The History and Timeline of Open Journal Systems (OJS): A Journey of Innovation and Impact
Open Journal Systems (OJS) has played a transformative role in the academic publishing landscape, providing an open-source platform that has empowered thousands of journals worldwide. Developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), OJS has not only democratized access to scholarly publishing but also set a standard for innovation, community engagement, and sustainability in the field. This article traces the history and timeline of OJS, highlighting key milestones in its development and the ongoing contributions of PKP to the global scholarly communication ecosystem.
The Origins of OJS and the Public Knowledge Project (PKP)
1998: The Inception of the Public Knowledge Project (PKP)
The story of OJS begins in 1998 when John Willinsky, then a professor at the University of British Columbia, initiated the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). With support from the University of British Columbia’s Pacific Press Professorship, PKP was established with the vision of increasing access to research and scholarship. Willinsky’s goal was to address the barriers to accessing academic knowledge, particularly in underserved regions, by leveraging the potential of open-source software.
2000: The Release of Open Conference Systems (OCS)
Two years after its inception, PKP released its first open-source software package, Open Conference Systems (OCS). This platform was designed to manage scholarly conferences, offering features for organizing, submitting, and reviewing conference papers. OCS was supported by PKP until 2014, laying the groundwork for the more ambitious projects that were to follow.
The Launch and Growth of Open Journal Systems (OJS)
2002: The Birth of Open Journal Systems (OJS)
In 2002, PKP launched Open Journal Systems (OJS) at Memorial University. OJS was developed as an open-source publishing platform designed to facilitate the management and publication of scholarly journals. Its release was a significant milestone in the open access movement, providing a powerful tool for journals to manage submissions, peer reviews, and publishing processes without the need for expensive proprietary software.
The same year, PKP released another open-source package, Open Harvester Systems, designed for indexing and harvesting metadata from distributed sources. The release of OJS was recognized by Peter Suber, a prominent figure in the open access movement, as a “Landmark Event” on the Open Access Movement Timeline.
2004-2005: Expanding Reach and Partnerships
OJS quickly gained traction, and by 2004, PKP was invited by Pippa Smart of INASP to set up OJS for the African Journals Online (AJOL) initiative in Grahamstown, South Africa. This collaboration marked the beginning of OJS’s global impact, particularly in regions where access to scholarly publishing resources was limited.
In 2005, the partnership between PKP and Simon Fraser University (SFU) Library was formalized, with SFU Dean of Libraries Lynn Copeland playing a key role. This partnership was further strengthened by the involvement of the Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing, led by Rowly Lorimer. During this time, Alec Smecher joined PKP as the lead developer, and PKP released OJS 2.0, a major upgrade that significantly enhanced the platform’s capabilities.
Recognition and Global Influence
2006-2007: Awards and International Conferences
PKP’s contributions to scholarly publishing were recognized in 2006 when the Mellon Foundation selected PKP for the Technology Collaboration Award. This recognition underscored the impact of PKP’s work in advancing open access and open-source software in academia.
To further its mission, PKP launched PKP Publishing Services in 2006, a service designed to fund the development of open-source software. The following year, PKP joined the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Synergies project, a collaboration aimed at enhancing the dissemination of Canadian research (2007-2011). That same year, the First International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference was held at SFU, bringing together stakeholders from around the world to discuss the future of scholarly publishing.
2008-2011: Building Community and Advancing Technology
The period from 2008 to 2011 saw continued growth for PKP. The second and third International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conferences were held at SFU and Freie Universität Berlin, respectively. These conferences provided platforms for knowledge exchange and collaboration among academics, librarians, and technologists.
In 2011, PKP further solidified its community engagement by establishing the PKP Development Partnerships and community sustainer program. These initiatives were designed to foster collaboration and sustainability within the OJS user community. Additionally, PKP formed the PKP Advisory, Technical, and Members Committees, ensuring that the development of OJS and related tools was guided by a diverse group of stakeholders.
