MTSU Walker Library and Towson University Cook Library share insights about growing a publishing program
2026 Library Publishing Showcase Week: Cultivating the Commons
Schmand, K., Garczynski, J. & Miller, A., (2025) “Empowering Libraries and Growing Knowledge: How to Cultivate a New Open Access Journal”, Journal of Open Educational Resources in Higher Education 3(2), 30-40. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/joerhe.20349
This published, peer-reviewed article outlines the steps to growing knowledge through open access publishing using a journal development case study centred on the development of the Journal of Advancement, Communication, and Development in Academic Libraries (JACDAL) published by Journals@MTSU (James E. Walker Library, MTSU). As a case study proceeding, the journal editors and publishing experts share how they got started, key technical, stylistic, and content choices, and how they promoted and intend to grow their new open journal.
The results discussed in the published article benefit general readers with open access publishing aspirations or goals and readers specifically interested in subject content for academic libraries, fundraising, and advancement topics. The paper enables others to benefit by learning about the unique journal content and from lessons and guidance about the development and editorial process of cultivating and growing a new open-access journal.
This article also highlights the LPC Curriculum and its introductory pathway for library publishing as a fundamental resource when starting a new open access journal. As a result, the journal development process described in the article shares methods for other open access journals and library publishing programs to strengthen OA publishing opportunities. Such opportunities may not be readily available or financially possible with commercial or traditional publishing venues. The value of library publishing is foundational to OA publishing success.