Category Archives: oa.pkp

The Public Knowledge Project’s Open Monograph Press

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While much progress has been made by academic libraries, societies, and groups of scholars in supporting the publication of independent journals, giving rise to the Open Access Diamond Journal phenomenon (no charge for authors or readers), the same is not true of books.1  Scholarly books would appear to require a publishing house to produce such works.  Well, in that regard, Open Monograph Press (OMP) offers a publishing house in a box.  Only there is no box.  And the house is virtual, but within it one can see the scholarly book through to publication.

IndiaRxiv Relaunched – IndiaRxiv

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“During the Foundation Day celebrations of the Society for Promotion of Horticulture (SPH), IndiaRxiv (India Archive), preprints repository server for India was relaunched on the SPH’s webserver using Public Knowledge Project’s free & open source software, Open Preprints Systems. Previously, the Centre for Open Science was hosting the repository using Open Science Framework. Preprints are versions of articles that have not yet been submitted to a journal for peer review….”

It’s Time to Upgrade OJS | Public Knowledge Project

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“We encourage users to upgrade to the current release series OJS 3.3.x!

More than 25,000 active journals around the world use Open Journal Systems (OJS). However, the PKP Technical Committee recently learned that many of those journals are relying on considerably older  versions of OJS. As we are regularly releasing upgrades of the software, given changes to the web, staying with older versions may pose problems for a journal’s stability and security . For example, more than 8,000 journals are using OJS 2.4 – a version that PKP has now retired. …”

 

PKP Enables Diamond Open Access: The OA Diamond Journals Study | Public Knowledge Project

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by John Willinsky & Juan Pablo Alperin, May 2021

The Public Knowledge Project (PKP), has been, by design and since its inception
over two decades ago, developing software that enables scholars from around
the world to professionally peer-review and publish their colleagues’ work without
charging them or the public to read this work. By creating open source (free)
software that distributes the power to participate in scholarly publishing by
organizing and supporting academic journal editing – including the management
of peer review and and production processes – thousands of scholars, many
operating in low-resource environments, have been able to produce professional-
quality academic journals that are free to both authors and readers. As such, PKP
has long been aware of its essential role in supporting OA diamond journals (Open
Access journals without an Article Processing Charges), but The OA Diamond
Journals Study1 published on March 9, 2021, with 971 OJS users among those
surveyed, offers us a rare level of insight into our community, and a clearer sense
of the extent to which PKP has made OA diamond possible for thousands of
journals around the world.

The OA Diamond Journal Study, sponsored by Science Europe and cOAlition S, was
able to survey 1,619 journals in 2020, finding that 60% (971) of these journals use
OJS. OA diamond journals are said to represent “a wide archipelago of relatively
small journals serving diverse communities” (p. 7) that are collectively estimated
to make up “at least 17,000, but likely up to 29,000, OA diamond journals” (p. 47)
from four regions of world (45% in Europe, 25% in Latin America, 16% in Asia, 5%
in the US/Canada) and from across the disciplines (60% HSS, 22% science, 17%
medicine). If the respondents of the survey are seen to be representative of the
estimated minimum 17,000 diamond journals, then the 60 percent use level for OJS
roughly corresponds to PKP’s own count of more than 10,000 active OJS journals.
The study points, as well, to the type and location of the publishers: “Most OA
diamond journals are the sole journal of their publisher or are with a publisher
having just a few journals. Most of these publishers are university-based” (p. 48).
These are the characteristics of PKP’s principal community of users and further
highlight the close relationship between OA diamond journals and journals using
OJS.

While those who know PKP and the OJS community may have been aware of this
connection, the close to one thousand survey responses from OJS users along
with the report’s unbiased analysis of the context in which they operate has made
three things abundantly clear:

 

With 60% of the journals using OJS, PKP has been instrumental in making OA
diamond journals a reality.
No other platform or tool, with the exception of email in some contexts, is as widely used as OJS by OA diamond journals for their operations, especially as they grow in size.
No other system has contributed as much to supporting the linguistic or geographic diversity of scholarly publishing as OJS.
As OA diamond journals are APC-free, they can be trusted not to include the so-called predatory journals.