Innovations and New Initiatives
2012-2014: Expanding OJS and Launching New Tools
By 2012, PKP had established itself as a leader in the open access movement. That year, PKP released Open Monograph Press (OMP) 1.0, a new open-source platform designed to support the publication of scholarly books. This marked a significant expansion of PKP’s software offerings, addressing the needs of book publishers in addition to journal publishers.
The Fourth International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference was held in 2013 at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, further expanding PKP’s global reach. In the same year, PKP launched PKP School, an online platform offering free courses in scholarly publishing. This initiative aimed to educate and empower the global community of journal editors, authors, and reviewers, furthering PKP’s commitment to knowledge dissemination.
In 2014, PKP was recognized as a High-Impact Open Access Organization for Infrastructure by the Accelerating Science Awards Program, sponsored by Google, PLOS, and the Wellcome Foundation. This recognition highlighted PKP’s critical role in advancing open access infrastructure globally.
Continued Growth and Community Engagement
2015-2016: Strengthening Partnerships and Advancing Open Access
In 2015, PKP launched the MacArthur-funded Open Access Scholarly Publishing Cooperative Study, furthering its research into sustainable models for open access publishing. The Fifth International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference was held at SFU, and PKP formed a new partnership with Érudit to create Coalition Publica, a CFI-funded initiative aimed at serving Canadian scholarly communication.
A major milestone was reached in 2016 with the launch of OJS Version 3.0. This version represented a significant overhaul of the platform, introducing a more modern user interface and improved workflows. That same year, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) presented John Willinsky with the 2016 Connection Award, recognizing his contributions to the advancement of scholarly communication.
2017-2019: Expanding Global Impact and Technological Innovation
The following years saw PKP continue to expand its global impact. The Sixth International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference was held in 2017 at the Université de Montréal, and PKP announced a partnership with SciELO to develop an open-source preprint server system. This partnership underscored PKP’s commitment to advancing open science and open access globally.
In 2018, the Canadian Social Knowledge Institute presented Juan Pablo Alperin with its inaugural Open Scholarship Award, recognizing his contributions to open scholarship. The Global Sustainability Coalition for Open Science Services (SCOSS) named PKP a funding awardee, further supporting PKP’s mission to advance open access infrastructure.
By 2019, PKP’s influence had grown to such an extent that the Seventh International PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference was held at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The Coko Foundation awarded PKP its Open Publishing Lifetime Contribution Award, recognizing the enduring impact of PKP’s work on the scholarly publishing landscape.
Recent Developments and Looking Forward
2020-2023: Continuing the Legacy of Open Access and Open Science
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought new challenges and opportunities for PKP. In response, PKP formed an Equity and Inclusion Team and a Decolonization Working Group to improve its processes and organizational practices. That same year, PKP released Open Preprint Systems (OPS), developed in close consultation with SciELO. This platform was designed to support the growing trend of preprint publishing, further advancing PKP’s mission of open access.
As of 2021, OJS had become the platform of choice for over 30,000 journals worldwide, a testament to its widespread adoption and the trust placed in it by the global academic community. The OA Diamond Journals Study found that 60% of diamond open access journals—those without author or reader fees—were using OJS, highlighting its pivotal role in supporting truly open access publishing.
In 2023, PKP celebrated 25 years of contributions to open source and open access, alongside its longstanding partners SciELO and Érudit. This milestone was marked by renewed support from SSHRC/CRSH for Coalition Publica and a continued commitment to advancing research and scholarship through open access.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of OJS and PKP
Over the past 25 years, Open Journal Systems (OJS) and the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) have revolutionized the landscape of scholarly publishing. From its humble beginnings in 1998 to its status as a cornerstone of global open access infrastructure, OJS has empowered thousands of journals to publish and disseminate knowledge freely and openly. PKP’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, technological innovation, and sustainability ensures that OJS will continue to play a vital role in the future of scholarly communication.
As OJS and PKP move forward, their story serves as a powerful example of how open-source software and community-driven initiatives can drive meaningful change in the world of academic publishing. The future of OJS is bright, with continued advancements in technology, equity, and access on the horizon, ensuring that the platform remains at the forefront of the open access movement for years to come.