Ensuring your journal content remains available and intact in the long run is just as important as publishing it in the first place. This is where digital preservation systems like LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, and the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) come into play. Each system provides a safeguard against data loss and ensures persistent access to scholarly work.

🔐 Why Does Archiving Matter in Academic Publishing?

• Guarantees uninterrupted access to your articles—even in case of server or hosting failure.
• Supports compliance with best practices in open-access publishing.
• Meets requirements of major indexing services like DOAJ, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Improves trust and transparency with authors, readers, and libraries.
• Recommendation: Publish your archiving policy on the “About” page of your journal.

✅ PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN)

• Who can use it? Journals using OJS 3.1.2 or later
• Cost: ❌ Free
• Application Required? ❌ No
• How to activate: Enable from OJS dashboard:
  Settings → Distribution → Archiving → PKP Preservation Network (PN)

Once enabled, your journal content is automatically queued for secure replication in the PKP preservation network. No manual intervention is needed.

🔄 LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)

• Purpose: Decentralized storage across library systems
• Cost: ⚠️ Often free, but cooperation with institutions is required
• Application Required? ✅ Yes
• OJS Setting Enough? ❌ No

Simply enabling LOCKSS in OJS displays your intent—it doesn’t enroll your journal. You must also create a LOCKSS Publisher Manifest and work with libraries running LOCKSS nodes.

🌐 lockss.org
📧 [email protected]

🕒 CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS)

• Purpose: Long-term “dark archive” preservation
• Cost: ✅ Paid (based on journal size)
• Application Required? ✅ Yes
• OJS Setting Enough? ❌ No

To use CLOCKSS, publishers must establish a formal agreement. CLOCKSS releases content to the public only if the journal becomes inactive, making it ideal for long-term assurance.

🌐 clockss.org
📧 [email protected]

📌 Understanding the Archiving Settings in OJS

In OJS (3.3+), go to Settings → Distribution → Archiving and you’ll see options to enable LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, and PKP PN. These checkboxes:

• Display archiving affiliations in the “About” section of your journal
• Inform readers and indexing services of your archiving policy

Note: Checking LOCKSS or CLOCKSS does not activate actual preservation. External registration is still required.

📝 What Should You Include in Your Archiving Policy?

It’s best practice to clearly communicate your archiving systems under:

• About the Journal → Archiving

Sample policy statement:

This journal utilizes the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) to ensure long-term preservation of its published content. Additionally, it supports LOCKSS and CLOCKSS archiving protocols for eligible library networks.

🎯 Comparison Table

🧩 Final Takeaways

• PKP PN is the easiest and fastest preservation solution for OJS journals.
• LOCKSS and CLOCKSS require external coordination and setup.
• Transparent archiving builds trust and supports indexing applications.
• Digital preservation is an essential part of sustainable publishing practices.