Does the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) maintain a list of predatory journals?

No, UTL does not maintain or endorse any list of predatory journals.

Does UTL maintain a list of recommended journals?

No, UTL does not recommend any journals in particular, but rather provides researchers and authors with resources that support their own determinations of quality or legitimacy. That said, UTL maintains a list of open access publishing agreements that allow University-affiliated authors to publish research openly with waived or reduced article-processing charges (APCs). UTL also maintains this search tool of APC discount-eligible journals.

As a researcher or author, should I rely on a list of predatory journals?

Whether a publication is “predatory” or “low-quality” is a nuanced issue. Lists of predatory or deceptive publishers tend to rely on static judgments, often without transparent criteria or ongoing assessment. Because scholarly publishing is dynamic, such lists can quickly become outdated or inaccurate. For that reason, UTL provides researchers and authors with resources that support informed, case‑by‑case evaluation of journals’ practices.

What resources are available to me?

UTL and the VPRI have created a detailed Predatory Publishing Checklist, which walks authors through practical, evidence‑based steps to identify some of the typical practices used by deceptive publishers.

If you need further information, guidance, or support:

Visit our Predatory Publishing Checklist tool page

Contact your supervisor and/or colleagues

Consult your Liaison Librarian

Email scholarly.communications@library.utoronto.ca

Consult these external resources:

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) (A vetted index of open-access journals that meet standards for quality and publishing practices)

Think. Check. Submit

Think. Check. Attend (specifically developed for conferences)

Ulrich's Web (This U of T-licensed resource include detailed information on more than 300,000 periodicals)

Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (COPE)

Research Impact & Researcher Identity guide (The University of Toronto Libraries)

Predatory Publishing FAQ

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