This article investigated a novel method of disseminating conference proceedings via preprint servers. The EDICIC 2019 conference encouraged presenters to upload their research onto preprint servers before the conference and did not produce a conference proceedings. The objective of this was to facilitate pre‐conference dissemination of the research and use the conference for debate. Authors could then submit their articles to a journal. A survey of participating authors shows that they had little familiarity with preprints prior to the conference. Nevertheless, nearly three‐quarters of authors deposited their preprints before the conference. Most respondents were in favour or pre‐conference deposit and believed it would allow conferences to run more smoothly. However there was concern that Library and Information Science journals will not accept submissions that have been issued as preprints. Authors also expressed concerns about the lack of recognition for their research if conference proceedings are not published. They highlighted the effort required to pass a double evaluation by conference organizers and then by journal editors, emphasized that the culture of preprints and open science is not consolidated in the discipline yet, and noted that the aim of increasing interaction and debate in the conference was not fully reached.

Preprints are increasingly relevant for fast dissemination of research results. This article analyses its use in the EDICIC 2019 conference, where authors were requested to deposit their preprints before the conference in order to encourage interaction among participants and to push their publication in refereed journals as a substitute for conference proceedings. The results of a survey among corresponding authors of accepted papers show little familiarity with preprints. Nevertheless, nearly three-quarters of authors deposited their preprint before the conference. Most of them agree that a conference runs more smoothly if preprints are available to attendees before the event and agree to reduce time slots devoted to presentations in order to encourage the debate between presenters and attendees. To a lesser extent, survey respondents would like to see this model implemented in other Library and Information Science conferences, although they disagree on whether journals from that area are ready to accept preprints in the framework of open science principles. Authors who had deposited their preprint before the conference were more willing to submit their work to a journal for formal publication as an article. Finally, surveyed authors expressed their concerns regarding the lack of recognition of their participation if conference proceedings are not published; highlighted the effort made to pass a double evaluation by conference organisers and journal editors; emphasized that the culture of preprints and open science is not consolidated among disciplinary journals as yet; and noted that the aim of increasing interaction and debate was not fully reached.