Reconfiguring the Role of Academic Libraries in Supporting the Scientific Publishing Ecosystem: a Case Study of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

With all the big changes going on in the world of scientific publishing right now, academic libraries are becoming more and more important in supporting editorial processes and spreading knowledge. This article looks at the Republic of Moldova through real research done in projects called “Trends in the Development of the Scientific Publishing System in the Republic of Moldova through the Lens of Science Policies” and “The Phenomenon of Predatory Pseudoscientific Publishing in the Academic Community of the Republic of Moldova”. These studies included surveys of scientists (539 people answered) and journal editors (57 people answered), as well as checks of how well bibliographic references and citations met the rules. The results show that there are still problems with making sure that citations are accurate and follow international standards. There is also a growing need for support from universities to improve academic integrity and make their work more visible around the world. Survey results show how important libraries are becoming. While only a few researchers said librarians were their main source of info on dodgy publications, more than half said they'd check with librarians to see if a journal was legit. Editors also said they were slowly getting used to international standards for citations, and said these were important for indexing and being more visible around the world. Actions such as updating journal profiles in bibliometric databases and rigorously applying international editorial standards are viewed as priorities. The conclusions highlight the convergence between the educational role of libraries and editorial efforts toward professionalization, suggesting that academic libraries can play a decisive role in consolidating a sustainable and competitive publishing ecosystem, both regionally and internationally. JEL: E24, I23, J80