Information For Librarians

The Pakistan Journal of Healthcare Research (PJHR) recognizes the valuable role that librarians play in supporting the academic and research community. The following policies provide guidelines for librarians regarding the journal’s access, subscription, and dissemination of content. By engaging with PJHR, librarians agree to adhere to these policies to ensure that readers and institutions can access the journal’s high-quality healthcare research.

1. Access to Content

  • Open Access Model: PJHR is an open-access journal, meaning all articles published are freely available to readers and institutions without paywalls. This enables librarians to provide unrestricted access to the journal’s content for educational and research purposes.
  • Permanent Access: Articles published in PJHR are archived and permanently accessible. This ensures that librarians can provide reliable access to past and current issues for their users.

2. Institutional Subscriptions

  • Subscription Options: Although PJHR is an open-access journal, institutional subscribers may opt into receiving additional services, such as email alerts, newsletters, or print copies of the journal (if requested). Librarians are encouraged to promote these subscription services to enhance access to the journal's updates.
  • Subscription Fees: There may be associated fees for institutions requesting additional services (e.g., print copies or personalized content alerts). The journal offers affordable subscription options and potential discounts for educational institutions or libraries in low-income countries.
  • Library Licensing: For institutions looking to share or host the journal’s content on their platforms, PJHR may offer appropriate licensing agreements to facilitate seamless access to the journal’s articles. Librarians can contact the journal’s editorial team to inquire about licensing details and agreements.

3. Permissions for Institutional Use

  • Educational Use: Librarians are permitted to distribute, share, and provide access to PJHR’s content within their institution for educational, research, and academic purposes. This includes linking to full-text articles or sharing them in course materials, provided proper citation is given.
  • Archival and Repository Use: Libraries and institutions are encouraged to archive PJHR articles in their institutional repositories. However, any reproduction or further distribution for commercial purposes requires prior permission from the journal.
  • Interlibrary Loan: Given the open-access nature of PJHR, interlibrary loans for print copies are not typically necessary. However, libraries may still request print copies through the journal’s print-on-demand service.

4. Usage Data and Reporting

  • Metrics for Institutions: PJHR offers usage data, including download statistics, to institutional subscribers. This data can help librarians evaluate the impact and usage of the journal within their institution.
  • Altmetrics and Impact Tracking: In addition to traditional usage data, the journal tracks altmetrics (online activity, mentions in social media, etc.) to provide librarians with a comprehensive understanding of the journal’s reach and impact within the healthcare and academic communities.

5. Promotion of PJHR in Libraries

  • Institutional Promotion: Librarians are encouraged to promote PJHR to faculty, researchers, and students within their institution. This can include:
    • Informing users about new issues and content through institutional newsletters or library websites.
    • Providing guidance on how to access and use the journal’s content effectively.
    • Displaying journal information on library resources or during library orientation sessions.
  • Integration into Library Systems: Libraries may integrate PJHR into their online catalogs, discovery systems, and knowledge bases to ensure seamless access for users.

6. Handling of Corrections and Retractions

  • Retracted Articles: In the event that an article is retracted due to ethical concerns or errors, PJHR will notify institutional subscribers. Retracted articles will be clearly marked in the journal’s archives.
  • Errata and Corrections: If any corrections or errata are issued for published articles, these will be communicated to librarians, and the corrected version will be updated in the online archive to ensure that readers access the most accurate and up-to-date version of each article.

7. Collaboration with Libraries and Information Professionals

  • Library Partnerships: PJHR is open to collaborating with libraries to improve the accessibility of the journal and engage in initiatives that support the open-access movement. Librarians may work with the editorial team to host webinars, workshops, or promotional events to raise awareness of the journal.
  • Training and Support: The editorial team is available to provide training, webinars, or instructional materials for librarians to help them better serve their users and promote the journal’s content.

8. Licensing and Copyright

  • Creative Commons Licensing: PJHR articles are typically published under Creative Commons licenses (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-NC), which allow readers and institutions to reuse and share content under specified conditions. Librarians should be aware of the specific Creative Commons license applied to each article and ensure that usage complies with these terms.
  • Permissions for Commercial Use: Any requests from institutions or individuals to use PJHR content for commercial purposes (e.g., republishing, sublicensing) should be directed to the editorial team to secure the necessary permissions.

9. Data Privacy and Confidentiality

  • User Data Protection: PJHR complies with privacy and data protection laws. Personal information collected from readers, authors, and subscribers (such as email addresses) is kept confidential and is only used for journal-related purposes. Librarians are encouraged to ensure that their users' data is handled securely when interacting with the journal’s content.

  • Anonymous Access: Readers from institutions that provide access to PJHR may access content without the need to disclose personal information, except where required for institutional subscription purposes (e.g., receiving notifications or updates).

10. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure that it aligns with the journal’s evolving needs and the expectations of the library community. Librarians will be notified of any major changes to this policy.