The Journals of the IUCr

Now that everyone talks about 'the crisis', we all agree that success can’t be down to profits alone. This applies to scientific journals as well, and for the Journals of the IUCr, this has always been one of the guiding principles. Our subscription rates are modest, and yet we offer high-quality scientific media. Though numerical indicators are only part of the truth, it is worth noting that the ISI impact factor of the IUCr Journals continues to be high, with the journals occupying two or three of the top five ranking positions in crystallography now for many years. The highest impact factors recorded during the last triennium (results for 2008 are not yet available) were 5.4 for Acta Cryst. B and 5.25 for J. Appl. Cryst. Our journals are not only valued by crystallographers but are read and cited in all branches of science and engineering where crystallographic methods and results are of interest.

The continued success of the Journals is based on many outstanding contributions of numerous members of the large, but highly interactive community of crystallographers as authors, referees, editors and Co-editors. This is complemented by the excellent work of a competent and dedicated technical staff at Chester. Currently, about 150 Section Editors or Co-editors and the full-time equivalent of 12 Technical Editors work for the Journals. The number of expert referees can only be guessed, and their confidential work deserves highest appreciation. The quest for maintaining and furthering high publication standards, scientifically and ethically, unifies and inspires this large community. Our staff members in Chester are continuously providing not only the necessary support, but also new ideas and initiatives for improvements and innovative ventures.

Last year marked 60 years of publication of IUCr Journals, and a special issue to highlight this event was prepared for publication in Acta Cryst. A in January 2008. The memory of the first Editor of Acta Crystallographica, P.P. Ewald, induces a great obligation and motivation for continued dedicated work for the Journals. We now have eight journals, and the number of published papers and pages has continuously increased. Total pages in the last triennium were up from 31521 in the previous triennium to 48261. This increase has largely been driven by the expansion of Acta Cryst. E and the launch of Acta Cryst. F. Online submission is now almost exclusively used for all Journals and this has helped to further reduce publication times. Acta Cryst. E was the first journal of the IUCr whose operation and distribution was moved from a subscription basis to an Open Access model. The new system came into force in December 2007. The resulting combination of free access to the journal for all readers, a low charge to authors, a range of generous discounts from the standard fee and waivers for authors from some countries, and the high quality of the complete publication package provided by the journal is proving very attractive. The number of submissions is still much higher than anticipated by some pessimists.

Current technical developments include enhancements to the online submission and review system, where authors will have the opportunity to upload source files (individual figures, data files etc.) at the start of the submission process. This will make the technical editing process more efficient. Improved manuscript handling provisions will offer Co-editors better control of providing directions or advice to authors and reviewers. An enhanced figure toolkit, available to all authors, has been implemented for the three-dimensional visualization of structures in a browser applet. These can be made an integral part of the article, subject to the same peer review as all other content. A second author tool is a set of web forms for the input of important data items required in a macromolecular structure or crystallization report. The feedback from authors has been very positive.

We know from several sources and also from a highly competitive ALPSP Award the Chester staff received in 2006 for Publishing Innovation (CIF and CheckCIF) that we are among the leaders of innovation. I trust that we will also master the challenges ahead of us, anticipating a reduced distribution of print copy and increased visibility via electronic channels, but also, and this is the important part for all of us, an increasing demand for quality and reliability.

Gernot Kostorz
Editor-in-Chief IUCr Journals