Author Guidelines

This guideline has been prepared for authors who wish to submit manuscripts to the journal of Information World. As an international peer-reviewed publication, the journal promotes high-quality, original research in the field of library and information science. In order to align with the standards of journals indexed in Web of Science (WoS), this guideline is grounded in criteria of objectivity, selectivity, ethical integrity, international diversity, and scholarly quality. These standards are based on international guidance such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The guideline explains the submission process step by step in a structure that authors can easily follow. For questions, you may contact our editorial office ([email protected]).

Note: To speed up the process, read the guideline carefully, upload all files completely, and respond to reviewer comments on time.

1. About the Journal

Information World is the official publication of the Association of University and Research Librarians (ÜNAK). It is an international scholarly journal with double-blind peer review. The journal follows a fully open access model, and all articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license allows articles to be used, shared, and adapted freely, provided that proper attribution is given.

The journal follows a continuous publication model. Articles that complete peer review and editorial processing are published online immediately, enabling faster dissemination of scholarly knowledge and increasing researchers’ visibility.

1.1. Aim and Scope

Information World aims to contribute to the development of library and information science in Turkey and worldwide. The journal examines theoretical and practical issues of university and research libraries, public libraries, school libraries, special libraries, documentation and information centers, research centers, archives, museums, and other memory institutions, and offers concrete solution proposals. It shares developments and innovations in these institutions, discusses challenges faced by information professionals, supports the professional development of academics and practitioners, and helps disseminate the scholarly work of undergraduate and graduate students.

The journal accepts original research articles and systematic reviews. Innovative methods, theoretical frameworks, or practices from a social sciences perspective are prioritized.

1.2. Indexing

Information World is included in the following internationally recognized indexes:

• Scopus
• LISA (Library and Information Science Abstracts)
• EBSCOHOST LISTA (Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts)
• TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM Social Sciences Databases
• DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
• E-Lis (E-Prints in Library and Information Science)
• ASOS Index

2. Ethics and Publication Policies

The journal follows COPE and DOAJ guidelines. Authors are fully responsible for ensuring that their research complies with scholarly and ethical rules. Violations such as plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, multiple publication, and unjustified addition or removal of authors may result in rejection, retraction, or legal action. The journal publicly discloses such violations and notifies relevant institutions in line with COPE guidance.

2.1. Peer Review Process

• All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. Author and reviewer identities are kept strictly confidential.
• Editors are excluded from decision-making for their own submissions or in cases of conflict of interest (for example, authors from the same institution, close relatives, financial relationships).
• Author(s) have the right to appeal reviewer decisions, but only once and through a reasoned written request. Appeals are evaluated by an independent editor.

2.2. Requirement for Ethics Committee Approval

Information World follows the TR DİZİN 2020 and later criteria (see: https://trdizin.gov.tr/?page_id=50). For all studies that require ethics committee approval:

• At submission:
  • The ethics committee approval document (PDF) must be uploaded to the Journal Management System.
  • The ethics committee name, approval date, and decision number must be clearly stated in the manuscript (Methods section) and on the Cover Page.
  • In the anonymized manuscript file, the institution name must be removed, and only the statement “This study was approved by the relevant ethics committee.” should appear.
• Manuscripts that do not include the ethics approval document or required information are not sent for review and receive a desk rejection.

2.3. Which Studies Require Ethics Committee Approval?

Ethics committee approval is mandatory for the following types of research:

• Qualitative or Quantitative Data Collection: collecting data from participants via surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation, experiments, or interview techniques
• Human or Animal Use: experimental or scholarly use of human or animal material (blood, tissue, data)
• Clinical Research: medical intervention on humans, drug testing, psychological experiments
• Animal Research: all types of animal experiments
• Retrospective Studies: retrospective data analysis within the scope of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK)

2.4. Exceptions and Additional Declarations

• When using scales, questionnaires, photographs, or visuals belonging to others, documentation or a declaration indicating that permission has been obtained (with citation to the relevant work) is required.
• For intellectual and artistic works, compliance with copyright regulations must be stated on the cover page.
• For research conducted with vulnerable or special groups (children, older adults, persons with disabilities, refugees, etc.), it must be stated that informed consent was obtained.

