Rice launches all-digital university press

Rice University is re-launching its university press after a hiatus of 10 years. The big news is that it will be 100% digital. The Journal reports that it will make all of its titles available online for free, charging readers a small fee for downloads and offering an option to purchase a print-on-demand version of the book.

This is a pretty innovative move in the sleepy world of university publishing, where niches are often much smaller than those commercial publishers target. It's also potentially a viable model for commercial publishers looking to expand their product lines or offer targeted content.