Building AI-Ready Book Programmes Without Bigger Budgets

Scholarly books are entering a new discovery environment. Readers are increasingly finding, accessing and engaging with research through connected platforms and AI-powered tools. This creates an urgent question for publishers: how can book programmes adapt without requiring larger teams, new systems or significantly bigger budgets?

The challenge is particularly pressing for smaller presses and publishers in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Many are working with limited resources and established workflows while facing growing expectations to improve the visibility, accessibility and impact of their books.

At ALPSP 2026, Parallel Session 5a, AI-Ready Books: Practical Metadata, Rights, and AI Strategies for Impact on a Small Budget, will examine how publishers can respond to these pressures in practical and achievable ways.

What makes a book programme AI-ready?

Preparing for AI-driven discovery does not necessarily begin with investing in the latest technology. It begins with ensuring that the foundations of a book programme are strong enough to support how scholarly content is now found, interpreted and used.

Metadata plays a central role in this. Accurate and consistent information helps books become more visible across platforms and allows both people and technology to understand their subject, context and relevance. Strong metadata can improve discoverability long before a publisher considers introducing a new AI tool.

Rights information is equally important. As AI changes how content may be accessed, analysed and reused, publishers need to communicate permissions and restrictions clearly. Greater rights transparency can help publishers protect their content while allowing legitimate uses to be understood more easily.

AI can then be considered within this wider foundation. The most effective approach is not necessarily to adopt every available tool, but to identify where AI can solve a genuine problem, strengthen an existing process or reduce pressure on publishing teams.

The session will explore how these three areas can work together to help publishers:

• Improve the visibility and accessibility of scholarly books
• Strengthen metadata within existing systems and workflows
• Communicate rights information more clearly
• Identify practical and responsible applications of AI
• Extend the reach and impact of book programmes without overstretching resources
• Prepare for future changes while protecting scholarly values

Christopher Leonard brings 25 years of publishing experience to the discussion

Chris Leonard, Director of Product Solutions at Cactus Communications, will join the panel to share his perspective on the practical use of technology and AI in scholarly publishing.

Chris has spent 25 years working across publishing, technology and product development. His experience includes developing preprint servers, overseeing manuscript-submission workflows and launching manuscript-assessment services. He also has a particular interest in the evolving relationship between AI, peer review and human expertise.

At CACTUS, Chris focuses on solving publisher challenges through the appropriate use of technology and AI. This makes his perspective especially relevant to publishers looking for realistic ways to adapt without unnecessarily replacing systems or disrupting established workflows.

His contribution will help move the conversation beyond what AI could make possible and towards the decisions publishers need to make now. Where can technology deliver meaningful value? Which foundations need to be strengthened first? How can publishers introduce AI responsibly while maintaining quality, trust and human oversight?

A panel grounded in publishing realities

Chris will be joined by Mark Collins, Director of Academic at Virtusales; Sara Crowley-Vigneau, Partnerships Lead at Zendy; and Ove Kähler, Managing Director at Mohr Siebeck. The conversation will be chaired by Kelly Henwood, Senior Consultant at TBI Communications.

Together, the speakers will bring perspectives from publishing, product development, technology and partnerships. The discussion will pay particular attention to the realities facing smaller presses and AHSS publishers, where ambitious plans must often be delivered within tight operational and financial constraints.

Rather than presenting AI readiness as a single transformation project, the session will examine the practical improvements publishers can begin making within the resources they already have.

Join the session at ALPSP 2026. Parallel Session 5a: AI-Ready Books: Practical Metadata, Rights, and AI Strategies for Impact on a Small Budget

Date: 10 September 2026
Time: 10:30–11:15 AM
Venue: Deansgate Suite 1&2

Attending ALPSP 2026? Add Parallel Session 5a to your agenda and join the conversation.