The manuscripts of books come to the Bureau after being recommended by the Board of Studies, which also appoints an editor and a reviewer.

The manuscripts are then sent to the Bureau. The price of the book is around two and a half times the cost and is sold at a heavy discount to booksellers. The royalty paid to the author is 15 per cent of the profit from the annual sales after the cost of the book is recovered.

Prof Shelley Walia from the Department of English says that University publications generally function on a no-profit-no-loss basis.

“In foreign varsities, the publication houses adopt a stringent criteria when it comes to selection of manuscripts. Substantial amount is paid to the editors.

PU should develop its publication bureau in such a manner that apart from contributing to research, it also makes a contribution to the finances of the varsity.”

The faculty members are of the view that the Bureau should have an organised set-up. It should be headed by a Director and also have an editorial board. Care should be taken in the designing of the books to make them more attractive. At present, the quality of the books leaves a lot to be desired, they aver.

Dr Indu Banga from the Department of History says, “The publication bureau of universities generally give a platform to works which, though academically sound, do not find takers commercially. However, the books are mostly not marketed aggressively. For those looking for commercial success and money, outside publishers are given a preference.”