Books university dons published (3)
I believe the answer is:
out
'published' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)
'books university dons' is the wordplay.
'books' becomes 'ot' (Old Testament).
'university' becomes 'u' (abbreviation for university).
'dons' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters wear or 'don' others).
'ot' placed around 'u' is 'OUT'.
(Other definitions for out that I've seen before include "excluded" , "in the shops" , "Elsewhere -- unfashionable" , "(Of a flower) open" , "Escaped" .)