Location
Paper Session 2: The Future in Research I
Start Date
26-10-2018 3:48 PM
End Date
26-10-2018 4:03 PM
Type of Work
Presentation
Description
Objective: Predatory publishing is a trending topic in academia. Librarians all over are having conversations with faculty on how to steer clear of predatory publishers. But helping avoid predatory journals doesn’t meet the goal of having an article published. Now is the time to explore changing the conversation from predatory publishing to finding and evaluating the right journal. Methods: Last year librarians went to departmental meetings to present a cautionary tale of the predatory publisher. Outlandish emails from predatory journals were shared, along with what to look for when determining whether or not a journal publisher is legitimate. But just knowing how to steer clear of the predators did not answer the question, “Which journal should I publish in?” To help faculty answer this question, the library held two hands on workshops for faculty, staff and residents. Librarians taught participants how to determine their goals and criteria for publishing, how to compare their article to the aim and scope of a journal and make a determination on whether or not the journal was the right fit for them. As participants answered the questions on the worksheet they built a list of criteria for selecting the right journal for their article. Results: Participants were able to find and evaluate journals for their manuscripts, while still steering clear of predatory publishers. Conclusions: In the “publish or perish” era, it is important for faculty members to publish in reputable journals, but it is equally important for them to find the best journal to meet their publishing goals. Librarians can move the conversation beyond predatory journals by giving faculty the tools and skills they need to find and evaluate the right journal.
Changing the Conversation from Avoiding Predatory Journals to Finding and Evaluating the Right Journal
Paper Session 2: The Future in Research I
Objective: Predatory publishing is a trending topic in academia. Librarians all over are having conversations with faculty on how to steer clear of predatory publishers. But helping avoid predatory journals doesn’t meet the goal of having an article published. Now is the time to explore changing the conversation from predatory publishing to finding and evaluating the right journal. Methods: Last year librarians went to departmental meetings to present a cautionary tale of the predatory publisher. Outlandish emails from predatory journals were shared, along with what to look for when determining whether or not a journal publisher is legitimate. But just knowing how to steer clear of the predators did not answer the question, “Which journal should I publish in?” To help faculty answer this question, the library held two hands on workshops for faculty, staff and residents. Librarians taught participants how to determine their goals and criteria for publishing, how to compare their article to the aim and scope of a journal and make a determination on whether or not the journal was the right fit for them. As participants answered the questions on the worksheet they built a list of criteria for selecting the right journal for their article. Results: Participants were able to find and evaluate journals for their manuscripts, while still steering clear of predatory publishers. Conclusions: In the “publish or perish” era, it is important for faculty members to publish in reputable journals, but it is equally important for them to find the best journal to meet their publishing goals. Librarians can move the conversation beyond predatory journals by giving faculty the tools and skills they need to find and evaluate the right journal.