Walker Library offers digital publishing services to the MTSU community by providing access to hosted journal software and the preservation of journal content.
There are two options:
1. JEWLScholar, MTSU’s institutional repository, will make journals visible to a global audience and assures long-term preservation. This option is appropriate for journals that do not need editorial software for workflow procedures, but want permanent, open access and dependable archiving of the journal content.
2. Journals@MTSU, an open access platform, uses the Open Journal Systems (OJS) open-source software to not only make journals visible while assuring their preservation but also support the entire editorial management workflow (article submission, peer-review, indexing). This option is for journals that have a stable editorial team and usually publish scholarly content on a regular basis.
Walker Library handles the initial set up of journals hosted with us, answers questions about the software and gives recommendations on how to implement the journal. The Journal Managers are responsible for publishing the content, developing journal policies and guidelines, managing subscribers and the editorial team, and customizing the design of the journal.
To learn more about deciding which platform is right for your journal, see Section 2 of the Journal Hosting Guide.
Developing a new journal or a new format (adding an online version to an already printed version) of a journal is a process. Implementation will go more smoothly if you have taken the time to learn the system's initial setup and understand the elements involved.
To learn more about deciding which platform is right for your journal, see Section 2 of the Journal Hosting Guide.
If you are certain that starting a journal is indeed the right decision, your next step is deciding which format: JEWLScholar or Journals@MTSU.
Then, fill out the form to set up an initial meeting to talk about your goals and the ways we can help you get started.
During this meeting, we will ask you to sign a MOU/Agreement that outlines the library and the editorial team's responsibilities. We will also need some basic information in order to set up your journal. This information will help us create your shell site and you will be sent login details.
To learn more about these next steps, see Section 2 of the Journal Hosting Guide.