OJS at CUNY

My memory is a bit fuzzy, but if were to accurately recall there was an array of issues. A new release was not even on the horizon and the old version had severe limitations. I was part of JITP back then an in addition to using OJS, we had to use a few spreadsheets to support the submission to publishing process. Also, GC IT lost a sys admin who was primary support for GC’s instance of OJS.

Thank you.

Best,
Stephen

Stephen Klein
Economics, History and Political Science Liaison
Digital Services Librarian<https://libguides.gc.cuny.edu/prf.php?account_id=522 >
Mina Rees Library
CUNY Graduate Center

My pleasure Mark. There were about ~8 journals being hosted and I learned that JITP  was the most active user of OJS in my dual roles working on the JITP collective and attempting to perform archive and preserve as a GC librarian, so there was no compelling reason attempting to retain the platform, especially since IT was no longer about to support it,  because of its limitations.

My memory is also fuzzy, but perhaps between my and Stephen’s fuzzy memories, the fuller picture can come into view. If I recall correctly, the initial request was from one of the journals to IT, without the library in the mix (i.e., it wasn’t a library-run journal publishing service), and it was handled by one specific IT employee who was also a GC alum (and thus perhaps especially interested in the project), but without a long-term commitment made by the larger IT department. My memory about the closure is the same as Stephen’s — most journals that had been started on the OJS server had either migrated, gone dormant, or never really gotten going, and then the sys admin’s departure led to the decision to sunset. Some but not all articles from these journals ended up on Academic Works — e.g., articles from Formations.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jill Cirasella (she/her).
• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jill Cirasella (she/her).
• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jill Cirasella (she/her).
• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Jill Cirasella (she/her).

Hi Mark!

To learn the feasibility of using the new release of OJS, I installed it on my workstation using XAMPP when GC IT stopped supporting it ~2018. It was a fairly simple process, but the then new release was definitely not ready for prime time.

Best,
Stephen

Stephen Klein
Digital Services Librarian
CUNY Graduate Center

I recommend that getting a small group of users together to simulate the submission workflow process with an admin, author (submitter), editors, reviewers etc. otherwise it’ll be difficult to actually see if it works.

Hi Mark (and Stephen),

Jill mentioned you were discussing OJS and I thought I’d check in. To build a little bit on what Stephen said, my understanding from other JITP members is that the platform at the time was very difficult to manage given the size of JITP’s editorial collective and the turnover of issue editors. The managing editor at the time found it easier to regroup and create a submission workflow in a spreadsheet and Google Drive. Beyond role management headaches within the system (given the sprawling inter-institutional nature of JITP’s editorial collective), I believe they were concerned with interface accessibility. I am sure the software has evolved since JITP transitioned its workflows. Another important thing to note is that JITP does double open peer review (authors and reviewer names are shared both ways), so submission management doesn’t have to control anonymity.

I would love to hear more about what you figure out and how you’re supporting publication! Though we do not yet have journal services, OLS has an ongoing project to gather information about journals across CUNY and to find ways to support them.

I would love to chat.

Thanks!

Jojo