Background

Dr. Yakob Arsano

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY PRESS
(AAUP)

1. Mission
Addis Ababa University Press (AAUP) rigorously looks into the value of the manuscripts for originality and scholarly contribution.* It encourages high academic quality of text books regardless of the level of instruction.

2. Governing Body
The Addis Ababa University Press is governed by a Board of Editors appointed by the University Senate and representing different academic fields. The Board:
• Determines Manuscripts that ought to be sent to reviewers
• Identifies reviewers of manuscripts
• Approves manuscripts for publication
• Makes recommendations that strengthen the press
• Deliberates and gives directives on matters pertaining to publication.

3. Current AAU Press Board of Editors
1. Dr. Tassew Woldehanna, Chairman
2. Dr. Yacob Arsano, Director & Secretary
3. Professor Masresha Fetene , Member
4. Professor Tsige G/Mariam , Member
5. Professor Tilahun Teshome , Member
6. Professor Shiferaw Bekele , Member
7. Ato Mesfin Gezahegn , Member

3. Links with Professional Bodies
AAUP is listed in the:
 African Books in Print
 Book Trade of the World
 The Europe Book Year
 The International Authors’ and Writers’ ‘Who’s Who’
 International Directory of Scholarly Publishers
 The International Literary Market Place

4. Areas of Publication
The Press publishes in all academic areas. The publications to-date include textbooks in different disciplines such as biology, botany, chemistry, climatology, geology, history, hydrology, language, public health, engineering, politics, sociology, etc. The Press has also been publishing general works such as autobiographies, diaries and dictionaries. The Board of Editors determines the publication of manuscripts in view of their value and quality based on the recommendations of assessors, who are established scholars in their respective fields.

In the future, the Press plans to give a greater emphasis to the publication of tertiary level textbooks, selected dissertations and new editions or reprints of classic works published elsewhere and currently out of print.

5. Contributors/Authors
These comprise members of the University faculty and others, including foreign scholars. So far, the majority of the contributors to the Press are Ethiopians. The AAU Press has published books both in Amharic and English.

6. Assessors/ Reviewers
These consist of a large pool of qualified persons in different specialization areas within and outside the AAU. Manuscripts submitted to the Press are first presented to the Board of Editors for preliminary screening. Upon positive consideration by the Board, manuscripts are sent to at least two reviewers for final assessment based on criteria provided by the Press.

7. Co-Publishers
The AAU Press has been co-publishing with:
 James Currey Publishers, UK
 Lund University Press, Sweden
 Michigan State University Press, USA
 Ohio University Press, USA
 Rutgers University Press, USA
 University of Chicago Press, USA
8. Distribution
The AAU Book Centre is the major distributing agent of AAU Press. Other distributing agents include African Bookshop, Aynalem Bookshop, Ethiopian Tourist Trading Enterprise, Shama Plc, Hantad Many General Business Plc, Universal Bookshop, AAU Book Center, Knowledge Gate Pass, Littman General Trading Plc, Hanna Yigezu Bookshop and Ankebot General Trading Plc.

9. Expansion through the Years
The AAUP had a humble beginning. When the Press started functioning in the 1968/69 Academic Year, it had a staff of only one person, Mrs. Innes Marshall. It has now a total of 12 members.

List of Staff and Contact Details,
Dr. Yacob Arsano
Position: Director of Addis Ababa University Press
Building Location: Behind Christmas Hall
Building No: 604: First floor
E-mail: yarsano17@gmail.com
: yacob.arsano@aau.edu.et
Telephone: 0920192191 (Mobile)
: 011-123-97-46 (Office)
: 011-12398-00 Ext.227
PoBox: 1176, AAU Press, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ato Berhanu Debotch
Position: Manuscript Editor
W/ro Tsehay Yemane
Position: Administrative Assistant
Ato Mathewos W/Mariam
Position: Senior Journal Editor
W/t Mastewal Moges
Position: Senior Research Communication & Dissemination Expert I
E-mail: mastewal.moges@aau.edu.et
W/t Tayech Demissu
Position: Executive Secretary
W/ro Ayesha Deshu
Position: Assistant Accountant
W/ro Mestawet Mamo
Position: Store Clerk
W/t Zenebu Bayissa
Position: Cleaner & Messenger
W/t Damenech Yazachew
Position: Cashier