Guidelines for Authors

The aim of the journal is to publish articles from all fields related to conservation. It is emphasized that the topics presented are methodological and theoretical in nature, even in regionally and materially focused studies. As Zprávy památkové péče (Czech Journal of Historical Heritage Preservation) is a journal where a number of different disciplines meet, the texts should be clearly structured and comprehensible. They should be objective, written in full sentences and divided into paragraphs.

The journal is divided into two parts: the main peer-reviewed section and the second unreviewed section.

Peer-reviewed Manuscripts

Manuscripts sent to the editors for publication in the peer-reviewed part of the journal must meet all standard requirements of a scientific text. They must be original, authored, and yet unpublished. They must also contain full references to sources formatted according to the journal’s citation rules. The editors must be provided with a basis for an abstract which will be published in a foreign language (and which should summarize the conclusions of the text) as well as with a summary (which should briefly introduce the text), and an image appendix in print quality with captions.

When reporting on successfully finished reconstructions or restorations, only texts which are of methodological nature or can serve as a basis for similar projects are accepted. However, theoretical or methodological commentaries related to the field of study which the paper is based upon, or any topics related to conservation, are also a requirement for all other studies.

Less formal, subjective expert articles may also be included in the main part of the journal. An exception can even be made if the texts do not meet all the external formal requirements for a scientific text (detailed footnotes, text objectivity…). Apart from being peer-reviewed, the texts are also subjected to an internal evaluation by the editorial board which puts great emphasis on their methodological and expert contribution.

The optimum article length is 15-30 standard pages (1 page = 1800 characters including spaces); in terms of the number of images used, approximately 1 picture per 1 standard page is desirable. It is possible to submit even larger texts with more images per page; however, this needs to be approved by the editors of the journal in advance. The minimum length for peer-reviewed studies is 10 standard pages. Shorter texts are automatically included in the second section of the journal.

Unreviewed Manuscripts

The unreviewed part of the journal contains shorter texts. They are usually short articles which discuss a broader range of genres, including:

  • Interviews on current topics in the field of conservation, interviews with highly regarded experts in the field
  • Personalities: personal messages, anniversaries, obituaries, profiles
  • Reviews, recommendations for new literature or exhibitions
  • Information about related events (conferences, seminars, events, workshops)
  • Documents and short specialized reports on lesser-known monuments, minor discoveries, restorations, etc.

The length of unreviewed papers is approximately 5-7 standard pages, for reviews, etc., approximately 2-5 standard pages, for editorials 1-2 standard pages. The number of illustrations is about 1 figure per 2 standard pages. In exceptional cases and after consultation with the editors, longer articles may be published.

If the text is accepted for publication, it undergoes linguistic, graphic, and editorial changes. Prior to publication, the adjusted text is provided to the author(s) for proofreading together with a copyright license agreement.

By publishing all parts of their article in the journal Zprávy památkové péče the authors also give consent to the publication of their work on the journal’s website.

Formal Requirements

Manuscripts submitted for peer-review must include:

  • A text annotated according to the citation conventions
  • A list of sources and references which must include all works cited in the text. Instructions for preparing the list can be found here
  • A list of images, which must include the name of the author or the institution that provided the image and the year they were taken
  • An abstract which summarizes the main theses of the paper. The abstract will be published in a foreign language and cannot be longer than 1 standard page (1 standard page = 1 800 characters including spaces)
  • Print-quality illustrations. Keep in mind that images of insufficient quality may be rejected. Illustrations need to be submitted as separate image files, i.e., not as part of a Word or PDF document
  • Authors’ personal information, including contract details (date of birth, residential address, account number)
  • Abstract of the article (120-150 words). Guidelines defining the form of the abstract can be found here
  • Keywords (approximately 5 keywords)

Manuscripts offered for one of the unreviewed sections must include:

  • The manuscript itself (annotations are not mandatory)
  • A list of illustrations, illustrative material, and personal information about the authors in the same format and scope as for the authors of peer-reviewed manuscripts

Instructions for Each Section of the Manuscript:

The main text

The standard rules of written Czech/English must be followed. Make sure your text is consistent (the format of names and titles must be consistent), try to avoid using abbreviations and, if necessary, write the term in full when first mentioned. Use established Czech equivalents for place names and when mentioning them for the first time, make sure to put the name in the original language in parentheses.

It is also advisable to use subheadings; however, keep in mind that the current format of the journal allows only one heading level. Do not use bold text and try to use italics as little as possible.

Use standard MS Office formats when submitting the texts (doc, docx, rtf). Do not format the text beyond the basic structure we described (paragraphs, separate headings, footnotes). Do not send the papers in PDF format.

For more detailed information on the different sections of a peer-reviewed manuscript and its recommended structure, please click here.

Illustrations

The quality of the images submitted is crucial for the quality of the journal. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention both to the quality of the graphic material and the way the source of the image is provided.

  • The source for each image must be clearly identified, be it the author or the institution which provided the image. Images freely downloaded from the Internet will not be accepted for publication!
  • When using copyrighted images (reproductions of paintings, archival documents etc.), the author is responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions. The editors can also help with any related formalities; however, this needs to be discussed in advance.
  • Pay attention to the technical parameters of the submitted images – images which seem to be of high quality on a computer screen are often unsuitable for printing. Please keep in mind that images of poor quality might be rejected by the editors.
  • To submit raster images in digital form, the file must be in tiff or jpg format with minimal compression (maximum quality). Use a resolution of at least 300 dpi and 600 dpi when scanning line art. In general, each image should be at least 1 MB in size. The images should be sent unedited. Do not try to increase their size or resolution artificially!
  • Vector images (e.g., plans, maps, charts) should be submitted in pdf, ai, eps, or dwg format. When submitting originals, make sure they are clean and smooth without any frames or mountings. Do not submit damaged images. Any texts or notes on the back side of the image must not be visible on the front side in any form. The photographs must have sufficient contrast and should be sharp. If it is not clear how the image should be positioned, make sure to mark the bottom edge of the image on the reverse side. Make sure that a graphic scale and floor plans with cardinal points are always included in the image.
  • If you use hatching to distinguish the age of individual structures in the floor plan or sectional view, use the methods established in the studies of the Czech institute SÚRPMO (Specialized Institute for Reconstructions of Historical Cities and Objects): Romanesque masonry – in black, Gothic period – diagonally cross-hatched, Renaissance structures – vertically cross-hatched, Baroque period – diagonally hatched, first half of the 19th century – dotted, after 1850 – in white. It is possible to mark the hatching on a second copy of the plan, for example with a pencil, which will allow the preparation of another simultaneously submitted “blind” copy of the plan, which will be printed with the use of raster images generated by the computer.

Citation standard

The notes and image captions in Zprávy památkové péče follow the citation standard of the Umění journal (published by the Institute of Art History, Czech Academy of Sciences): https://www.umeni-art.cz/admin/fileGet.aspx?f=ngiidhobk&m=2.

Fees and Charges

There are no fees charged for the submission, editing or publication of the manuscript.

The journal does not give any financial reward for contributions which are an official part of grant-funded projects or studies. Other types of articles are remunerated at 100 CZK per standard page.

The translation of the abstract, resumé, and keywords is provided by the editorial office.

The translation of articles into Czech or English is provided by the editorial office. Translation of Czech papers selected for publication in English is also provided by the editorial office.

Fees for copyrighted images will be paid by the editorial office if the text is successfully reviewed and the author asks the editors to obtain necessary rights in advance.