Automated check of Beall’s list of Predatory Journals [0.8.9.5]

by | Feb 23, 2015 | Features | 8 comments

Librarian Jeffrey Beall maintains a list of possible or likely predatory open-access journals here. Now in version 0.8.9.5, Lazy Scholar checks to see if the page you are on matches one of the journals on that list. If there is a match, you will receive a warning on the bottom right hand side of the page that looks like this:

 

 

beallnotification

 

 

Also in this version are some small bug fixes:

  • LS icon in the infobar enlarged
  • Sizing adjusted for smaller screens
  • JournalGuide url change fix

[Version 0.8.9.7-9 include bug fixes for when LS caught some non-journal pages]

  • Bruce Rusk

    (Would have reported this on Mantis, but never received a confirmation email so I was unable to create an account).

    I don’t know how LS detects predatory journals, but it is overzealous in reporting them: I am getting the warning for a local file (on that isn’t even a journal article).

    • http://www.nutsci.org Colby

      Thanks Bruce,

      I just pushed out another version which should fix this issue. Please let me know if you continue having any problems.

      Sorry about Mantis. I will look for something more reliable. Email might be in spam if you haven’t checked.

      • Bruce Rusk

        Thanks for the quick reply (email never showed up, not even in spam).

        There’s still something amiss with predatory journal checking–this website triggers it, for example: http://www.majorgeeks.com/

        • http://www.nutsci.org Colby

          I have turned it off for now and pushed those changes, so it will get to you within a few hours.

      • Bruce Rusk

        Yes, Mantis is definitely not sending out registration emails–I’ve tried with two addresses, neither worked.

        And the predatory journal warning is now showing up on JSTOR.org (with LS 0.8.9.7).

  • Lisa Gartner

    All websites seem to trigger it. Is there anyway to shut it off?

    • http://www.nutsci.org Colby

      Sorry everyone,

      I have turned it off for now and pushed those changes, so it will get to you within a few hours.

      • Lisa Gartner

        Thank you, sorry to complain but it was quite annoying. 🙂