As former president of Elsevier and director of the Scholarly Communications and Information Innovation Lab at Long Island University, Regazzi brings varied perspectives and many years of engagement to this thorough overview of scholarly communications. He details the history of the field, from the origin of the scholarly journal to the Big Deal, the advent of electronic publishing, and the current impacts of such developments as the open-access movement, Big Data, and academic social networks. Regazzi focuses on the need to protect the quality and originality of research through the editorial peer-review process and the ways in which technology-driven changes are challenging core values. These are issues of great concern to publishers, librarians, and researchers, who are the primary creators and consumers of scholarly information. . . .Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced researchers and practitioners.

Choice Reviews

Scholarly Communications provides a valuable historical examination of these tensions and contends that they can be resolved with more open access to information in the end. An extensive bibliography and index add value. . . .This book is best suited for academic libraries, although special libraries that are focused on scientific, technical, or medical research should also consider it.

Technical Services Quarterly

The book appears well researched; each chapter includes an extensive list of references, with the author relying primarily on scholarly articles. This book would be a helpful addition to an academic library or academic law library collection, as well as a teaching tool for faculty and students in a library and information science program. It is easy to read and understand; Regazzi does good job of providing interesting historical background information and avoids coming across as didactic. Regazzi is neither an advocate for nor opponent of open access, and his neutral and unbiased delivery makes this book a credible resource for anyone interested in learning about scholarly communications. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive theoretical and historical framework for understanding the current issues and trends in scholarly communications and how they apply to researchers, publishers, and librarians.

Law Library Journal

Finally, a book that chronicles the evolution of scholarly communication from its earliest inception through to today’s rapidly changing environment. Regazzi’s deep, first-hand knowledge offers compelling saga of an emerging and maturing information industry that is known only to industry insiders. Regazzi masterfully explores issues of economics, technology, power and partnerships associated with scholarly communication. This book should be read by all who engage in scholarship as well as by those involved in the management and distribution of scholarly knowledge.

José-Marie Griffiths, Vice President for Academic Affairs and University Professor, Bryant University

This is a must read for all players in the system of scholarly information. It provides a unique ‘tour d'horizon’ of the field that has undergone enormous changes over the past 20-30 years. It provides invaluable overviews of all components of the system, some that worked and some that didn't. It even doesn't shy away from discussing the economics of academic publishing and gives lessons in technology management. It's a marker in 2015 against which developments over the next ten or twenty years will be measured.

Hans Rutimann, Scholarly Communications Consultant