Preprints are versions of scholarly papers that are available online before formal peer review and publication in a journal. Since the 1990s, preprints have increasingly been distributed electronically on sites like arXiv and institutional repositories. Important preprint servers cover various fields like physics, mathematics, biology, social sciences, psychology, and engineering. Preprints provide benefits like visibility, accessibility to aid research, ability to update versions, and open communication. Evaluation criteria for preprint servers include checking for required elements like title, abstract, and structure as well as recent citations and controversial topics.

1. Preprint & Preprint Servers
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

2. Introduction
A preprint is a version of a scholarly or scientific paper that precedes
formal peer review and publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly or
scientific journal.
The preprint may be available, often as a non-typeset version available
free, before and/or after a paper is published in a journal.
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

3. History
• Since 1991, preprints have increasingly been distributed electronically on the Internet, rather than as paper
copies.
• This has given rise to massive preprint databases such as arXiv.org and many other institutional repositories.
• In 2016, several new preprint servers were proposed by Crossref Centre for Open Science and
ASAPBIO(Accelerating Science and Publication in Biology)
• In January 2017, the Medical Research Council made it mandatory for them to actively support preprints with
effect from April 2017.
• In March 2018, the National Institutes for Health issued a new policy encouraging research preprint
submissions.
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

4. Features
• Good visibility of authors work.
• Easy access to preprints help to aid authors own research projects.
• The ability to update and submit new versions became easily.
• Freedom to submit to a journal of the author’s choice.
• Open and rapid communication.
• Information to help make funding decisions.
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

5. Important preprint servers
Name Fields Start date
arXiv Physics, mathematics, computing, quantitative biology,
quantitative finance, statistics
1991
bioRxiv Life sciences 2013
PeerJ Preprints General 2013
Preprints (MDPI) General 2016
SocArxiv Social sciences 2016
PsyArXiv Psychology 2016
EngrXiv Engineering 2016
ChemRxiv Chemistry 2017
E-LIS Library Information science 2003
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

6. Preprint.org
• Preprints.org is run by an open access publisher
• Preprints is run on a not-for-profit basis
• Over 9000 Preprints online (12 subject)
• DOI assigned for every preprint.
• Sign up for update alerts.
• Comment on and rate every article (Altmetrics).
• Bookmark with CiteULike, BibSonomy, Mendeley, etc.
• See related articles.
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

7. How it works
• Submission by authors via Preprints.org or MDPI submission system.
• Internal check by Preprints editors.
• Refer borderline cases to the advisory board.
• Articles online within 24 hours
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

8. Evaluation criteria
Basic criteria
• Title, abstract, keywords present
• Document structure
• Author affiliations and background
• Recent citations
• Controversial topics/junk papers
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

9. PeerJ preprints
• Authors can submit PeerJ PrePrints for FREE
• PrePrints can be published within 24 hours of submission
• Authors can solicit feedback and make revisions
• PrePrints show a range of alt-metrics
• PeerJ PrePrints are open for all to read through CC-BY licensing
• Although not compulsory, authors of PeerJ PrePrints can choose to submit their PrePrint manuscript into
either PeerJ or PeerJ Computer Science
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon