The statutes of Tallinn University Press

Established by the Rector of TLU

 

APPROVED by the Rector’s directive No. 9 of April 24, 2024

 

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Tallinn University Press (hereinafter the Press) is a support unit of Tallinn University (hereinafter the University) aimed at academic publishing, and the distribution and sales of publications.

1.2. The activity of the Press is guided by the legal acts of the Republic of Estonia, statutes of the University, statutes of the Press and other legal acts, and the fundamental values of the University: openness, quality, professionalism and unity.

1.3. The name of the unit in English is Tallinn University Press.

 

2. TASKS

2.1. The primary task of the Press is to publish high quality, professionally edited and well-designed research and educational literature in accordance with the proposals of the units and members of the University. To this end, the Press:

2.1.1. consistently co-operates with the units of the University and their international co-operation partners in order to find publishing proposals and to develop an academic publishing plan in a stable manner;

2.1.2. refers the publishing proposals or manuscripts that meet the criteria to the editorial boards of the Press for evaluation and appointment of the possible peer reviewers;

2.1.3. organises the peer reviewing of the manuscripts which have been accepted for reviewing;

2.1.4. organises the linguistic editing, layout, proofreading, printing and distribution of the manuscripts selected for publishing.

2.2. The Press co-operates with partners in Estonia and abroad, incl.:

2.2.1. develops co-operation projects with the publishers of the University’s partner universities, international academic publishers, scientific societies and organisations where the University’s employees participate, and other partners;

2.2.2. introduces its activity to the general public on a regular basis.

2.3. The Press co-operates with the ISBN Agency of Estonia.

2.4. The Press co-operates with printing houses in order to ensure the good quality and availability of its services, and the optimum quality/price ratio.

2.5. The Press organises the distribution and sales of its publications, incl.:

2.5.1. develops sales-related co-operation with bookshops and other resellers in Estonia and abroad;

2.5.2. introduces and distributes its publications on its webpage in Estonian and English.

2.6. The Press participates, to the extent of its capabilities, in introducing the activities of the University both in Estonia and abroad.

 

3. MANAGEMENT

3.1. The Press is managed by the editor-in-chief.

3.2. The editor-in-chief is responsible for the work organisation and efficiency of the activity of the Press.

 

4. EDITORIAL BOARDS OF THE PRESS

4.1. The publishing policy is steered by and the work of the Press advised by editorial boards (the chief academic board and series boards).

4.2. The chief academic board that steers the publishing policy is academic and international. The composition of the chief academic board is approved by the Rector. Changes in the composition of the chief academic board are approved by the Rector on the basis of a proposal of the chief academic board.

4.3. For the management of the work of the chief academic board, its members elect a chairperson from among themselves.

4.4. The chief academic board of the Press meets at least once a year, reviews the annual report of the Press from the previous year and endorses the action plan for the following year.

4.5. The opening and, where necessary, closing of the series of the Press is approved by the Rector on the basis of a proposal of the chief academic board.

4.6. The chief academic board develops the bases of the publishing policy and the procedure for publishing of the Press that are approved by the Rector on the basis of a proposal of the editor-in-chief.

4.7. The compositions of the series boards are co-ordinated by the chief academic board and approved by the Rector. Each series board elects a chairperson from among its members. The main task of the series boards is to decide on whether the submitted publishing proposals or manuscripts will be printed or not, and to make publishing proposals.

4.8. The work of the series boards of the Press is carried out on an as-needed basis and electronically.

 

5. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

The Press has the right to:

5.1. obtain documents and information necessary for performing its tasks from other units of the University;

5.2. use the rooms and equipment provided by the University to perform its duties;

5.3. propose publishing-related development activities in the University;

5.4. represent the University within the scope of its competence.

 

The Press is obliged to:

5.5. follow the general objectives of the University in its activity;

5.6. carry out the tasks under the statutes in a consistent manner, within the set deadlines and with a high level of quality, incl. to ensure the high quality of services in its field of activity;

5.7. manage information on its field of activity on the University’s homepage and internal information channels;

5.8. ensure the correctness and confidentiality of professional information;

5.9. transmit the information and documents to other units of the University, which are necessary for the performing their duties;

5.10. use the assets allocated to it prudently and in a targeted manner.

 

6. FINANCING

6.1. The activity of the Press is financed in accordance with the Regulations of Economic Activity.

6.2. The Press carries out the sales of publications and provides other paid services – the resources received are used for financing the operating costs of the Press.

6.3. The editor-in-chief draws up the draft budget that is established in accordance with the Regulations of Economic Activity.

 

7. REPORTING

7.1. The editor-in-chief of the Press prepares an action plan for the following financial year in accordance with the procedure established in the University.

7.2. The editor-in-chief of the Press submits an annual activity report in accordance with the procedure established in the University.

7.3. The Press draws up a report on its work from the previous year by February 15 at the latest and submits it to the chief academic board of the Press for assessment.

7.3.1. The assessment of the activity of the Press is based on:

7.3.1.1. the quality of the publications published in the Press and the number of titles;

7.3.1.2. the distribution of the publications published in the Press both in Estonia and abroad, incl. the number of orders received from the libraries as well as the media response;

7.3.1.3. the return on sales of the Press.