3. Authorship Criteria

Authorship requires substantial contribution and responsibility. To be recognized as an author, an individual must meet all four of the following criteria:

• Make a substantial contribution to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the study
• Draft the work or critically revise it for important intellectual content
• Give final approval of the version to be published
• Agree to be accountable for ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved

Individuals who meet all four criteria are defined as authors. In addition, the responsibilities of co-authors for specific aspects of the work must be clearly stated. For details on how to report these responsibilities in the manuscript, see the “Author Information” section.

3.1. Author Information

Authors must be listed in the system and on the Title Page in the same order. Authors are responsible for ensuring their names are stated correctly. Full and accurate names must be listed together on the Title Page and separated by commas.

The following information must be matched to author names and included on the Title/Cover Page for each author:

All authors in order: full name, affiliation (University, Department, City, Country), email, ORCID.

Example:
Name Surname¹*, Name Surname²

1 University, Department, City, Country. Email: [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000..
2 University, Department, City, Country. Email: [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000..

3.2. Corresponding Author

The corresponding author serves as the primary point of contact with the journal on behalf of all authors. Duties and responsibilities include:

• Submission: uploads the manuscript via the online system and completes all documents
• Communication: manages all correspondence with the editor, reviewers, and the journal office
• Notification: communicates revision requests, decisions, and corrections to all authors
• Approval: ensures that all authors have approved the final version
• Post-publication: handles reader questions and requests for errata or retraction

Corresponding Contact: The corresponding author’s name is marked with an asterisk (*) and their email address is clearly visible in the article.

Example:

• First name, Last name, [email protected]

3.3. Non-Author Contributions

Individuals who do not meet all four authorship criteria cannot be included in the author list. However, those who provide significant support to the research should be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgements” section. This section appears briefly and clearly on the Title/Cover Page.

Examples of acknowledgement statements:

• Administrative support: “We thank Ankara University Library Directorate for administrative facilitation.”
• Funding support: “This study was supported by TÜBİTAK 1001 Project (No: 123456).”
• Technical assistance: “We thank undergraduate student Zeynep Çelik for support with data entry.”
• Language editing support: “We are grateful to Dr. J…..S….. for language editing of the English text.”

Mandatory disclosure: Institutions or organizations that provide funding, technical support, or permissions must also be disclosed as potential conflicts of interest.

3.4. Equal Contribution

In multi-author manuscripts, equal contribution and authorship status must be clearly defined:

• Equal contribution: Authors contributed equally to the research.
• Shared first authorship: Authors share first-author status.
• Equal contribution and shared first authorship: Authors both contributed equally and share first-author status.

4. Article Types and Criteria

Only original works are accepted. The table below presents submission criteria:

Note: Main text word limit excludes abstract, keywords, and references.

5. Manuscript Preparation and Formatting Rules

Full manuscripts are submitted through the journal’s online system. Required documents:

• Title/Cover Page: title, authors, declarations (conflict of interest, funding, AI use, ethics approval)
• Anonymized Manuscript: Word (.docx), author and institution details removed
• Supplementary Files: separate files (for example, survey instrument, detailed data tables, code lists)
• Cover Letter

5.1. Manuscript Writing and Formatting Rules

• Page Layout:
  • Paper size must be A4 (210 x 297 mm).
  • All margins must be set to 2.5 cm.
• Font and Size:
  • Font must be Arial.
  • Main headings (level 1) must be 12 pt and bold.
  • Subheadings (level 2) must be 11 pt and bold.
  • Level 3 headings must be 11 pt, italic, and bold.
  • Body text and references must be 11 pt and justified.
• Paragraph Format:
  • Leave 12 pt spacing before and after all main and subheadings.
  • The first paragraph should have no indentation; subsequent paragraphs should be indented (1.25 cm).
  • Line spacing must be 1.5.
• Headings:
  • Headings may be numbered hierarchically (for example 1., 1.1., 1.1.1.).
  • Headings should be written with only initial letters capitalized.
  • Leave one blank line between the heading and the text.
• Tables:
  • Tables must be prepared in an editable format.
  • Each table must have a number and a descriptive title.
  • The table title appears above the table; notes or source information appear below.
• Figures and Images:
  • Figures must be provided as separate files.
  • File format must be TIFF or JPG, with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
  • Figures must be numbered and include descriptive captions.
• References:
  • References must follow the journal’s citation style (APA 7).
  • The reference list must be 11 pt, justified, and single-spaced.
  • The reference list must begin on a new page.
• Appendices / Supplements:
  • Supplementary materials (at the author’s discretion), such as survey forms, interview guides, or informed consent forms, must be submitted as separate files.
• Language and Style:
  • The language of writing may be Turkish or English, in line with journal policy.
  • For Turkish manuscripts, spelling and punctuation should follow the Turkish Language Association (TDK) Spelling Guide.

