Finding OJS documentation and help¶

• Official documentation
• YDJ-specific documentation

• Special topics

  • Accessibility
  • Copyright and licensing
  • Journal policies

Official documentation¶

• PKP Docs. Official documentation for OJS. You're running OJS 3.3. Some useful guides will be: 

  • About Open Journal Systems 3.5 (OJS). Includes tailored guides for journal managers, editors, reviewers, and authors.
  • Student Journal Toolkit. Although explicitly geared to student journals, this guide contains useful information for all new journal editors.
  • Getting Found, Staying Found. Information on discoverability and indexing.
  • See also the links under Getting Started on the Docs page 

• PKP School. Free, self-paced video modules on the editorial workflow and other topics in OJS. 

• PKP Forum. Support forums for user communities of PKP software (including OJS). May be useful for getting access to the wider community of practice.

YDJ-specific documentation¶

• OJS for YDJ. Includes information relevant to local implementation, and supplements PKP document in some areas with a more workflow-based approach. Created for OJS 3.3 and 3.4 and gradually being upgraded to OJS 3.5. A few guides in particular: 

  • Understanding the homepage layout 
  • Managing your site's appearance 

Special topics¶

Accessibility¶

• Creating Accessible Content: A Guide for Journal Editors and Authors (from PKP Docs). Although not explicitly stated, this guide is geared to the same accessibility requirements cited in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

• Accessibility in Ontario. Learning more about your responsibility for creating accessible content under AODA and how to comply with requirements.

  • How to make websites accessible

Copyright and licensing¶

• Copyright and licensing (from PKP Docs) 
• Open Access policies (from PKP Docs) 
• Copyright and Creative Commons (from PKP Docs) 
• Creative Commons: Open Access (from Creative Commons)
• Creative Commons: Share Your Work  (from Creative Commons)
• Brief Guide to Copyright and Licensing Options for Journals (from University of Alberta Libraries)
• Brief Guide to Creative Commons Licensing Options (from University of Alberta Libraries)

Journal policies¶

• Journal Policy Toolkit for Journals Using OJS (from University of Alberta Libraries). The UAL toolkit suggests many useful policies that your journal could considering adapting for your purposes. If you have questions about the applicability of these policies for your journal or about how to adapt them, please contact YDJ.

• Directory of Open Access Journal (DOAJ) documentation. The DOAJ is a directory of high-quality, reputable Open Access journals. Journals must meet its criteria for editorial quality, transparency, and OA practices to be included. As a result, its guidelines and application materials may serve as a useful guide for developing your journal’s policies and online presence.

  • Application form (downloadable list of questions available without an account)
  • Guide to applying
  • Transparency & best practice guideline

• Coalition on Publication Ethics (COPE). COPE provides basic training and guidance on ethical issues pertaining to scholarly publishing. Although a membership organization, there are many free resources on the COPE website. Note: YUL is not a COPE member.

  • How to get started in publication ethics
  • Guidance. Database of guidance based on topics and specific questions.