That is, given this role as a key enabler of OA diamond journals, and given other
study findings about the characteristics of this group of journals, the report makes
it clear, in our reading, how PKP, with its multilingual OJS, is contributing to the
healthy intellectual enterprise of OA diamond journals and, as direct consequence,
to greater global participation in research.

In analyzing some of the characteristics of OA diamond journals, the report
indirectly highlights some of the strengths of PKP and OJS that have led to its
popularity among this community, as well as some of the areas where there are
opportunities for PKP to improve its offerings, or to otherwise better communicate
their value to the community. The remainder of this response will therefore focus
on summarizing and responding to various indicators of PKP’s success found in
the study, and subsequently to engaging with the misconceptions and missed
opportunities that we will seek t

What Those Responsible for Open Infrastructure in Scholarly Communication Can Do about Possibly Predatory Practices | SciELO Preprints

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Abstract:  This chapter presents a three-phase analysis of 521 journals that use the open source publishing platform Open Journal Systems (OJS) while appearing on Beall’s list of predatory publishers and journals and/or in Cabells Predatory Reports, both which purport to identify journals that charge authors article processing fees (APC) to publish in the pretense of a peer-reviewed journal. In 2020, 25,671 journals were actively using OJS, with 81.3 percent in the Global South, representing a great growth in global research activities. As members of the Public Knowledge Project, which develops this freely available publishing platform, the authors feel a responsibility to explore what platform developers can do to address both the real problem of duplicitous journals and the over-ascription of the “predatory” label to publishers and journals. represented by the authors of this chapter, Drawing on data from the beacon is a part of OJS, the chapter represents an assessment and intervention In the first phase, the researchers reached out to 50 publishers and 51 journals that use OJS and appear on Beall’s list offering to assist in improving their journal quality. The response from 14 publishers (28.0 percent) among publishers and two journals (3.9 percent) among standalone journals demonstrated a likely misanalysis as “predatory” along multiple dimensions from financial model to peer-review evidence. The second phase, devoted to assessing the degree to which journals using OJS are implicated in this issue, revealed that 2.0 percent of the journals using OJS are on one or both lists. The two phases point to how the identification issue is not that of Beall or Cabells International, but results from a journal tradition of asking readers to take on trust the adherence to scholarly standards. Amid the increase in research and open access to it, the third phase of this study introduces PKP’s new technical strategy for verifying and communicating standards adherence to the public. Work has begun on systems involving trade organizations, such ORCiD and Crossref, for authenticating journal practices (including editorial oversight, peer review, research funding, and data management), while communication strategies include adapting and testing with students and professionals the familiar Nutrition Facts label used with packaged foods. The goal is to provide a publicly accessible industry standard for more reliably assessing journal quality.

PKP Publishing Services Welcomes OPS Hosted Client: Engineering Archive | Public Knowledge Project

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“PKP Publishing Services (PKP|PS) is happy to welcome our first Open Preprint Systems (OPS) hosted client, Engineering Archive (engrXiv).

Open Engineering Inc launched engrXiv in 2016 with the mission of openly disseminating engineering knowledge and is now migrating from OSF Preprints, the Centre for Open Science’s preprint service, to OPS, an open-source system developed by PKP in partnership with SciELO, for managing and posting preprints online. The move will provide engrXiv with greater operational control and the support of a strong open source community. …”

Announcing engrXiv’s new host

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“Engineering Archive is excited to announce that the server has moved from to a new hosting provider and server platform, Open Preprint Systems (OPS) hosted by PKP Publishing Services (PKP|PS).

