Since its launch in 2021, Publicera – the national platform for Swedish scholarly open access journals – has steadily grown. There are currently 38 journals on the platform, with at least five more to be launched this year. One of the journals most recently added to the platform is Information Research, which publishes research results across a wide range of information-related disciplines.

The main objective of moving the journal to Publicera was stability for the future, says Editor-in-Chief Crystal Fulton, University College Dublin Emeritus Professor, now co-affiliated with University of Borås.

“When it became difficult for the university [of Borås] to provide in-house support for maintaining the OJS system, a plan was developed to move the journal to the National Library of Sweden. Publicera offered stability and a long term home for Information Research.”

“Additionally, Publicera offers an essential repository for Information Research, which will support preservation of the journal for the future. The move to Publicera will bring together all past issues of Information Research in one place, which will help the public find all articles published by the journal”, Fulton says.

Information Research was established in 1995 when the World Wide Web was still in its infancy. Celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year, the journal is one of the longest running in the field of Information Science, and was one of the first – perhaps even the first open access journal within the field. Founder and long standing Editor-in-Chief Tom D. Wilson, Professor Emeritus of University of Sheffield and University of Borås, recently retired from heading the journal. Given the journal’s anniversary, we wanted to take the opportunity to ask Wilson what he sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities for the global open access movement in the next decade.

“True open access is the platinum model [or diamond model, as it is also called] of Information Research – no charges for submission and no charges for subscriptions. The fact that I have kept the journal going for almost 30 years as a ‘one man band’ demonstrates that the model is achievable,” says Wilson.

“The problem [for the open access movement] lies in the use of the English language as a world language. When we look at other languages we see platinum model journals being published everywhere in the local languages, but the commercial publishers have a grip on English language journals that neither governments nor academic institutions are prepared to oppose.”

“Ideally, of course, one would like to see academic institutions and consortia taking on the commercial publishers and publishing new journals, not only in new fields, but also in established fields. I still believe it can be done but I'm afraid the will to make it happen is lacking.”

Over the past 30 years, Information Research has evolved from covering research within the fields of information science, librarianship, information systems, information management, archives and records management to new information-related disciplines and sub-disciplines that have emerged. In 2017, the journal found its home at the University of Borås’ Swedish School for Library and Information Science, which currently owns the journal. In January this year, it moved to Publicera, which is managed by the National Library of Sweden.

“The Publicera platform is already working well for Information Research. While there are always teething issues with any large-scale move of information to new software, the Publicera team has offered excellent support with the transfer, making it operational and developing functionality further”, says Crystal Fulton, who took over as the journal’s Editor-in-Chief last year.

What does the future look like for Information Research?

“The journal has evolved to introduce a revised publication schedule, continuous publishing, revised documentation for authors and our journal team, a revised publication licence, new journal team members who offer critical input to different areas of the journal, and new reviewer accreditation methods. “

“There is lots to celebrate for Information Research. To kick off our 30th year, there will be a 30th Anniversary Special Issue of Information Research in the coming months. We invite everyone to take part”, says Fulton.

See Information Research’s Call for Short Papers Länk till annan webbplats. for the special 30th anniversary issue