Starting and managing a journal is complex process, and OSU Libraries can help. If you have an idea for a new open access journal but you're not sure what's next, these resources can get you started.

• Things to Consider: a guide for starting a new journal from PKP, the developers of the OJS software system. 

• Open Access Journal Publishing Resource Index from SPARC, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition.

• Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

  • Furthermore, their Basic Criteria for Inclusion are a "gold standard for open access publishing," laying out excellent goals to guide the development of your journal -- and if you aim to have your journal listed in DOAJ's directory, you will be required to meet this standard.

• Nuts and Bolts: The Super Long List of Things to Do When Starting a New Journal by Angela Cochran in Scholarly Kitchen.

Have an existing journal that you'd like to move to OJS@OregonDigital?

We can do that! Contact us to discuss options. 

Journals in OJS@OregonDigital may be sponsored by either OSU or UO. Journals that are sponsored by OSU must have an ongoing affiliation with the university, typically as follows:

Student journals must have at least one faculty or staff member who has an ongoing affiliation with Oregon State University who is willing to serve as an advisor. The faculty advisor position may transition from one person to another, but contact information for a faculty advisor must be kept current with OSU Libraries' OJS administrator.

Faculty or staff journals must have at least one editor or editorial board member with an ongoing affiliation with Oregon State University at the start of our relationship and planned through the first issue (at a minimum). We understand that editorial board membership shifts over time, and we will continue to support a journal if the OSU-affiliated member rolls off of their service commitment with the journal.

(For inquiries about UO-affiliated journals in OJS@OregonDigital, contact digitalscholarship@uoregon.edu.)

Additional criteria

Open Access: OJS@OregonDigital is understood to be an open access journal platform. Hosted journals must be committed to an open access publishing model. Contents should be free to read, and authors should not be charged any type of publication fees. We strongly encourage journals to adopt policies under which authors retain copyright for their work and grant journals a non-exclusive license to publish.

Quality of Content: OJS at OregonDigital.org is a public representation of Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, and as such the quality of the contents published on the site are expected to reflect the standards of the universities. While different types of contents may be published by a journal including editorials, opinions, reviews, etc., journals must have a process for formally reviewing articles and other designated scholarly submission types.

No matter where you are in the planning process, we'll be happy to meet with you to talk about publishing with OJS@OregonDigital, whether it's a good match for your needs, and possible next steps. Email us to get more information or set up a meeting.

What to expect during setup:

• In an initial meeting, library staff will discuss where you are in the process, determine if you need any specialty services, and demonstrate OJS functionality.
• Optionally, you can get credentials to try out the OJS system in a private demo journal managed by OSU Libraries.
• When you are ready to commit, you will provide required information about your journal and sign OSU Libraries' Open Access Hosting Agreement (see below).
• OSU Libraries staff will set up a basic site for your journal and create accounts for the journal manager(s) and editorial staff. You will work with OSU Libraries staff to complete the site setup.
• OSU Libraries staff will provide training and resources on editorial workflows in OJS.

Required information to create a new journal site in OJS includes:

• Journal name
• Preferred abbreviation of the journal name
• Primary contact person's name and email address
• Names and email addresses of editorial team
• A brief description to be displayed on the OJS@OregonDigital directory
• ISSN (for migrating an existing journal; OSU Libraries can assist with registering one)
• DOI prefix (for migrating an existing journal; OSU Libraries' default prefix will be used otherwise)