Publication Ethics

1. Preamble

The Ghana Library Journal (GLJ) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity in scholarly publishing. As a diamond open access journal, GLJ provides free access to its content without charging article processing or submission fees, and is dedicated to advancing the fields of Library and Information Science, Education, and related disciplines.

This ethics policy outlines the responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, and is guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

 

2. Editorial Responsibilities

The Editorial Board is responsible for:

• Ensuring a fair, transparent, and timely peer review process.
• Making publication decisions based on the manuscript's academic merit and relevance to the journal's scope.
• Upholding confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
• Preventing conflicts of interest and taking appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct or ethical breaches.

 

3. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting to GLJ are expected to:

• Submit original work that is free from plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification.
• Ensure proper citation and acknowledgment of all sources, collaborators, and funding.
• Avoid multiple or simultaneous submissions of the same manuscript to different journals.
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
• Cooperate with editors in providing data or clarification during the review and publication process.

Plagiarism Policy: All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using reliable tools. Submissions found to contain substantial uncredited material will be rejected and may result in author sanctions.

 

4. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the journal’s quality and are expected to:

• Conduct objective, constructive, and timely reviews.
• Maintain confidentiality and refrain from using information from manuscripts for personal advantage.
• Declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.

Reviewers are encouraged to comment on the originality, significance, structure, clarity, and ethical aspects of the manuscript.

 

5. Conflict of Interest

All stakeholders (authors, editors, reviewers) must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence their objectivity. Where potential conflicts exist, GLJ will ensure transparency and make appropriate decisions to maintain the journal’s integrity.

 

6. Data Access and Reproducibility

Authors may be requested to provide raw data or supporting evidence related to their submissions to verify findings. All data should be presented clearly and accurately to ensure reproducibility of results.

 

7. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

GLJ follows COPE guidelines in investigating ethical concerns or complaints, including:

• Plagiarism
• Duplicate publication
• Data manipulation
• Authorship disputes

Corrective actions may include retraction, publication of an erratum or corrigendum, or notification to authors’ institutions.

 

8. Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Statements

GLJ is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. If errors are discovered post-publication, the journal will issue:

• Errata for minor errors,
• Corrigenda for author-reported errors,
• Retractions for serious issues involving misconduct or unreliable findings.

All corrections will be clearly marked and linked to the original article.

 

9. Open Access and Licensing

GLJ operates under a diamond open access model, meaning:

• All content is freely available to users without charge.
• Authors retain copyright and grant GLJ the right of first publication.

Licensing: Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) or Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license, allowing sharing and adaptation with appropriate credit.

 

10. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or raise ethical concerns by writing to the Editor-in-Chief. Appeals will be handled fairly and in consultation with the Editorial Board. If needed, independent advisors or COPE guidelines will be consulted.

 

11. Acknowledgment of Ethical Guidelines

All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to abide by this ethics policy and uphold the integrity of scholarly publishing.

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

This policy provides guidance on the ethical and transparent use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the preparation, review, and publication of scholarly content submitted to the Ghana Library Journal (GLJ). It applies to authors, editors, reviewers, and other contributors involved in the journal’s editorial process.

Use of AI by Authors

GLJ recognizes that AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, DALL·E, AI-based translators) may support academic writing, language editing, or content formatting. However, such use must be responsible and disclosed.

Acceptable Use:

• Grammar and language correction
• Reference management
• Formatting assistance
• Generating figures or diagrams with appropriate review

Unacceptable Use:

• Using AI to generate content without critical human oversight or originality
• Submitting AI-generated content as original thought
• Using AI tools for data analysis or interpretation without validation

Disclosure Requirement:

If AI tools are used in content creation (e.g., drafting text, generating summaries), authors must clearly state this in the Acknowledgments or Methods section. For example:

"This manuscript used ChatGPT by OpenAI to refine the language in the introduction. All content was reviewed and verified by the authors."

 

AI and Authorship

AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authorship requires intellectual contribution, accountability, and the ability to consent to publication—all of which AI tools cannot fulfill.

 

Use of AI by Editors and Reviewers

Editors and peer reviewers must:

• Use AI tools (if at all) in ways that respect confidentiality and academic rigor
• Not upload submitted manuscripts or reviewer reports into AI platforms without explicit permission
• Make independent, informed judgments without relying solely on AI assessments

 

 

Misuse of AI and Ethical Concerns

GLJ considers the undisclosed or excessive use of AI in a way that compromises the originality, transparency, or integrity of scholarly work as academic misconduct. This includes:

• Plagiarism via AI-generated content
• Fake citations ("hallucinated references")
• Ghostwriting using AI without attribution

Where misuse is detected, the journal will follow established ethical procedures, including investigation and possible rejection, retraction, or notification to affiliated institutions.