Note: In 2026 we published an updated version of this checklist (Version 4) that includes an overview of the latest release of OJS 3 (OJS 3.5.0-3 released December 2025) and tips on software plugins, journal procedures and policies, system security and content preservation, usage statistics, and suggestions for improving content accessibility, visibility and discoverability. Version 4 also includes a section about indexing in DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) and Google Scholar, and best practice recommendations on OA journal publishing. 

This is the second version of our checklist to support editors and publishers of open access journals using Open Journals Systems (OJS) software.  OJS is created by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), which is a multi-university initiative developing free and open source software to improve the quality and reach of scholarly publishing.

Version 2 of the checklist includes more details about the current production release of software - OJS 3, and tips on organizational identifiers plugin, DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) registration, copyright and licensing, the PKP Project Preservation Network and journal content accessibility. There is also a useful updated list for further reading.

If you have any comments and suggestions regarding the checklist, please email them to EIFL Open Access Programme Manager Iryna Kuchma, iryna.kuchma@eifl.net.