An Analysis of "Level 0" Library and Information Science Journals in the Norwegian List (Kanalregisteret)

Abstract

The study examines journals in the field Library and Information Science (LIS) that are classified as “0” in the Norwegian Kanalregisteret, a category indicating questionable publishing practices. The aim of the research is to assess to what extent this classification may reflect ethically problematic or predatory publishing practices. Using a PRISMA-inspired selection procedure, we identified 27 journals. We then examined these journals against several criteria to determine to what extent they display features commonly associated with low-quality or predatory journals. 

The results reveal a heterogeneous picture, as the examined journals do not constitute a uniform group. The sample includes numerous publications issued by well-known institutions and professional organisations, several of which also hold prestigious scientometric rankings and collaborate with organisations that promote transparent scholarly practices. Furthermore, the journals cannot be regarded as a clearly problematic group with respect to publishing practices, which observation is based on such factors as the annual number of published articles, the distribution of Open Access models, publication fees, and community discourse. 

The findings suggest that the “0” classification applied by the Hungarian Scientific Bibliography Database (MTMT) cannot, in itself, be considered a reliable indicator of questionable publishing practices in the field of Library and Information Science.