An interactive reading environment for online scholarly journals: The Open Journal Systems Reading Tools

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a set of reader‐oriented tools developed as part of an open source journal production and access system.Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines key elements of the reading tools component of Open Journal Systems (OJS). A design rationale is provided, and related to the key elements of the system. The philosophy behind the development of the reading tools is described, and relevant published research in support of the design is presented.Findings – OJS (http://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs) is a web‐based, open source editing, management, and production application designed for publication of scholarly journals online. The reading tools developed for OJS are a useful addition to the feature set of OJS, providing journal readers with a richer reading environment, promote active reading, and increase the level of critical engagement with journal article content.Practical implications – Readers may find that the tools described, as well as the larger ...