Management of shortened links in scientific journals: implementation of the self-hosted free and open source software YOURLS in the scientific journal RIBES

Abstract

We introduce the installation and the implementation of YOURLS, a software for the management shortened links in RIBES (an emerging Spanish scientific journal on libraries, education and society). When editing scientific works, it is sometimes necessary to include web resources links in the bibliography or the references. Researchers often rely on external services with limitations in terms of usage and the number of shortened links they allow. In RIBES, we have installed YOURLS, a shelf-hosted, free and open source software for the management of shortened links. In this editorial, we outline the installation process and how we use YOURLS. Other journals and publishers could adopt a similar approach on the use of YOURLS for shortened links, avoiding dependence on external services and contributing to open science due to the use of free and open source software in the editorial process of scientific communication