Engineering Archive was launched in 2016 on the Open Science Framework (Center for Open Science). For the past five and a half years, we have seen strong growth of the server as an open access repository for engineering scholarship. We are grateful to the Center for Open Science for providing a home for the server in these first years of service.

Our new home with PKP|PS will provide Engineering Archive with greater financial security and improved user management and unites us with the vibrant open-source community developing OPS (built on the same framework as the popular Open Journal Systems software). We must also thank the staff at PKP for their assistance in preparing the server for migration to this new platform.”

What Those Responsible for Open Infrastructure in Scholarly Communication Can Do About Possibly Predatory Practices

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This chapter presents a three-phase analysis of 521 journals that use the open source publishing platform Open Journal Systems (OJS) while appearing on Beall’s list of predatory publishers and journals and/or inCabells Predatory Reports, both which purport to identify journals that charge authors article processing fees (APC) to publish in the pretense of a peer-reviewed journal. In 2020, 25,671 journals were actively using OJS, with 81.3 percent in the Global South, representing a great growth in global research activities. As members of the Public Knowledge Project, which develops this freely available publishing platform, the authors feel a responsibility to explore what platform developers can do to address both the real problem of duplicitous journals and the over-ascription of the “predatory” label to publishers and journals. represented by the authors of this chapter, Drawing on data from the beacon is a part of OJS, the chapter represents an assessment and intervention In the first phase, the researchers reached out to 50 publishers and 51 journals that use OJS and appear on Beall’s list offering to assist in improving their journal quality. The response from 14 publishers (28.0 percent) among publishers and two journals (3.9 percent) among standalone journals demonstrated a likely misanalysis as “predatory” along multiple dimensions from financial model to peer-review evidence. The second phase, devoted to assessing the degree to which journals using OJS are implicated in this issue, revealed that 2.0 percent of the journals using OJS are on one or both lists. The two phases point to how the identification issue is not that of Beall or Cabells International, but results from a journal tradition of asking readers to take on trust the adherence to scholarly standards. Amid the increase in research and open access to it, the third phase of this study introduces PKP’s new technical strategy for verifying and communicating standards adherence to the public. Work has begun on systems involving trade organizations, such ORCiD and Crossref, for authenticating journal practices (including editorial oversight, peer review, research funding, and data management), while communication strategies include adapting and testing with students and professionals the familiar Nutrition Facts label used with packaged foods. The goal is to provide a publicly accessible industry standard for more reliably assessing journal quality.

What Those Responsible for Open Infrastructure in Scholarly Communication Can Do about Possibly Predatory Practices | SciELO Preprints

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Abstract:  This chapter presents a three-phase analysis of 521 journals that use the open source publishing platform Open Journal Systems (OJS) while appearing on Beall’s list of predatory publishers and journals and/or inCabells Predatory Reports, both which purport to identify journals that charge authors article processing fees (APC) to publish in the pretense of a peer-reviewed journal. In 2020, 25,671 journals were actively using OJS, with 81.3 percent in the Global South, representing a great growth in global research activities. As members of the Public Knowledge Project, which develops this freely available publishing platform, the authors feel a responsibility to explore what platform developers can do to address both the real problem of duplicitous journals and the over-ascription of the “predatory” label to publishers and journals. represented by the authors of this chapter, Drawing on data from the beacon is a part of OJS, the chapter represents an assessment and intervention In the first phase, the researchers reached out to 50 publishers and 51 journals that use OJS and appear on Beall’s list offering to assist in improving their journal quality. The response from 14 publishers (28.0 percent) among publishers and two journals (3.9 percent) among standalone journals demonstrated a likely misanalysis as “predatory” along multiple dimensions from financial model to peer-review evidence. The second phase, devoted to assessing the degree to which journals using OJS are implicated in this issue, revealed that 2.0 percent of the journals using OJS are on one or both lists. The two phases point to how the identification issue is not that of Beall or Cabells International, but results from a journal tradition of asking readers to take on trust the adherence to scholarly standards. Amid the increase in research and open access to it, the third phase of this study introduces PKP’s new technical strategy for verifying and communicating standards adherence to the public. Work has begun on systems involving trade organizations, such ORCiD and Crossref, for authenticating journal practices (including editorial oversight, peer review, research funding, and data management), while communication strategies include adapting and testing with students and professionals the familiar Nutrition Facts label used with packaged foods. The goal is to provide a publicly accessible industry standard for more reliably assessing journal quality.

