The guide aims to support both researchers and members of the general public (journalists, patients, healthcare workers, etc.) from, but not limited to, the Netherlands answering these and other questions through sharply defined chapters and frequently asked questions.

A practical guide to preprints : Accelerating Scholarly Communication

Hettne, Kristina M.; Aardening, Ron; Hukkelhoven, C.W.P.M.; Gorp, van Dirk; Loorbach, Nicole; Sondervan, Jeroen; Wesenbeeck, van Astrid

Abstract

The Dutch consortium of university libraries and the National library of the Netherlands (UKB) together with the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO), has published a practical guide on preprints.

Preprints
Preprints are [academic] manuscripts that have not been peer-reviewed or published in a traditional publishing venue. In Open Science and academic publishing, the preprint increasingly appears on the radar as an important element in academic communication. By posting preprints, academics can rapidly share their findings and build upon each other’s work.

But, to what extent do they differ from articles published in an academic journal? How to post a preprint yourself and by, which preprint archive? How to interpret the research results published through preprints?

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5600535

Content

Introduction

What are preprints?

Pros and cons of preprints

What are the disciplinary aspects and recent developments around preprints?

Practical guide

Where to find a preprint server

What to consider before selecting a preprint server

How to post a preprint

How to prepare a preprint

How to upload a preprint

What licence to choose for a preprint

How to revise a preprint

How to withdraw a preprint

How to link a preprint to the published journal article

For the public: How to interpret the information in a preprint?

Recognising the differences between a preprint and a published article

How to recognise a preprint?

What to do if a preprint seems interesting?

FAQ

Glossary