His/Her Majesty the reviewer: some considerations on the peer-review process in LIS

Abstract

Peer-review is today a key element in academic publishing. The process constitutes – especially for digital journals – a means for the accountability of the editing process. Peer-review is interpreted as a process for the selection and refereeing of contributions, whereas it might be interpreted also as a method to enhance and share an essay; the reviewer may act as a sort of ‘ghostwriter’. In an open peer-review process, the name of the referee might actually be recorded in a catalog, bibliography or database as being intellectually co-responsible for the article. Peer-review could thus become a keystone for the attainment of collaborative science. Or have we moved from the absolute power of the editor-in-chief of a journal or series to the absolute power of the referee? Who establishes the editorial policy of journals or series?