This guidelines document is designed to support Diamond open access (OA) journal publishers to enhance the quality and credibility of their journals, and to encourage alignment with established best practices in scholarly publishing.

The guide builds on recognized frameworks such as the Basic Criteria for indexing in the Directory of Open Access Journals, as well as the Best Practices Checklist for Diamond OA Publishers and the Diamond Open Access Standard (DOAS) developed by the DIAMAS project, where EIFL is a partner. 

Although not exhaustive, the guide offers a solid foundation for journals looking to improve operations.  

The guide includes:

• A summary of the essential elements that define a Diamond OA journal
• Templates, including a comprehensive Journal Policies Template, as well as templates for Author Statements, Conflict of Interest Declarations, and Licence Agreements
• Technical guidance on:
  • Key features for article landing pages and full-text articles
  • Proper display of licensing information
  • General website and accessibility considerations

Download a PDF version of the guide by clicking the Download button on the left, or a Word version here.