Academic Librarians and Their Role in Disseminating Accurate Knowledge and Information about the Gray Zone in Predatory Publishing

Abstract

Abstract “Predatory” publishing is a non-binary academic phenomenon, but personal and professional biases may influence the criteria used to create associated blacklists and whitelists. Academic librarians, as scholarly communicators, play an essential role in transmitting accurate information about “predatory” publishing to students, staff, funders, university management and the public. In this paper, lessons are drawn from the published literature to offer advice to academic librarians about the grey zone in predatory publishing to avoid select misinformation pitfalls. Academic librarians need to recognise the flaws and weaknesses of blacklists and of the criteria used to establish them. By offering accurate insight and advice, academic librarians can establish an effective online warning system to users about “predatory” publishing, allowing them to be more effective scholarly communicators, and not vessels of miscommunication. Academic librarians are essential in aiding the academic community to find solutions to this threat to the literature’s integrity.