The AAPG BULLETIN, in taking steps into the future,
aims to remove its backlog of manuscripts and provide additional
scientific information for the members.
One of the steps into the future is making all abstracts
from AAPG meetings available on the AAPG Web site. By the move,
more space will be available in the BULLETIN to publish reviewed
articles.
The number of pages in the BULLETIN is limited due
to increasingly difficult economic concerns, including postage and
printing.
In a letter to the members in the April BULLETIN,
AAPG Editor John Lorenz explained that there is currently an average
of two years from the time a manuscript is submitted for review
until it is published.
"Such delay is unacceptable for a journal of the
stature the BULLETIN enjoys," Lorenz said, "and we are working to
improve significantly that situation."
In taking the steps to streamline the editing/production
process and fast track articles in the pipeline and remain economically
responsible to the membership, abstracts for section and international
meetings and the Annual
Report will be available online.
The extra BULLETIN pages, which were otherwise occupied
by the abstracts, will now be available for at least one additional
paper — a move that was approved by a unanimous vote of the AAPG
Executive Committee.
Another step into the future involves online searches
with AAPG's already extensive digital library.
Members now may go to the Petris
Web site (www.petris.com) and as a fee-for-service obtain reprints
of additional articles originally published by SEPM, NOGS, SEG and
CSPG. Expansion of digital access will continue for individual members
and corporate customers, according to AAPG Geoscience Director Jack
Thomas.
Following the trend of the publishing industry, it
is widely acknowledged that at some point all AAPG publications,
including the EXPLORER, will be online only. This will improve greatly
the access to our materials regardless of the location of the member.
Coupled with education modules currently offered
or being developed, the AAPG member will have greater access to
AAPG information by computer access, Thomas said.
Lorenz noted in the BULLETIN letter that shortening
the period between the time a manuscript is submitted and its publication
includes adopting an online manuscript submittal and review system
and streamlining the headquarters handling process.
"Taking these steps into the future requires that
we not forget why the AAPG continues to be strong — member service,"
Thomas said. "That means that needs for hard copy maps, publications,
short courses and training will continue to be offered, to meet
requests made by the membership."