5.2. Manuscript Sections

5.2.1. Cover Page Template

• Title (Turkish / English): The full title of the manuscript is written in both languages.
• Author Information: All authors in order: full name, affiliation (University, Department, City, Country), email, ORCID.

Example:
Author Information:
J… D…¹*, J… S….²

1 University, Department, City, Country. Email: [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000..
2 University, Department, City, Country. Email: [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000..

• Corresponding Contact: The corresponding author is marked with * and their email address is clearly visible.

Example:
Corresponding Contact:

• J….. D…, j…[email protected]

• Word / Figure / Table Counts: Provide the main text word count (excluding abstract, references, and table/figure captions), and the number of figures and tables.

Example:
Word / Figure / Table Counts:
Word count: 7,450
Figures: 3 Tables: 5

• Author Contributions (CRediT): Indicate each author’s contribution type: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data Collection, Analysis, Writing, Review, etc.

Example:
Author Contributions (CRediT):
J…D…: Conceptualization, Writing initial draft, Review
J…S….: Data collection, Analysis, Visualization

• Ethics Approval (Institution, Date, Number): Provide the ethics committee institution, approval date, and number.

Example:
Ethics Committee Approval:
Hacettepe University Ethics Committee
Date: 15.03.2024 Number: 2024-03-12

• Conflict of Interest: If applicable, provide details; if none, use the standard statement.

Example:
No conflict: “The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.”
Conflict: “A. Yılmaz provides consulting services to XYZ Company.”

• Funding: If funding was received, provide full details; if not, state that no funding was received.

Example:
No funding: “This study received no funding.”
Funding: “This study was supported by TÜBİTAK 1001 Project (No: 123456).”

• Prior Publication / Preprint: If there was a conference presentation, thesis, or preprint, disclose it.

Example:
Prior Publication / Preprint:
This work was presented as a poster at the 2024 ÜNAK Congress.
Preprint: https://doi.org/10.XXXX/preprint.2024.123

• Acknowledgements: Non-author contributions such as administrative, technical, or language support.
• AI Statement: If used, provide details; if not used, do not include a statement.

Example:
“ChatGPT 4 (OpenAI, version: 2024-11) was used in preparing the draft of this manuscript. The tool was used on 15 November 2024 for text editing and language improvement. All outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors, who assume full responsibility.”

Reminder:

• The Title/Cover Page is not anonymized; all information is visible.
• None of this information should appear in the anonymized manuscript.
• Missing or incorrect cover page equals a desk rejection.

