OJS @ QUEEN’S
Sam Kalb
Scholarly Communication Services
Coordinator
Outline
OJS Features
OJS @ Queen’s Basics
OJS @ Queen’s Web Site
•Promotional Kit
•Supporting Resources
Staff
OJS Journals
Changes in Managing OJS @ Queen’s
What is OJS?
 OJS was developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) at UBC;
now based at SFU
 By far the most used open source journal publishing system in the
world. 11,000+ journals internationally.
 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.
OJS Features - 1
 Because it assists with every stage of the refereed publishing process,
from submissions through to online publication, OJS may appear complex.
However a journal only needs to use those options that it requires.
 Easy Set-up. OJS easily steps the Journal Manager through the set up
screens in configuring the journal’s options. Editors (not IT staff)
configure the requirements, the sections, and the review process.
 Roles. OJS uses roles to organize activities and spaces within the journal’s
website. For example, Section Editors only view those activities and
submissions assigned to them by the Editor to oversee, e.g. a book review
editor only sees book review submissions.
• Registered users can have more than one role (Journal Manager and
Editor), while multiple users can have the same role (e.g., a team of 6
Editors).
 Formats. Converts text files to PDF automatically upon publication,
supports various media and can link to external sources.
 Context-sensitive online Help support as well as a responsive user
support forum.
OJS Features - 2
 Communication. Submission and management of all content is online.
Users communicate via email notification; also includes a commenting
ability for readers.
 OJS Indexing. Readers can choose to search the 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. Indexing occurs automatically as each issue is
published.
 External indexing. Contents are easily exportable to database sources
such as Pubmed, Scholar’s Portal, etc.
 Publication. Supports open access, subscription only, or combination;
online only and layout to print
 Statistics. Maintains standard COUNTER statistics & enhanced usage stats
developed in house; also maintain journal management stats such as no.
of articles submitted, etc.
 Alerts. Available in various formats and options
 Back issues. Can import back issues in XML format
OJS @ Queen’s Basics
QUL endeavours to support journal publishers at Queen's
in bringing their new and existing journals to the web.
Using OJS, journal creators are able to publish their
journals online quickly and easily.
Office of Research Services can provide startup funding
for new journals of $5,000
Technical support of the service by Library Discovery
Systems; mounted on Library web server space. Minimal
tech support required (mainly upgrades)
OJS @ Queen’s began in 2007 & currently hosts 13 peer
reviewed journals and a set of conference proceedings.
Easy to maintain; no supplementary funding required
Scholarly Communications Web Site
OJS @ Queen’s Web Site
Supporting Resources
 OJS Userguide. Complete illustrated guide to establishing a new
journal, all the features, and each user role.
 Help for OJS Users. Includes OJS discussion and support forums,
customizing and indexing your OJS journal, importing & exporting
content, sustainability, and more.
 Frequently Asked Questions. Includes starting a new journal,
registering for an ISSN, a DOI, available statistics and more.
 Journal Implementation Questionnaire and Service Agreement
 OJS Video Tutorials
 OJS Support Forum
Staff
 Coordinator (.10 FTE)
• Establish new journals upon request from faculty and students
• Provide initial training to journal manager(s) in configuring the journal
• Advise faculty and student groups, planning a journal or running a journal
on a web site, about potential benefits in using OJS and available options
• Document OJS services and developments on the web site
• Monitor the service and work with existing users to assess ongoing
support requirements (technical, workshops, training materials, etc.)
• Explore possible collaborative initiatives on provincial and national level
 Tech Support (from Josh as needed)
• Install upgrades and troubleshoot tech problems if any
Full Range of Possible Roles in an OJS Journal
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Journal Managers
Subscription Managers
Editors
Section Editors
Layout Editors
Reviewers
Copyeditors
Proofreaders
Authors
Readers
Roles in OJS
Roles
Journal
Manager
Sets up journal by filling in templates and selecting
options; manages/import users, assigning roles; manages
reading tools, indexing, prepared emails.
Editor
Assigns Editors or Section Editors to submissions; oversee
editorial process and decisions; assembles and publishes
issues.
Section
Editor
Optional role for assisting in managing peer review process
and makes editorial decision for submissions regarding a
section of the journal, e.g. Book Review Section.
Reviewer
Subscription
Manager
Additional
Roles
Reviewer accepts or decines to review an article, reviews
articles and submits reviews with comments, suggested
revisions according to the journal’s specifications
Manages all aspects of subscriptions for subscription-based,
non-open access journals
Based on traditional journal editing processes, with Layout
Editor, for example, laying out PDF and/or HTML of
published version of articles.
OJS Journal Manager’s Homepage
OJS Editor’s Homepage
Page for Selecting Reviewers
Editor’s Active Submissions Table
A Submission’s Review Page (detail)
OJS @ Queen’s Journals
OJS Customizations
Examples on the OJS web site of interesting journal
customizations and configurations:
• Blake / An Illustrated Quarterly
• Critical Studies in Improvisation
• Byzantina Symmeikta
Summary
 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.
Questions?
This presentation
ojs@queensu.ca