Missouri Press prepares to close

COLUMBIA, Mo. — For 54 years, the University of Missouri Press has showcased the state’s history, culture and authors to readers close to home and scholars far beyond its borders. The 2,000 books published range from obscure treatises on Ozark folklorists to popular biographies of baseball greats Stan Musial and Satchel Paige.

That legacy ends next month after new university system President Tim Wolfe’s decision to shut down the money-losing press and steer its $400,000 annual subsidy toward other pressing campus needs such as building renovations or faculty raises. The move, which has prompted a storm of criticism by faculty authors and renowned scholars, is among the painful choices being made on campuses across the nation this year as institutions cut costs to cope with budget pressures lingering from the recession.

Thirty seven public flagship universities have a college press. In a few states, such as Connecticut, private schools such as Yale fulfill that role. Some presses, like the University of Minnesota’s, are profitable, but most either make or lose a small amount of money. The Missouri press’ deficit ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 per year, officials said.

University spokesman Jennifer Hollingshead said that administrators “understand the symbolic importance of the press and what it means for a university system such as ours.” Yet when faced with declining state appropriations, surging campus enrollment and the likely elimination of more than 200 full-time university jobs to help balance the fiscal year 2013 budget, hard choices must be made, she said.