A monograph is a specialist work of writing on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, usually by a single author.The term "monographia" is derived from the Greek mono (single) and grapho (to write), meaning "writing on a single subject". Unlike a textbook, which surveys the state of knowledge in a field, the main purpose of a monograph is to present primary research and original scholarship. This research is presented at length, distinguishing a monograph from an article. For these reasons, publication of a monograph is commonly regarded as vital for career progression in many academic disciplines. Intended for other researchers and bought primarily by libraries, monographs are generally published as individual volumes in a short print run.In librarianship, the word monograph has a broader meaning, that of a nonserial publication complete in one volume (book) or a finite number of volumes, meaning any piece of writing can be described as a monograph. Thus it differs from a serial publication such as a magazine, journal, or newspaper.Book publishers use the term "artist monograph" to indicate books consisting of reproductions of works of art by a single artist, as opposed to surveys of art from multiple artists.