 

Employment Opportunity: Public Knowledge Project & ScholCommLab Research Assistant  | Public Knowledge Project

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The Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and the Scholarly Communications Lab (ScholCommLab) at Simon Fraser University are looking for a research assistant to work on the Metadata for everyone: Identifying and measuring metadata quality issues across cultures starting as soon as possible and no later than March 1, 2022. 

Metadata is a vital aspect of academic publishing. It ensures accurate identification and citation of a work. It can improve discoverability, access, dissemination, preservation, and, arguably, research impact. It can help disambiguate similar works. However, despite its importance, little is known about the quality of the metadata that is currently in use, and the impacts of poor metadata have rarely been studied. This project will therefore explore the metadata quality, consistency and completeness from various individual journals and communities. The project will pay special attention to elements that are most likely to vary across cultures, such as names and those that are potentially multi-lingual, with the understanding that metadata issues do not affect nor impact all communities in the same way.

Full details of the project can be found here: https://bit.ly/pkp-scl-metadata. The Research Assistant will assist in “Phase 1” of the project. 

Duties/Responsibilities:

Manually reviewing a sample of records to identify common issues
Establish a typology of metadata issues encountered 
Systematically document all errors encountered 
Propose heuristics for detecting errors (i.e., ways of automatically identifying problems)

Requirements/Qualifications:

Essential:

Understanding of data concepts (metadata, data quality)
Able to analyze and synthesize data
Expert at using spreadsheets 
Detail-oriented and highly organized

Valuable:

Knowledge of scholarly communications and academic publishing
Expertise with metadata schemas
Knowledge of multiple languages 
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience with XML and/or JSON

Interested people should apply even if they don’t feel that their background is a 100% match with the position description. All candidates will be given full consideration. 

Rate of Pay

CAD $18-$26/hr (including vacation and statutory holiday pay, no medical or dental benefits) based on experience. 

Working arrangements

PKP and the SCL are remote teams and this position will likewise be remote. The chosen candidate should be highly motivated and able to work independently under limited supervision. The position is for up to 100 hours, to be completed before April 2022. Working hours are flexible, with some obligation to participate in scheduled meetings. 

Application process

Interested applicants should apply with a resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience. Additional materials (e.g., examples of previous work) are welcome, but not required. Applications can be sent to Dr. Alperin at jalperin@sfu.ca with the subject line: “Metadata Research Assistant.” Applications will be reviewed as they are received. All applications received by January 31st will be given full consideration, but applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Equity and inclusion

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds, including but not limited to, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, and/or status as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour (BIPOC). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

About PKP

PKP is a university-based initiative developing (free) open source software and conducting research to improve the quality, reach, and diversity of scholarly publishing. PKP’s various website platforms, including Open Journal Systems, Open Preprint Systems, and Open Monograph Press, guide users through the editorial workflow of scholarly

PKP and SciELO Announce Renewed Partnership

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The Public Knowledge Project is honoured to announce that the leading international scholarly publishing platform SciELO has become PKP’s most recent Development Partner. The initial collaboration between the two organizations dates back to 2007. PKP and SciELO have both played vital roles in  supporting the growth and spread of open access publishing. They are global leaders in open infrastructure development and supporting open access publishing, with a rich history of working together internationally to advance open access to scholarly research. For example, journals using SciELO have provided PKP with a productive vein of detailed feedback for further improving its software to the benefit of users worldwide, while PKP has helped support key regional scholarly infrastructure developments worldwide. Commitment to this type of community-driven partnership demonstrates the power of collective action to transform scholarly publishing.

