Publishing Platforms
Kristin Van Diest
Learning Objectives
- Describe the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform
- Describe the Omeka S platform
- Describe the Pressbooks platform
- Describe the WordPress platform
At Texas State University Libraries, we offer a variety of publishing options. Here is a brief overview of the platforms we can offer direct support of.
Open Journal Systems (OJS)
OJS is an open-source editorial management and publishing system. OJS provides a professional online presence and can be used to manage some or all of the stages of the journal publishing process: submissions, peer review, the editorial process, online publishing, and indexing. Articles are licensed for reuse using a Creative Commons license.
Using Open Journal Systems (OJS), faculty can set up and publish an online journal (or migrate an existing journal) without any costs for the software or Texas Digital Library (TDL) technical assistance.
Students, faculty, and staff can request a new journal instance through OJS by filling out this form: New Open Journal Request Form.
The library can offer support by providing training (in-person, synchronous, and asynchronous), documentation, troubleshooting, consultations, digital object identifier (DOI) minting, and assistance in applying for an international standard serial number (ISSN). We can also offer insight and training around visibility and getting your journal indexed in the right databases.
Omeka S
Omeka S is a “web publishing platform for sharing digital collections and creating media-rich online exhibits” (Omeka). There are many benefits to creating and maintaining digital exhibits with platforms like Omeka. These include, but are not limited to:
- Preservation and Access: Digital platforms help to ensure long-term preservation of your items and wider access to born digital objects
- Enhanced User Experience: There are almost endless possibilities in creating an interactive and visually appealing experience for users
- Global Reach: A digital platform can enable global access to the exhibits anytime and anywhere
- Contextualization and Interpretation: Curating an exhibit digitally allows you to provide background information and curatorial interpretations alongside the objects
- Collaboration and Community Engagement: Fostering collaboration and community participation through user-generated content and discussions is much easier when access to the items is instantaneous
- Analytics and Metrics: Gathering valuable insights and metrics on visitor engagement and behavior can allow you to improve the user experience over time.
If you are interested in creating a site using Omeka S, the library is currently accepting project proposals. You may submit your proposal through this form: Omeka S Project Proposal. Please contact the digital publishing librarian to learn more. Once you’ve submitted your project proposal, the digital publishing librarian will reach out to you to discuss it further. Should your project be approved, the library can offer support through training (in-person, synchronous, and asynchronous), troubleshooting, demonstrations, consultations, project management and planning, as well as help-desk style support.
Pressbooks
Pressbooks (the platform you are on now!) is a “book content management system that allows users to publish books to the public web and produce exports in multiple formats, including EPUB, PDF, and various XML flavours” (Pressbooks). From student written chapters and books to H5P activities that engage scholars in new ways, Pressbooks offers you modality flexibility, academic freedom, and a wide reach.
Texas State University Library currently offers Pressbooks as a publishing platform for open educational textbook publishing. Contact our Open Educational Resources Librarian, Isabelle Antes, for more information.
WordPress
As a member of the Texas State University community, you have access to WP Personal Websites, powered by CampusPress. This will allow you to create simple websites or blogs, for your personal use, for a class, club, or your research.
This service is free to use and available to all faculty, staff, and students. If you need support creating a Wordpress site or planning your project, please contact the digital publishing librarian.
Digging Deeper
- Digital Publishing Librarian: Kristin Van Diest, kvandiest@txstate.edu
- Digital Publishing at Texas State University Libraries
- Where to Publish Your Research Guide
OJS is an open-source editorial management and publishing system.
Omeka is a "web publishing platform for sharing digital collections and creating media-rich online exhibits" (Omeka).
Pressbooks (the platform you are on now!) is a "book content management system that allows users to publish books to the public web and produce exports in multiple formats, including EPUB, PDF, and various XML flavours" (Pressbooks).
This will allow you to create simple websites or blogs, for your personal use, for a class, club, or your research.