EC announcement 2008

NOTICE TO EC READERS

With the first 2008 issue of Eukaryotic Cell (EC), we will inaugurate an electronic-only format: the print edition has been a victim of its own success. We all appreciate the printed page---there is something nice about being able to hold it in your hand, much like the satisfaction evoked by an inscribed page of calligraphy. However, few journals these days appear as illuminated manuscripts copied by hand---it is just too expensive for mass production. Not so with the electronic page, and from there the message is clear to those who will read it. As for the authors, the electronic version will reduce the color figure charge from $250 per figure for ASM member authors to $45, not an insignificant savings in these days of tight budgeting.

As you might expect for EC, we are one of the avatars for ASM, and very likely for the publishing industry, in this regard. Many of the journals we all know will be going to electronic-only formats in the next few years, electrons being cheaper to move about than paper. So rather than regret the loss, we can embrace the future: lower costs, seamless access, and more---or so we all hope. In any case, the future is, or soon will be, now.

The Editors

Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you.

---Satchel Paige (1906--1982)

ASM AUTHORS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH NIH POLICY

Effective April 2008, the NIH initiated a policy requiring that all investigators funded by the NIH either submit or have submitted for them to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central an electronic version of their final peer-reviewed manuscripts upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication. Authors of ASM journal articles are automatically in compliance with this policy and need take no action themselves.

For the past several years, the ASM has deposited in PubMed Central all publications from all ASM journals. Further, ASM policy effective for the past several years is that all primary ASM literature is made available to everyone, free (open access), 4 months after publication through PubMed Central, Highwire, Google, and international PubMed Central-like repositories. All review articles, published quarterly, are available through these venues 12 months after publication. By having initiated these policies, the ASM is in full compliance with NIH policy.