable in pounds, is £235.00, with a reduced rate of £110.00 for PhD students.

We will post further information about the conference as this becomes available.

Call for papers

For full information please download the Call for Papers

Travel Information

Further information will be posted with suggestions for accommodation. Delegates are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.