PKP is Hiring an Operations Director | Public Knowledge Project

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“We are excited to announce that PKP is looking for an Operations Director to oversee the long-term success, sustainability and vision of PKP. A somewhat new role, the position will report to the Executive Director of Research Operations of the Office of the Vice President, Research and International (VPRI) as part of PKP’s current transition into a University Core Facility at Simon Fraser University. It replaces the existing role of Managing Director, and will work closely with PKP’s Scientific Directors and Associate Directors. This full-time continuing position will direct and manage the operations, finance, and personnel of this research and development initiative in scholarly communication, and will work hand-in-hand with PKP’s Scientific Directors and the senior PKP leadership and operations teams to ensure that our mandate to support Open Access to scholarly research continues to succeed. ….”

Job: PKP Operations Director. Deadline: Dec 20, 2021 | Public Knowledge Project

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Simon Fraser University (SFU) invites applications for the position of Operations Director for the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). Reporting to the Executive Director of Research Operations of the Office of the Vice President Research and International (VPRI), this full-time continuing position will direct and manage the operations, finance, and personnel of this research and development initiative in scholarly communication.

Recently designated as one of SFU’s Core Facilities, PKP is the world’s leading developer of open source (free) software for scholarly publishing, including Open Journal Systems (OJS), Open Monograph Press (OMP), and Open Preprint Systems (OPS). It is a leading advocate for sustainable and equitable open access to research, while its Scientific Directors conduct research on scholarly communication. PKP is sustained by public and private agency grants and PKP Publishing Services, as well as by memberships and partnerships. PKP is also a partner with Érudit at the Université de Montréal of the federally-funded Coalition Publica scholarly publishing initiative.

The PKP Operations Director will work closely with the PKP Scientific Directors, Associate Directors, and staff, to develop strategic plans, set priorities, and build productive working relationships around scholarly publishing initiatives with university, national, and international bodies and organizations. The Operations Director will manage a largely remote PKP team of about 30 full and part-time employees working on three continents.

This Operations Director position will appeal to an experienced leader with an ability to coordinate and motivate staff, collaborators, and partners, involving software engineers,  social scientists, and other professionals in scholarly communication working around the globe. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of managing complex projects, speaking on behalf of organizations, and creating work environments reflecting principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. The position will appeal to those who would welcome the opportunity to advance a greater global knowledge exchange through innovative technologies and research, as PKP continues to develop sustainable, mission-driven systems and services that contribute to the open infrastructure underlying open science.

WORK SETTING

Those who work and study at Simon Fraser University acknowledge the S?wx?wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), x?m??k??y??m (Musqueam), s?l?ílw?ta?? (Tsleil-Waututh), q?íc??y? (Katzie), and k?ik?????m (Kwikwetlem) peoples, on whose traditional territories SFU’s three campuses stand. By recognizing the Unceded Traditional Coast Salish territories, we aspire to create a space for reconciliation through dialogue and decolonizing practices.

Over the last twenty years, SFU has been consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities; it is repeatedly named one of British Columbia’s Top Employers, among Canada’s Top 100 employers, and a top family-friendly employer. SFU offers more than 100 undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings, spanning many disciplines in eight faculties, and has an international reputation for its innovative interdisciplinary and professional programs.

