From Ice Age to Global Warming:From Ice Age to Global Warming: How Special Issues Have Evolved How Special Issues Have Evolved

at AMS at AMS

Michael A. FriedmanMichael A. FriedmanAmerican Meteorological SocietyAmerican Meteorological Society

17 May 201017 May 2010Council of Science Editors Annual Council of Science Editors Annual

MeetingMeetingSession 11: Hot Topics and Cool

Collaborations: Special Issues and Collaborative Publishing

The Ice Age (or rather, Paper The Ice Age (or rather, Paper Age)Age)

• Old style, inefficient workflowOld style, inefficient workflow

• All issue-based and user-drivenAll issue-based and user-driven

• Result: Long publication times that Result: Long publication times that authors and publishers dislikeauthors and publishers dislike

Old WorkflowOld Workflow

Workshop results Accepted manuscripts

PEER REVIEW

PRODUCTION

SPECIALISSUE

Manuscriptsawaiting editing Manuscripts awaiting publication

S.I.

S.I.

S.I.

ResultResult• Ticked off S.I. authors who have had to Ticked off S.I. authors who have had to

wait for all to be acceptedwait for all to be accepted• Ticked off other authors who have had to Ticked off other authors who have had to

wait longer for publicationwait longer for publication• Ticked off journals staff who had to put Ticked off journals staff who had to put

aside tasks to handle many S.I. papersaside tasks to handle many S.I. papers• Thrown off production time metrics to Thrown off production time metrics to

accommodate special manuscriptsaccommodate special manuscripts

CausesCauses• Having to deal with the special Having to deal with the special

papers as a discrete set, both in peer papers as a discrete set, both in peer review and productionreview and production

• Having special issues be a regular Having special issues be a regular issue of the journalissue of the journal

Climate Change (or Electronic Climate Change (or Electronic Age)Age)

• Electronic workflow has allowed us to Electronic workflow has allowed us to address both of these causesaddress both of these causes– Early online releases allow results to be cited Early online releases allow results to be cited

prior to formal publicationprior to formal publication– Handled and published as individual papers, Handled and published as individual papers,

and gathered online as a SPECIAL COLLECTIONand gathered online as a SPECIAL COLLECTION– Can still have a hard copy print of entire Can still have a hard copy print of entire

special collection, but not a regular issue of special collection, but not a regular issue of journaljournal

New WorkflowNew Workflow

Individual submissionsAccepted manuscripts

EORs

Individually published

SPECIALCOLLECTION

Gathered online Optional (digital)print run

ResultResult• Much more efficientMuch more efficient

– No disruption of regular workflow (processed article No disruption of regular workflow (processed article by article)by article)

– Faster publication of all manuscripts from Faster publication of all manuscripts from integrating S.C. papers as part of regular processintegrating S.C. papers as part of regular process

(=> happier authors and publishers)(=> happier authors and publishers)

• More flexibility in defining new collectionsMore flexibility in defining new collections– Allows collections associated with multiple journalsAllows collections associated with multiple journals

More ResultsMore Results• Increased flexibility and possibilitiesIncreased flexibility and possibilities

– Instead of “outside in” creation of Instead of “outside in” creation of collection themes, can also have “inside collection themes, can also have “inside out” collectionsout” collections•““Best of AMS”Best of AMS”•Topical reviews of emerging disciplinesTopical reviews of emerging disciplines•Etc.Etc.

– Take advantage of digital printing for Take advantage of digital printing for small print runssmall print runs

Now where?Now where?• Build on our “Personalized Online Library” Build on our “Personalized Online Library”

member benefitmember benefit– Personalized journals (saved searches and Personalized journals (saved searches and

virtual bookshelves)virtual bookshelves)– Print on demand capabilityPrint on demand capability

•Author retrospectivesAuthor retrospectives•Class packetsClass packets

• Broader collaborations with other Broader collaborations with other societiessocieties

Thank you!Thank you!

•Links for more information:– AMS Journals Online home page

http://journals.ametsoc.org– AMS Special Collection Index

http://journals.ametsoc.org/page/collection

– AMS Personalized Online Library info http://journals.ametsoc.org/page/pol

Michael A. FriedmanJournals Production Manager

American Meteorological Society45 Beacon St.

Boston, MA 02108

617-227-2426, ext. 255mfriedman@ametsoc.org