Protecting your research: avoiding publication scams 

Journal hijacking and fraudulent journal sites are becoming an increasing problem for journal authors, publishers and readers. Publishing scams aim to exploit researchers, promising quick publication but charging excessive publication fees. These sites can often be a clone of an established journal, set up to extract fees from unsuspecting authors. 

Publishers are becoming more increasingly aware of the problem and have taken steps to combat this new trend. Scopus academic database had 67 hijacked journals on its database by 2023 (Challenges posed by hijacked journals in Scopus – Abalkina – 2024 – Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology – Wiley Online Library ) To help alleviate this problem, Scopus removed URLs to all journal homepages that it indexes, although the problem persists (Retraction Watch, 2023 Elsevier’s Scopus deletes journal links following revelations of hijacked indexed journals – Retraction Watch

Many authors and readers are unaware of this practice and the following resources might be useful to consider. 

Evaluating journals: 

 
Support from your library: 

 
Contact us: librarians@aber.ac.uk  

Reading List Update for Teaching Staff

Create / update your module reading lists for 2024-2025

Advice for adding library resources to a new Aspire list and updating an existing list

Empty reading lists are being created in Aspire for new and returning modules requiring a list. Once you have added some content to your reading list, it will be linked to the appropriate Blackboard module by Library staff.

Remember you can also add links to sections in your reading lists.

When updating your Aspire reading list content for the coming year, be sure to update the 2024-2025 edition of your reading list. If you add books to 2023-2024 reading lists they will not be purchased. FYI 2023-2024 Aspire reading lists will remain visible in 2023-2024 Blackboard modules until the end of August when they will be archived.

Contact

Please contact librarians@aber.ac.uk or your subject librarian if

  • there is no reading list in Aspire for your module
  • you would like a reading list appointment with your subject librarian
  • you have any questions

Finding your way around the Hugh Owen Library

22/05/2023

Introducing the Library Floor Map

We have launched a new map and library guide to help you navigate the Hugh Owen Library and locate your books and other resources on the shelves.

Browse the map online at libraryfloormap.aber.ac.uk to find out what’s where, get more information about library resources and spaces and familiarise yourself with the layout – never get lost again!

The Library Floor Map is integrated with Primo, the library catalogue. When you’re viewing your item in Primo, click the Library Floormap link to open the map and the shelves where your item is located will be highlighted.

We are interested in your feedback

The Library FloorMap is a new resource, and we need your feedback to let us know how we could make it as helpful as possible for our users. Let us know here or by emailing is-feedback@aber.ac.uk

Introducing: Database Search

We are pleased to announce the release of our new Database Search functionality on Primo – the library catalogue, which has replaced the A-Z of Electronic Resources page.

Our new Database Search page is fully integrated within our main library search tool and can be found at the top of Primo, so no need to remember any separate URLs.

The new Database Search is divided up into different subjects so you can browse resources applicable to your course. Alternatively, you can search by key terms and draw results from the whole of the collection.

Each resource comes with a brief description so you can explore how each one might benefit your studies.

Find the new search feature here.