Every academic conference has a different publication requirement. Some events receive only abstracts, some collect extended abstracts, while others receive full-length research papers. Many conferences also receive a combination of different contribution types. The conference publication types should therefore be selected according to the type, quality, review process and purpose of the contributions. Importantly, conference organizers do not always have to select only one publication type. A single conference can use more than one publication type when its contributions meet the respective requirements. In many cases, a conference publication plan is to publish an Abstract Book or Extended Abstract Book first, followed by Conference Proceedings or a Special Issue after the full papers have completed the required review and editorial process.
Abstracts Publication
1. Abstract Book
An Abstract Book is a simple and economical way to create a scholarly record of the contributions presented at an academic event. It is suitable when contributors submit short abstracts, including abstracts associated with oral presentations or poster presentations, rather than full-length research papers. Choose an Abstract Book when:
- Contributors submit abstracts instead of full-length papers.
- The conference includes oral and poster presentations.
- The organizer wants to document the research presented at the event.
- The event needs a publication option suitable for a large number of contributions.
- The organizer wants an economical publication solution for a conference of any size.
An Abstract Book does not have to be published on the conference day. Depending on the submission deadline, conference date and production schedule, it may be published before the conference, around the conference period, or after the event.
The important consideration is that an Abstract Book can normally be prepared and published earlier than a full-paper proceedings volume, because it does not require the same full-paper production process. This makes it particularly useful when organizers want to establish a scholarly publication record for all accepted presentations without waiting for the complete full-paper publication process.
2. Extended Book of Abstracts
An Extended Abstract Book is different from a regular Abstract Book. It is intended for conferences where all or the principal contributions are submitted as extended abstracts rather than short abstracts or complete full-length papers.
Extended abstracts allow contributors to provide more information about their research while avoiding the length and preparation requirements of a complete research paper. Choose an Extended Book of Abstracts when:
- Contributors are asked to submit extended abstracts.
- The conference does not require complete full-length papers.
- The organizer wants a more detailed record than a conventional abstract book provides.
- A large number of contributions need to be published economically.
- The conference wants to create a scholarly record without publishing complete research papers.
Like an Abstract Book, an Extended Book of Abstracts does not need to be published specifically on the conference day. It can be published before, around or after the conference, depending on the publication schedule.
However, because it contains extended abstracts rather than complete papers, it can generally be prepared and published earlier than full-length proceedings.
Abstract Book vs Extended Abstract Book
AIJR treats conference abstracts & extended abstracts as separate publication categories. Organizers should therefore specify the type of contribution being submitted when proposing their publication plan. The distinction is straightforward:
Abstract Book
For short abstracts and abstracts associated with presentations or posters.
Extended Abstract Book
For extended abstracts submitted as the main contribution.
Why Publish an Abstract Book or Extended Abstract Book First?
For many conferences, publishing abstracts is the first stage of the publication process. This is particularly useful when the conference receives a large number of contributions and the organizers want to create a scholarly record of all accepted presentations, while full papers may require additional review and editorial work. For example:
- Stage 1-Abstract publication: Accepted abstracts or extended abstracts are compiled into an Abstract Book or Extended Abstract Book.
- Stage 2-Full-paper publication: Eligible full-length papers are subsequently published as Conference Proceedings or selected papers are considered for a Conference Special Issue.
The two stages serve different purposes. The abstract publication provides an early and economical record of the conference contributions, while the later full-paper publication provides a more detailed record of completed research. This model can be used whether the conference is small or large, local or international, university-based or organized by a professional society.
Full-Length Conference Paper Publication
3. Proceedings Series
Proceedings series are intended for complete research papers that have undergone the required review and selection process. Such proceedings are appropriate when the organizer wants to publish the full research articles rather than only their abstracts.
AIJR Proceedings is an established proceedings series in which eligible conference papers are published with the applicable publication identifiers, including ISBN, ISSN and DOI, with DOI identification for individual papers. Choose Conference Proceedings when:
- Full-length research papers have been submitted.
- The papers undergo appropriate peer review.
- The organizer wants to publish the complete papers.
- The conference requires a permanent scholarly record of the full research.
- The contributions meet the eligibility and quality requirements for proceedings publication.
Full-paper proceedings generally require more time than an Abstract Book or Extended Book of Abstracts because the papers must go through review, revision, editing, formatting and publication processes.
4. Standalone Conference Proceedings
Standalone Conference Proceedings are a common publication format in which the full-length, peer-reviewed papers of a particular conference are published together as a dedicated proceedings volume.
