Changes to the classification of book series

The humanities and social sciences panels of the Publication Forum can now classify individual book series from level 2 book publishers to level 3. The Publication Forum steering group decided on the policy at its May 2023 meeting. The level 3 book series should have their own ISSN code, they should go through a thorough quality assessment process, and they should meet the following level 3 criteria:

• The research published in them represents the highest level in the discipline and has extremely consistent impact (e.g., as measured through citation indicators).
• The channels cover the discipline comprehensively, and is not limited to the discussion of narrow special themes.
• The channels have international authors and readers and the editorial boards are constituted by the leading researcher in the field.
• Publishing in these channels is highly appreciated among the international research community of the field.

Before the new policy, only book series by domestic book publishers were classified in the Publication Forum while those by foreign book publishers were not. The need to classify book series by foreign book publishers arised when the steering group decided in December 2022 to downgrade Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan from level 3 to level 2 from the beginning of 2024. Based on the panel discussions and the feedback received from the research community, there is increasing variation in the quality assessment of Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan publications. However, these publishers are significant high-level publication channels in many humanities fields so the steering group decided to give the panels the opportunity in the spring of 2023 to prepare a proposal for the highest-quality book series from these publishers which should remain at level 3.

In March 2023, a survey was carried out, asking researchers from various fields to name up to five of the highest-quality book series in their field from Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan. The proposals received were discussed at the panel meetings and at the humanities and social sciences panels chairs' meeting. The survey received suggestions from 97 respondents and the panels considered it important to continue the survey and have an opportunity to upgrade book series from other book publishers as well. Based on this feedback, the steering group decided in May that the panels can propose book series to level 3 also from other level 2 book publishers than Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan. The panels will prepare their proposals during autumn 2023.

Some of the panels also raised a concern about the classification of monographs. Monographs can be published outside of book series, in which case many high-level monographs that have undergone very thorough peer review are excluded from level 3. The steering group tasked the secretariat with finding out whether Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan monographs (C1) can be classified as level 3, although other peer-reviewed publication types related to these book publishers, mainly book articles published in edited works, are classified as level 2.

The research community is asked for suggestions for level 3 book series

The research community has now an opportunity to suggest the most prestigious book series from level 2 book publishers to level 3. A LimeSurvey-based form has been opened for suggestions and it it possible to make suggestions until September 15th. On the form, respondents are asked to provide justifications that the suggested book series meet the level 3 criteria.

The panels will go through the received suggestions at their autumn meetings in October and November and prepare a proposal for level 3 book series to the chairs of the humanities and social sciences panels. The chairs will prepare a joint proposal for the steering group's November meeting.

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