Stop the presses.

Mary Lincoln, the woman who put Northern Illinois University Press on the map as a university publishing house that produces nationally significant works, is retiring at the end of this week.

Lincoln has worked at NIU for 31 years and served as director of the NIU Press for 27 years. She holds the distinction for being the longest-serving press director in the country.

The NIU Press publishes non-fiction on a variety of topics in the humanities, arts and social sciences. The press has more than 400 books in print on aspects of history, politics, anthropology and literature.

“She really rescued the press,” said Julia Fauci, graphic design supervisor for the NIU Press. Fauci worked with Lincoln for 20 years.

Lincoln will continue to live in DeKalb. She plans to spend more time with her six grandchildren.

“I have loved this job,” Lincoln said. “I think it’s the most interesting job on campus. It’s always challenging. There are always new ideas, new authors and new projects.”