5.2.2. Manuscript Text

• Title (Turkish / English):
  • An original, clear, and engaging title that reflects the content in a single sentence.
  • Avoid abbreviations and unnecessary words.
• Abstract (Turkish / English):
  • An independent, unstructured abstract of no more than 350 words.
  • Must clearly include aim, methods, results, and conclusions.
  • Do not use abbreviations, tables, figures, or citations.
• Keywords (Turkish / English):
  • 3 to 5 keywords that improve discoverability.
  • Standard field terminology (for example, LISA Thesaurus) may be preferred.
• Introduction:
  • Explains the study’s position in the literature, the gap, and the purpose.
  • States the research question and, if applicable, hypotheses clearly.
• Methods (ethically anonymized):
  • Describes study design, population/sample/study group, data collection instruments, and analysis methods in detail.
  • Ethics committee approval statement: “This study was approved by the relevant ethics committee.” (institution name removed).
• Results:
  • Presents results only, without interpretation.
  • Supported by tables and figures, without repeating the same content in text.
  • Statistical significance (p-value, confidence interval) must be clearly reported.
• Discussion:
  • Compares findings with the literature and interprets their meaning and significance.
  • States limitations.
  • Provides recommendations for practice and future research.
• Conclusion:
  • Summarizes the main findings and practical/scholarly contribution without adding new information.
  • May include a policy recommendation or a call to action.
• References:
  • In APA 7 style, alphabetically ordered.
  • Every in-text citation must appear in the reference list, and every reference list entry must be cited in the text.
  • If available, include the DOI in the https://doi.org/ format.
• Tables and Figures:
  • Embedded in the text and explicitly cited (for example, “As shown in Table 1…”).
  • Each must be numbered and have a descriptive title/caption.
  • Tables must be editable (Word); figures must be at least 300 DPI.
• Appendices:
  • Supporting materials that do not fit in the main text: survey forms, code lists, detailed tables.
  • Numbered (Appendix 1, Appendix 2, etc.) and cited in the text.

5.2.3. Cover Letter

A cover letter is mandatory for all submissions. It is critical for supporting the editor’s initial evaluation. The submitting author must write or upload the cover letter in the designated field in the online submission system (it will not be uploaded as a separate file).

The cover letter must include:

• Reasons why the manuscript is suitable for publication in Information World
• Clear statements declaring that:
  • the manuscript has not been published before
  • it is not under review at another journal
  • all authors approve submission of this version and take full responsibility for the content
  • information about any prior editorial history at another journal (rejection decision, revision decision, withdrawal, etc.)
  • and other relevant information, as applicable

6. References

For examples of proper citation and references, see: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples

6.1. Examples of In-Text Citation Rules (APA 7)

• Citations are placed at the end of the sentence, in parentheses, before the period. Example: Digital transformation in libraries affects user behavior (Kaya, 2023).
• Two authors: (Kaya & Yılmaz, 2022)
• Three or more authors: (Kaya et al., 2021)
• Multiple sources in one set of parentheses: alphabetize by author surname and separate with semicolons: (Demir, 2020; Kaya, 2023; Yılmaz, 2022)
• Same author, same year: (Kaya, 2023a, 2023b)
• Group authors: use full name at first citation, abbreviation thereafter: (TÜBİTAK Ulakbim, 2024) then (TÜBİTAK, 2024)
• Datasets: include the [dataset] label: (Kaya, 2023 [dataset])

6.2. Reference List Examples (APA 7)

Source Type | Example

• Journal Article: Kaya, A. (2023). User experience in digital libraries. Information World, 24(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.XXXX/XXXX
• Book: Yılmaz, B. (2022). Information management and library services. Ankara University Press.
• Book Chapter: Demir, C. (2021). Digital preservation in archives. In A. Öztürk (Ed.), Handbook of records management (pp. 120–145). Nobel Publishing.
• Web Page: TÜBİTAK. (2024). ULAKBİM Social Sciences Database. https://ulakbim.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/ssvt
• Dataset: Kaya, A. (2023). Library user satisfaction survey dataset [Dataset]. Mendeley Data. https://doi.org/10.17632/xxxxxx

Note: Add a DOI wherever possible. If there is no DOI, use a stable URL. DOIs should be written in the https://doi.org/ format.

7. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures are visual elements that increase the clarity of the text. Each must be explicitly cited in the text, numbered, and have a descriptive title.

7.1. General Rules

• Numbering: Tables and figures are numbered separately: Table 1, Table 2, etc.; Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
• Titles: Table titles appear above tables; figure captions appear below figures.

Example:
Table 1
Rates of digital resource use in university libraries (2020–2023)

Figure 1
Distribution of user satisfaction by age

• In-text citation: “As shown in Table 1…” or “According to Figure 2…”
• Placement: Preferably immediately after the relevant paragraph. Long tables may be provided as appendices.

