Publishing policy for Tallinn University Press

Bases of the publishing policy and the procedure for publishing

APPROVED by the Rector’s directive No. 10 of May 2, 2024

1. BASES OF THE PUBLISHING POLICY

1.1. The aim of the Tallinn University Press (hereinafter the Press) is to be a credible, academically-oriented publisher of intellectual literature, whose partially foreign-language publications have a high-level notation in the ETIS classifications and are distributed internationally. The Press also views the popularisation of science and intermediation of contemporary research thinking from Estonia and abroad as its mission.

1.2. In the publishing activity, the internationally recognised, incl. Elsevier/Scopus, general principles of publishing are followed.

1.3. The Press publishes primarily research publications and monographs by scholars affiliated with the university, collections and monographs by external authors, educational literature (incl. original textbooks, translations and translation anthologies), and translations of classical and high-value texts. The Press publishes monolingual original texts (both originals and first translations). On the consent of the editorial board of the series, exceptions in duly justified cases are possible.

1.4. The production of the Press divides into series (Acta, Gigantum Humeris, Bibliotheca etc.) each of which has its specificity in terms of content (original academic texts; original academic texts and translations mainly for educational purposes; works of value aimed at the wider readership) and is published in a standardised design. Only peer-reviewed texts are published in all series of the Press.

1.5. Each series has an in-domain editorial board or the series board. The chief academic board of the Press also serves as an editorial board of the Gigantum Humeris series. The compositions of the series boards may partly overlap.

1.6. The main function of the series boards is to select the works published in the series (to review, approve or reject publishing proposals; also to make improvement proposals) and to recommend peer reviewers to the Press with the goal of ensuring quality control over the published works. The series boards also give recommendations on initiating publications of collections, monographs and textbooks-anthologies.

1.7. The design of the series of the Press is systemic. The domain is conveyed by colours. In addition, the specificity of the series is differentiated by the design of the band on the front and back cover. By the decision of the chief academic board, some justified exceptions in design can be made.

1.8. The Press also publishes journals which meet the standards of international research journals subject to the approval of the chief academic board and disseminates these. Also, the units and research groups of the university have the possibility to establish new journals under the Press. The chief academic board decides on approving new journals amongst the publications of the Press.

1.9. By having the main focus on quality, the Press aims at keeping its publications affordable for its major target group: students and the wider intellectual readership. To this end, the Press actively applies for additional funding from funds that support the publication of high-value literature.

1.10. Fees to the authors, translators, editors, advisers, reviewers, proofreaders and authors of forewords are paid by agreement.

1.11. The Press seeks wide response to its publications in the (research) media, co-operates closely with the editorial teams of media outlets, participates in book fairs, and events and programmes aimed at intellectual and academic audience.

2. PROCEDURE FOR PUBLISHING

2.1. In order to apply for a work to be published, two options are available: on the basis of a proposal for a new book project or on the basis of a submitted manuscript. If an author submits a manuscript to the Press, it is vital that it follows the formatting guide of the Press as closely as possible. In the case of foreign-language original collections, only linguistically edited manuscripts are accepted.

2.2. All ordering parties/authors fill in the application form for the publication of the book, draw up the description of the content (1-2 pages) and submit their academic curriculum vitae. If the work is ordered by the Press, the application form will be filled in by the Press. The proposals for book projects or manuscripts are submitted together with an application to the editor-in-chief of the Press who decides, in consultation with the author, on which series is suitable for the publication.

2.3. The Press carries out a pre-selection procedure. The criteria for the pre-selection comply with the general publishing policy of the Press, publishing plans and capacity, quality requirements and content of the series. By way of exception, the Press may accept proposals also for publications outside the series.

2.4. All manuscripts published in the series of the Press are peer reviewed, except in special cases decided by the chief academic board. Two members of the series board or two experts recommended by the board act as reviewers. If a member of the series board wishes to publish their manuscript, the reviewers will be selected by the rest of the board without their participation. Only publications that have passed the peer reviewing process successfully will be published in the series of the Press.

2.5. The Press has the right to refuse a book project approved on the basis of a proposal, if two reviewers claim that the completed manuscript does not correspond to the content of the proposal and/or does not meet the standards of the Press in terms of quality.

2.6. Peer reviewing is unilaterally anonymous, the reviewer’s name is not made public. However, in the case of a positive review, extracts of it can be used on the cover of the book as a recommendation with the consent of the author.

2.7. The reviewers draw up their reviews on the basis of a peer review form of the Press. The reviewer can propose that the Press publishes the work (with the right to suggest improvements), publishes it after major changes or refuses to publish.

2.8. If both reviewers have proposed to publish the manuscript, but one of them has wished that it will be published in a revised form, the manuscript will be asked to be revised thoroughly. If both reviewers have recommended to reject the manuscript, it will not be accepted. If one of the two reviewers has recommended to reject the manuscript, the other, however, to publish or to publish in a thoroughly revised form, the final decision will be made by the series board. If one of the two reviewers has recommended to reject the manuscript, the other, however, to publish in a thoroughly revised form, introduction of revisions does not automatically mean that the text will be published – the reviewer must also give their consent. In all cases, the series board gives the final approval for the manuscript.

2.9. Disputes arisen in the peer review process will be settled by the series board.