Introduction to Open Journal Systems
About Open Journal Systems
Open Journal Systems (OJS) is a journal management and publishing system that has been developed by the Public Knowledge Project through its federally funded efforts to expand and improve access to research.
Currently over 7500 titles are using OJS (as of December 2010) in many languages. Browse some of these journals here: http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs-journals
Why Open Journal Systems?
Open Journal Systems software is unique because it was developed to assist with every stage of the refereed publishing process, from submissions through to online publication and indexing by way of its online interface. This can be helpful for those who find that they require a more organized and automated workflow for online journal publication, or for those who are new to the journal publishing process. A quick upload option that bypasses this system also exists for publishers that are in favour of their current workflow or would like to mount archival issues.
Modern functionality, rapid development
Open Journal Systems provides a modern online presence for electronic journals. Its slick, customizable interface is easy to navigate and a pleasure to use. Created with the non-technical user in mind, OJS allows for very rapid development and deployment without the worry of creating databases and programming interfaces. One simply needs to decide on a colour scheme/ design, upload some data, and the OJS software automatically displays and indexes articles and issues.
Automatic Indexing for Searching and Browsing
In addition to its easy startup, OJS software takes full advantage of its online format by allowing journal readers many searching options. Readers can choose to search the entire full text of journal articles, to narrow their search to titles, authors, or abstracts, or to search all of the above for maximum hits. Readers can also browse journals by author, title or issue.
This extended functionality can greatly enhance the ability of readers to quickly find articles that are of interest to them, as opposed to relying on scanning tables of contents in print-only journals. And the best part is that all of this searching and browsing functionality happens automatically as each issue is published!
OJS is loaded with features
Users of the Open Journal Software system are able to handle subscriptions and limit access to different levels of information within the journal, such as openly displaying the table of contents but limiting the full text of articles to subscribers.
Data stored within the Open Journal Software system is exportable, allowing for journal portability and integration with larger databases such as Scholar’s Portal. This opens up the journal to a very large potential online readership.
For more information about OJS, visit the site at:
http://pkp.sfu.ca/?q=ojs
About Open Journal Systems at York University Libraries
York University Libraries (YUL) are working with journal publishers to bring journals to the web. Using Open Journal Systems (OJS) software, an open source application developed at Simon Fraser University, journal creators are able to publish their journals online quickly and easily.
What is the role of York University Libraries with respect to Open Journal Systems?
- YUL is committed to promoting the dissemination of Canadian scholarly information to a global audience.
- YUL is not a publisher. We provide the storage, the software and the expertise/training required for journals help them host their materials online.
How will York University Libraries help me put my journal online?
- York University Libraries will provide the server space to host your journal.
- We will create your journal using OJS software, and help you with some basic design. You will be given complete access to control the look and content of your journal.
- We will help you to load your previous issues into the system to get you started.
- We will train you and your staff in the use of OJS software. The goal is that eventually you will be self sufficient and will be able to publish future issues independently.
- We will be available to help you with any questions or provide any assistance you may need.
Who To Contact
York University Libraries is available to help you update your scholarly journal with the use of Open Journal Software. For more information about getting started with OJS, contact Andrea Kosavic, Digital Services Librarian at Scott Library. akosavic@yorku.ca
Synergies and Open Journal Systems
What is Synergies?
Synergies is a national consortium of 21 Canadian universities that was assembled to meet the goal of providing a digital publishing service for researchers and providing online access to research papers through the
Synergies Canada portal.
The Synergies project received a grant for over $11.5 Million by the Canada Foundation for Innovation(CFI).
The goal of Synergies is to improve visibility for the work of Canadian human and social science researchers globally, by providing a free federated portal.
The benefits of Synergies include:
- Long term preservation, dissemination and production of Canadian research data
- Integrating diverse regional initiatives with one federated Canadian portal
- Enabling research at all educational levels, in remote geographical locations, and for non-university affiliated researchers
Synergies supports Open Journal Systems
Since Synergies supports Open Journal Systems, Social Science and Humanities journals that use OJS as a means of publishing their journals are eligible to take part in the Synergies project, and to receive the benefits of increased exposure through the Synergies portal.
View slides from a recent Synergies Presentation