7.2. Table Rules

• Must be in an editable format in Microsoft Word (not an image).
• Each data item must be in a separate cell and must not be separated using line breaks or spaces.
• Do not use vertical lines; keep horizontal lines to a minimum.
• Explain abbreviations in table notes. Example: Note. N = sample size; M = mean.

7.3. Figure Rules

• Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI (for high-quality printing).
• File types: TIFF, JPG, PNG; for vector formats, EPS or PDF is preferred.
• Color: Should be suitable for color in the online version and for grayscale in print.
• Size: Must not exceed 16 × 20 cm.
• If reproduced from another source: Provide the source (Yılmaz, 2022) and state that permission documentation is included on the cover page.

8. Appendices

Appendices include materials that do not fit in the main text but support the research (for example, survey forms, detailed data tables, code lists).

8.1. Rules

• Numbering: Appendix 1, Appendix 2, etc.
• Title: Each appendix must have a descriptive title. Example: Appendix 1. Full Text of the User Survey
• In-text citation: “See Appendix 1” or “(Appendix 2)”
• Placement: At the end of the manuscript, after the references.

8.2. Electronic Supplementary Materials (ESM)

• Large datasets and materials such as video, audio, or animation must be uploaded as separate files.
• Supported formats:
  • Text: PDF
  • Tables: XLSX, CSV
  • Images: JPG, TIFF
  • Video/Audio: MP4, AVI, MOV
• File naming: ESM_1.pdf, ESM_2.xlsx, ESM_3.mp4
• File size limit: A single file must not exceed 128 MB. If larger, contact the editor.
• Data sharing: Raw data should be shared in open-access repositories such as Mendeley Data, Zenodo, or Figshare. The dataset must be cited in the manuscript using a DOI: (Kaya, 2023 [dataset], https://doi.org/10.17632/xxxxxx)

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence

In line with COPE and Council of Higher Education (YÖK) ethical rules, the journal strictly monitors the use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.).

Rules of Use

• Mandatory disclosure:
  • If AI was used at any stage (writing, language editing, data analysis, image generation), it must be clearly disclosed on the Cover Page and in the Cover Letter.

Example disclosure:
“ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI, version: 2024-11) was used in preparing the draft of this manuscript. The tool was used on 15 November 2024 for text editing and language improvement. All outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors, who assume full responsibility.”

• AI cannot be an author:
  • AI tools cannot be included in the author list, cannot meet authorship criteria, and cannot declare conflicts of interest.
• Unacceptable uses:
  • Large portions of the manuscript being written by AI (for example, the entire Introduction or Discussion).
  • Using AI outputs without verification.
• Screening process:
  • All manuscripts are screened with Turnitin/iThenticate or an AI detection tools.
  • In suspicious cases, authors may be asked to provide original AI outputs and editing records.
• Exception: Basic tools for grammar checking, spell-checking, or translation (such as Grammarly or DeepL) do not require disclosure.

10. Language Editing

• Manuscripts may be submitted in Turkish or English.
• The language should be academic, clear, and grammatically correct.
• If editors find language quality insufficient, they may request professional proofreading.
• Manuscripts that do not comply with standards may receive a desk rejection.

11. Submission and Evaluation Process

11.1. Submission

• All files are uploaded through the online submission system.
• Required files:
  • Cover Page
  • Anonymized Full Text (.docx)
  • Appendices (if any)
  • Cover Letter (as text in the system and or as a file)

11.2. Initial Editorial Screening

• Scope, originality, and format compliance are checked (2 to 4 weeks).
• Submissions that are not suitable receive a desk rejection.

11.3. Peer Review

• Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least two reviewers (double-blind).
• Reviewers are experts in the field, with attention to international diversity.
• Additional time may be granted if requested by reviewers.
• Timeline: 1 to 4 months

11.4. Decision Types

• Accept
• Minor Revision (with an editor and reviewer response report)
• Major Revision
• Reject

11.5. After Acceptance

• Authors must complete or obtain proofreading; the authors bear full responsibility for the final published version.
• The CC BY 4.0 License Agreement is signed.
• The article is published online first, and later assigned an issue and page numbers.

Note: To speed up the process, read the guideline carefully, upload all files completely, and respond to reviewer comments on time.