A standalone proceedings volume can have an ISBN identifying the volume as a book, a volume-level DOI providing a persistent identifier for the complete publication, and individual DOIs for each published paper for independent identification, access and citation.
This publication route should also be considered in relation to the authorship of the papers. If conference contributions are authored or co-authored by undergraduate or postgraduate students, organizers should discuss the publication arrangement with AIJR before announcing the proceedings route.
Organizers should therefore provide details of the authorship profile when submitting their publication proposal so that the appropriate publication arrangement can be determined in advance.
5. Conference Special Issue
A Conference Special Issue provides another route for publishing selected full-length research papers. Instead of publishing the papers as conference proceedings, eligible papers are considered for publication as journal articles in a suitable special issue. This route is generally appropriate for selected papers that meet the scope, quality and editorial requirements of the journal. Consider a Special Issue when:
- The conference has high-quality full-length research papers.
- Selected papers are suitable for a particular journal.
- Authors are interested in journal publication.
- The papers can meet the required peer-review and editorial standards.
- The conference wants to provide a journal publication route for selected contributions.
A Special Issue should therefore be considered a separate publication route from Conference Proceedings. AIJR applies the relevant journal review and editorial requirements to conference special-issue papers.
One Conference Can Use Multiple Publication Types
Conference organizers do not necessarily need to place every contribution into the same publication. A conference may receive different types and levels of contributions. Some may meet the requirements of an Abstract Book, some may be suitable for an Extended Book of Abstracts, some may meet the requirements for full Proceedings, and selected high-quality papers may be suitable for a Conference Special Issue. In such cases, the organizer can use multiple publication types for the same conference, provided each contribution is placed in an appropriate publication route and meets the relevant eligibility and quality requirements. For example, a conference may have:
| Contribution | Suitable Publication |
|---|---|
| Short abstract for oral presentation | Abstract Book |
| Poster abstract | Abstract Book |
| Extended research summary | Extended Book of Abstracts |
| Full-length paper meeting proceedings series requirements | Conference Proceedings Series |
| Full-length paper suitable for a dedicated conference volume | Standalone Proceedings |
| Selected high-quality paper meeting journal requirements | Conference Special Issue |
This approach allows organizers to accommodate the actual nature and quality of their contributions instead of applying one publication format to every submission.
The Most Common Two-Stage Publication Model
Although multiple publication types can be used, one of the most practical arrangements for conferences receiving full-length papers is a two-stage publication model.
First publication: Abstracts
Publish an Abstract Book or Extended Book of Abstracts containing the accepted conference contributions. This provides a relatively quick and economical scholarly record of the event.
Second publication: Full papers
After the conference, complete the review and editorial process for full-length papers and publish eligible contributions through Conference Proceedings or Conference Special Issue.
This arrangement is useful because the two publications serve different purposes. The first records the contributions to the event. The second provides the complete research publication. It also gives organizers additional time to complete the review and publication process for full papers rather than trying to complete everything before the conference.
Conference Publication Planning With AIJR
The best publication arrangement is the one that matches the actual contributions of the conference. A conference receiving only short abstracts may choose an Abstract Book. A conference receiving extended abstracts may choose an Extended Book of Abstracts. A research conference receiving full-length papers may choose Conference Proceedings or a Conference Special Issue. Where a conference receives different types of contributions, it can consider using more than one publication type. For example, short abstracts can be published in an Abstract Book, extended abstracts in an Extended Book of Abstracts, eligible full papers in Proceedings, and selected high-quality papers through a Special Issue.
For conferences receiving full-length papers, the most common approach may be to publish an Abstract Book or Extended Book of Abstracts as an earlier publication, followed by full-length papers through Proceedings or a Special Issue after the necessary review and editorial process. This gives organizers flexibility to create a scholarly record of their conference contributions while selecting the most appropriate publication route for each full research paper.
Submit Your Conference Publication Proposal to AIJR
AIJR welcomes proposals from organizers of international and national conferences, university and college conferences, academic societies, research associations, workshops, seminars, symposia, congresses and other academic events of different sizes. When submitting a proposal, organizers should provide the conference details, contribution types, expected number of submissions, authorship profile, review process and preferred publication timeline.
If you are unsure whether your conference needs an Abstract Book, Extended Book of Abstracts, Conference Proceedings, Standalone Proceedings, Conference Special Issue, or a combination of these, submit your proposal to AIJR. AIJR can review the nature of your event and contributions and help identify the publication arrangement that best fits your conference.