POSITION ASSIGNMENT

Lead, inspire, mentor, and supervise employees on a wide range of team- and project-based activities.
Oversee operations, providing focus and setting priorities for budget, staff, grants, and projects, while taking responsibility for financial matters, as well as hiring and dismissal of personnel.
Develop and implement policies, programs, and procedures with the Operations Team and Equity and Inclusion Team to foster an inclusive, supportive, and respectful team environment where diversity and equity are valued and advanced.
Manage senior staff by directing and evaluating performance and providing support and guidance.
Establish working relationships with the Office of the Vice-President Research, SFU Library leadership, and academic departments.
Communicate about and promote the work of the Library and PKP in the international scholarly publishing community within the University and represent SFU and PKP in campus, regional, national, and international forums.
Prepare and manage grant and funding proposals among national and international, public and private funding bodies.
Co-lead the CFI-funded Coalition Publica project in association with the Executive Director of Érudit at the Université de Montréal.
Promote open access, open science and related initiatives through active participation in campus and external meetings, conferences, workshops, and other venues.
Maintain currency with developments in scholarly publishing and communication, as well as participate in relevant professional organizations at national  and international levels.
Facilitate posit

Job: Business Development Manager. Application deadline: Nov 18, 2021 | Public Knowledge Project

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The Public Knowledge Project (PKP) is seeking a dynamic and experienced full-time Business Developer Manager to join our team and grow our publishing services and software-as-a-service (SaaS) business.

PKP develops open source software for scholarly publishing and provides fee-based hosting, support, and software development services for Open Journal Systems (OJS) and other PKP web applications through PKP Publishing Services (PKP|PS). 

Since its inception in 2005, PKP Publishing Services has continued to grow in step with global OJS adoption. We are seeking a Business Development Manager to build on this foundation and help us expand our revenue, fulfill opportunities for growth, and contribute to the vitality of open access scholarly publishing. We are seeking a forward-thinking and engaged leader to achieve these goals who is able to develop and implement sales and marketing campaigns, undertake proactive sales and outreach with potential clients, establish new relationships, and secure significant new contracts.

This position is a trust-based, consultative sales role, focused on long-term relationship building. Our clients are located all over the world and vary from scholarly publishers and societies to college and university libraries. As a member of a relatively small organization, you will have the opportunity to take leadership, work independently, be creative and develop new business strategies and workflows. 

Responsibilities

Provide information about PKP software and PKP|PS services to potential clients,  including presentations and software demonstrations.
Follow-up on sales leads identified by the PKP team and through your own research and networking.
Develop an understanding of potential clients’ publishing and service needs. 
Foster and develop relationships with clients.
Maintain awareness of PKP’s evolving software and services and projects and how these fit into the broader scholarly communications and publishing software landscapes.
Negotiate and create quotes and agreements with new clients.
Work with PKP systems administrators and software developers to find migration and customization solutions to meet clients’ needs.
Develop effective sales and marketing plans to successfully position and promote PKP|PS, expand into new markets, and drive sales to new clients.
Attend conferences and events to exhibit PKP software, develop relationships with potential clients, and stay informed about trends and advancements in scholarly publishing.
Track marketing and sales data, evaluate performance, and identify areas for improvement and growth. 
Contribute to the reputation of the organization by entering and achieving professional awards.
Support PKP team members in their sales and marketing work.

Qualifications

Minimum of 3-5 years of successful experience in consultative sales and business development.
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in marketing is additionally desirable.
Experience in the library, scholarly publishing, higher education, or software fields would be an asset.
Must be able to learn, demonstrate, and explain software applications to people with a range of technical skills and knowledge. Experience working with software or a technical team is desirable, as is experience with OJS, OMP, OPS, and other scholarly publishing software or content management systems.
Able to analyze, understand, and synthesize clients’ needs and find creative solutions in collaboration with a team. 
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the capacity to interact effectively with diverse groups and individuals and build relationships.
Experience delivering presentations and webinars to small and large groups of people. 
Independent and self-motivated. Experience working in a remote environment is preferred
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field.
Fluency in English is required; fluency in other languages (especially Spanish, Portuguese, or French) is an asset.

Working arrangements

This is a full time independent contractor position, renewable annually, with opportunities for advancement within the role.

PKP is a remote team. This position offers a flexible working arrangement with the ability to work remotely. The position is full-time (35 hours / week). Working hours are flexible throughout the week, with some obligation to particip