1. Are there any article processing charges (APCs) or submission fees?
No. This journal operates as an open-access publication and does not charge any fees for submission, peer review, or final publication.
2. What is the journal's scope and subject area?
The journal focuses on Library and Information Science (LIS), with a particular emphasis on issues pertaining to documentation centers and university libraries in Iran and globally. It welcomes high-quality original research and review articles within this domain.
3. Does the journal require articles to be original and previously unpublished?
Yes. All submissions must present original, unpublished research and must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts found to have been previously published or simultaneously submitted to other journals will be rejected.
4. What is the peer-review process, and how long does it typically take?
The journal employs a rigorous double-blind, anonymous, and confidential peer-review process. The average time for the initial screening is approximately 10 days, while the entire review process—from submission to final editorial decision—typically takes between 3-4 months.
5. Are ORCID iDs and institutional email addresses mandatory?
Yes. In accordance with the requirements of the Iranian Commission on Scientific Publications, all authors are required to register and display their free ORCID iDs and use their official academic or organizational email addresses during submission.
6. What are the eligibility criteria for the corresponding author?
The corresponding author must hold a full-time faculty position at a recognized university, research institute, or academic center. The manuscript must be submitted by this individual, or alternatively, a signed, official letter of authorization from them must accompany the submission. Students are not permitted to serve as the corresponding author.
7. What files are required at the time of submission?
Authors must upload four distinct files:
- The main manuscript file (completely anonymized, with all author details removed, and formatted according to the journal’s template).
- A separate title page file containing all authors’ full names, affiliations, and contact information.
- A signed commitment/undertaking form (endorsed by all co-authors).
- A signed conflict of interest disclosure form (completed by the corresponding author).
8. What formatting guidelines must be followed for the manuscript?
The main manuscript must be submitted without any author-identifying information and must be strictly formatted according to the journal's official template. The final accepted version must also adhere to this template.
9. Are there specific requirements for the English abstract?
Yes. For accepted articles, authors are required to submit an extended English abstract, ranging from 800 to 1,500 words, in addition to the standard short abstract. The journal permits the use of artificial intelligence tools solely for proofreading, spell-checking, grammar revision, and minor linguistic refinements of this extended abstract.
10. Do manuscripts with international co-authors receive any priority?
Yes. To enhance the journal’s international visibility and facilitate its indexing in Scopus, manuscripts that include an international co-author (whether a foreign national or an Iranian scholar based abroad) are given priority during the review and publication process.
11. Can I obtain a printed (hard-copy) version of the journal?
No. The journal operates as an open-access publication and does not provide printed copies. All accepted and published articles are freely available online via the journal’s official website.
12. Is it permissible to submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously?
No. Such simultaneous submission is strictly prohibited under the ethical guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors who engage in this practice will have their manuscripts summarily rejected. If a manuscript has already been published under these circumstances, the article will be formally retracted. Moreover, the names of the offending authors will be placed on the journal’s permanent blacklist, and no future submissions from them will be considered for publication.
13. Is it mandatory for all co-authors to register on the journal’s submission portal?
No. Only the corresponding author is required to register and manage the submission process on behalf of all co-authors.