Mathematical Reviews Policy on Indexing Journals

Mathematical research depends on a body of research literature that has reliable content and assured persistence. Mathematicians use the literature to anchor new research in the old, and mathematics crucially depends on the integrity of this structure. For many years, journals have provided the framework for creating and preserving this body of literature. Traditionally, journals have adhered to high standards of scholarship that were designed to protect their integrity. As publishing methods and platforms evolve, journals must adopt practices that preserve these traditions so that future mathematicians may continue to rely on the research literature.

The permanence and reliability of electronic materials is a primary concern requiring: 1) continuing and consistent availability of the journal web site, including journal information and all published issues and papers, 2) a policy that posted articles are in final form unless otherwise clearly noted, and 3) that changes to publication information (all bibliographic metadata) or to article content be documented in published notices and through alerts to indexing and abstracting services. Published articles and all revisions should persist indefinitely in the scholarly record.

It has become increasingly common for articles to be published online before being assigned to an issue or volume. Mathematical Reviews welcomes this development, as it allows for the quicker dissemination of research. Such articles should be in final form, lacking only volume, issue, and/or paging information. Preferably, the articles should have DOIs. Corrections or other changes to the content should be treated similarly to changes to other published material, such as through corrigenda, errata, or retractions.

Journals, through their editors and publishers, are expected to adhere to the Ethical Guidelines of the AMS for publishing, the Best Current Practices for Journals of the IMU, NISO’s Recommendations for Journal Article Versions, and the Core Practices of COPE (the Committee on Publication Ethics).

Adoption of these best practice standards is a requirement for coverage by Mathematical Reviews and inclusion in MathSciNet. If a journal currently indexed by Mathematical Reviews does not adhere to these best practice standards, coverage of that journal will cease and the editors of the journal will be informed. Coverage will be resumed once the journal agrees to and demonstrates adherence to these basic standards of scholarship.

This policy was approved by the Mathematical Reviews Editorial Committee October 14, 2019.