Session proposal: So, You Want to Start a Journal!

My colleague, Linda Friend, and I are interested in leading a session that’s something akin to a “helpathon” but also, we hope, a discussion inviting folks to share their experiences in scholarly publishing. We would like to address consulting with faculty who come to us with ideas for starting journal publications, including conference proceedings. Our session idea is motivated by the fact that at the Penn State Libraries, we have been fielding more inquiries this year than in recent years about journal publishing. As demand from faculty for help with, and guidance on, publishing journals increases, we are also intent on being consistent in what we tell them in a consultation. While we have a checklist of discussion items we try to make sure we touch on with faculty, we’re eager to hear from others who have also been doing this work. What are some best-practice approaches to talking with faculty about publishing a scholarly journal? What resources should we cover in a consultation – i.e., should we talk about not only what the library might or does offer but also scholarly society options, Project Muse, Open Journal Systems hosting option, etc? Has anyone gone through the process of selecting an external vendor such as OJS or BePress? If you’re a faculty member, what do you want to know or find out in consultation with a librarian? How much do domain differences matter in dispensing guidance? How do you talk about roles, service levels, content, peer-review (when applicable), the editorial process, and marketing? When do you talk about these topics? Come brainstorm with us!