The Iowa State University Press is looking into future possibilities, one of which could involve selling it.

“[The Board of Directors is] trying to determine how the press can move ahead,” said Warren Madden, vice president for Business and Finance. “[Selling] is a possibility.”

Other possibilities include expanding company operations or affiliating with another printing press, Madden said.

“Right now, it’s covering expenses but isn’t putting aside enough money for future progress and expansion,” he said.

An outside firm has been retained to do an evaluation of the press, and results should be determined sometime this spring, Madden said.

The ISU Press is a nonprofit organization that evolved in response to the demand of journalists and faculty who wanted to publish their work.

It currently publishes books written by local authors as well as texts about agriculture, veterinary sciences, journalism, aviation and Iowa history, said Gretchen Van Houten, director of ISU Press.

“We’re a lot like Iowa State,” she said.

Van Houten said the press has undergone changes before, and she believes the ISU Press Board of Directors is most concerned with the long-term financial aspect of the company, including its obligations to authors and staff.

“The goal is to improve the company and make it better,” she said.

Joyce O’Donnell, general book buyer and supervisor for the University Book Store, said the bookstore carries a large assortment of books published by ISU Press.

“Books we carry from ISU Press are important to us and this community,” O’Donnell said. “Hopefully, [any changes] wouldn’t affect us much.”

The University Bookstore has seen other changes, such as the University of Iowa publishing its books through the Chicago Press, which didn’t have much of an impact in book sales, O’Donnell said. She is hopeful that business relations would remain the same if new owners take over ISU Press.

“It’s really hard to say at this point,” she said. “It depends on the new owner’s policies and philosophies.”