An interactive reading environment for online scholarly journals

Abstract

PurposeThe 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/approachThe 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.FindingsOJS (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 implicationsReaders may find that the tools described, as well as the larger system of which they are a part, could be usefully adopted in their own institutional context.Originality/valueThis paper provides an introduction to the design philosophy behind a reader‐oriented set of tools that will be of interest to those engaged in online reading research, and information interaction design. It will also be of value to those interested in open access, as well as those interested in open source software development.