University Times

The University Library System (ULS) now offers free e-journal publishing services to support researchers worldwide by publishing peer-reviewed academic journals in a variety of disciplines. By providing free hosting services using open-source software, ULS is able to help academic journals eliminate the high cost of print production and distribution and increase the visibility of their content to a global readership.

The ULS e-journal program evolved as an offshoot of its larger D-Scribe digital publishing program, comprised of more than 100 thematic digital collections containing photos, manuscripts, maps, books, journal articles, electronic theses and dissertations, government documents and other literature such as working papers, white papers and technical reports.

Using free open-source software developed by the Public Knowledge Project, ULS provides the highly configurable Open Journal Systems platform to accommodate a variety of editorial workflows.

The ULS program builds on publicly available academic content by partnering with journals that currently are without an online presence or are unable to continue with the high cost of print publication, as well as by collaborating with start-up journals.

Open Journal Systems provides an inclusive journal management and publishing system that channels the flow of new scholarly content from initial author submission through peer review and final online publication and indexing. This comprehensive platform allows international editorial boards and staff to communicate and operate through a single multilingual interface while making journal content available to a global audience.

The e-journal publishing program also assists journals by providing ISSN registration; assignation of Digital Object Identifiers; web site usage statistics; consultation on editorial workflow and management, and marketing services. These services are offered free of charge by ULS.

For more information about the ULS e-journal publishing program, see www.library.pitt.edu/e-journals/.