This post was generously contributed by Lorraine Estelle from Think. Check. Submit., UK.

In the fast-paced realm of academic publishing, researchers are navigating a minefield of options, and not all are genuine. Enter the dubious world of ‘predatory’ publishers and journals—also referred to as fraudulent or misleading publishers and journals. Regardless of the label, these entities share a common objective: exploiting researchers by imposing substantial fees without providing the editorial or peer-review services they guarantee.

Charging fees are a standard publishing model, yet what distinguishes predatory publishers is their bad faith. Rather than advancing knowledge, they capitalise on misrepresentation and manipulation, leaving researchers vulnerable and their work unacknowledged.

The Growing Threat of Predatory Publishing

Predatory publishing isn’t just a nuisance; it’s a global epidemic. Every country is affected, and the rise of online journals has only made it easier for these publishers to operate in disguise. Think you can spot them by their poorly worded emails? Think again. Today’s predatory publishers are increasingly cunning, adopting names that mimic reputable journals and boasting fake impact factors or editorial boards. There are now so-called hijacked journals whose operation is based on copying the website of an existing journal to deceive researchers into submitting their articles to the cloned journal instead of the original. Even experienced academics have been fooled.

A Simple Solution: Think. Check. Submit.

The good news? Researchers don’t have to navigate this alone. Think. Check. Submit. is a cross-sector collaboration that aims to provide researchers with the tools they need to evaluate publishers and journals before submitting their work. Practical checklists, empower researchers to assess a publisher or journal’s trustworthiness and determine if it’s the right fit for their research.

Librarians as Trusted Guides

Librarians play a crucial role in spreading the word about Think. Check. Submit. Library websites are one of the main ways researchers discover this valuable resource. Here’s how your library can help:

• Add a Link: Include Think. Check. Submit. on your website or LibGuides to make it easy for researchers to access.
• Share Visual Resources: Download posters, social media graphics, and other materials to promote awareness.
• Embed the Video: Use the animated Think. Check. Submit. Explainer video to break down the essentials in a fun and memorable way.

By taking these simple steps, librarians can become champions of research integrity, helping researchers avoid the pitfalls of predatory publishing and ensuring their work finds the audience it deserves.

Useful link

Check. Submit. website: https://thinkchecksubmit.org/  

Posters and Social media Graphics for Libraries: https://thinkchecksubmit.org/resource/posters-and-social-media-graphics/ 

Check. Submit. video: https://youtu.be/kmHdR_hlG9Q