Archiving Policy

Archiving Policy

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) recognizes the critical importance of long-term preservation, accessibility, and integrity of scholarly content. This policy reflects our commitment to safeguarding the scientific record and ensuring GJNS articles remain permanently accessible to researchers, academics, and practitioners globally.

GJNS adheres to international best practices and aligns with standards set by organizations such as LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, Portico, JSTOR, and Sherpa/RoMEO, ensuring our preservation strategies meet the highest levels of academic and technological excellence.

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1. Current Archiving Practices

1.1 Institutional Repository
All GJNS publications are securely archived in the Kandahar University Institutional Repository, serving as a reliable platform for preservation and long-term access.

1.2 Website Hosting
Articles remain permanently accessible on the GJNS website, supporting Open Access principles to ensure unrestricted global dissemination of scientific knowledge.

1.3 PDF and XML Storage
To support compatibility with indexing and harvesting systems, GJNS stores articles in multiple formats (PDF, XML, and supplementary data formats).

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2. Planned Archiving Enhancements

To fortify its preservation framework, GJNS is actively pursuing collaborations with internationally recognized archiving and preservation programs:

✅ 2.1 LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)
Participation in LOCKSS will distribute GJNS content across a global network of partner libraries, ensuring redundancy, resilience, and security.

✅ 2.2 CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS)
CLOCKSS will add further reliability by archiving content in a decentralized system with trigger events for content restoration during crises.

✅ 2.3 Portico Partnership
GJNS plans to register with Portico, one of the leading global digital preservation services, to provide additional protection against loss due to technological failure or publisher closure.

✅ 2.4 JSTOR Archival Inclusion
Exploring opportunities for inclusion in JSTOR’s archiving program, enabling long-term access to a wide audience of scholars and institutions.

✅ 2.5 Sherpa/RoMEO Compliance
GJNS aligns with Sherpa/RoMEO policies to ensure clear and transparent rights archiving for authors, facilitating compliance with institutional and funder requirements.

✅ 2.6 DOAJ and PubMed Central Integration
The journal aims for integration with DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) and PubMed Central for enhanced discoverability and redundancy.

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3. Data Preservation Strategies

3.1 Geographically Redundant Storage
Articles are stored in multiple secure servers across geographically distinct locations to protect against local or regional disasters.

3.2 Regular and Automated Backups
Automated daily and weekly backups ensure all content is preserved safely and recoverable in case of technical failures.

3.3 Format Migration and Digital Continuity
GJNS proactively adopts format migration practices to prevent technological obsolescence, ensuring that content remains accessible in emerging file standards and platforms.

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4. Cultural, Ethical, and Legal Considerations
GJNS archiving policies respect Afghan cultural norms and Islamic values, while adhering to international ethical publishing guidelines (COPE, DOAJ Seal standards). All archived content complies with copyright and licensing agreements under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0) or equivalent licenses.

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Policy Review and Updates
This policy undergoes annual reviews to ensure alignment with technological advancements, international preservation standards, and emerging best practices in scholarly publishing.

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Contact for Archiving Queries

Email: [Insert GJNS editorial email]
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com
Editorial Office – GJNS, Kandahar University