The Journal Transfer Process: tips for best practice
We're coming up to the time when journals start moving around between publishers – too often leaving chaos in their wake! No-one wants to cause undue difficulties for subscribers, but it can be easy to overlook some of the issues which need to be addressed when a journal changes publisher. We've put together a list of the key points to consider when you buy new journals:General issues
• will you be using a different method of data supply to the previous publisher? Please provide sample content if so. If this is not possible, be aware that the first issue you supply may be subject to delay
• check that you have the rights to sell access to the content, and advise your client manager of the pay-per-view price you would like implemented
• does the existing content have DOIs? If Ingenta was the agent for these, they will successfully resolve even once the content has moved on IngentaConnect, but be sure to check with the previous publisher whether DOIs do exist and whether Ingenta does hold them – we will need to be provided with a list of all existing DOIs if not
• are you in CrossRef? if so, ensure your client manager knows whether you plan to assign DOIs to the journal ongoing, or whether you would like Ingenta to do this for you. If Ingenta is your CrossRef agent, we can arrange for them to transfer the title and its existing DOIs to your ownership; you will need to do this yourself if we are not your agent
• do you wish to add the journal to any distribution Ingenta is carrying out on your behalf? The journal will be automatically removed from any distribution arrangements set up by the previous publisher
• not surprisingly, subscriptions are the most complex area of any journal transfer. Your client manager can provide you with specific requirements to help you ensure access is smoothly maintained for existing subscribers.
If the journal was previously hosted on IngentaConnect...
• ...and you have purchased the backfile, we will need to transfer the existing issues to your list
• ...and the backfile will remain under the previous publisher's listing, we will need to post links between the back and frontfile
• ...and the backfile is to be removed, we will need to inform subscribers and schedule deletion of this content. Deleting the backfile is not best practice, particularly if it has DOIs – we will need to create a holdings page for the DOIs to point to if the content is to be removed.
If the journal was not previously hosted on IngentaConnect...
• ...and you would like us to host it ongoing, be aware that we will require sample data, and that there may be limits to what functionality we can add to older data
• ...and you do not wish to post it online, be aware of the implications for any existing subscribers, and for DOIs – you or the previous publisher will need to create a holdings page if there is no live data for the DOIs to point to.
Please be sure to give us plenty of notice of journal transfers to ensure that any necessary work is carried out in a timely manner to reduce the impact of the transfer on subscribers. Please do be aware that we may charge for some of the work involved in transferring a journal.
Ingenta has created information sheets for publishers with additional guidelines for various transfer scenarios – ask your client manager if you would like further information. You may also wish to review ALPSP's Good practice for society journal transfers advice document.