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 third 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. The checklist includes an overview of the latest release of OJS 3 (OJS 3.4.0-4 released on November 17, 2023) and tips on software plugins, journal procedures and policies, system security, usage statistics, and suggestions for improving content accessibility, visibility and discoverability. It also includes a section about indexing your journals in DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) and recommendations for further reading.

This is the third version of the checklist. 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.

Cite this guide as: Kuchma, I., & Ševkušić, M. (2023). Checklist of good practices in using Open Journal Systems software (OJS) for journal editing and publishing (Version 3). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10665389