Fully Searchable Online Edition of IJMSC to Launch in April

Abstract

The International Journal of MS Care is about to take another giant step forward into the age of electronic publishing. A fully searchable, full-text online edition of IJMSC is scheduled to launch in April. The new online edition, which will include all content published in the print version as well as online-only supplemental material as appropriate, will contain full-text articles for current content in both HTML and PDF formats. The new site will eventually replace the electronic archive of journal issues in PDF format that is currently accessible through the website of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) at www.mscare.org and will bring full searchability, discoverability, and increased visibility to the MS care literature. The entire site will initially be freely available to all users, in keeping with the journal's current open-access publishing policy. If access controls on journal content are implemented at some future date, all material will remain free to CMSC members.IJMSC online, which will be located at http://ijmsc.org and will also be accessible through the CMSC website, is being produced in collaboration with Allen Press, an established provider of publishing services to the scientific, technical, and medical publishing community. Founded in 1935, this Kansas-based company has been involved in electronic publishing since the mid-1990s. Allen Press was chosen to collaborate with the CMSC on establishing a new electronic edition of IJMSC because of its comprehensive understanding of the requirements of biomedical publications and its dedication to finding innovative ways to meet the needs of researchers.The primary feature of the new online edition of IJMSC will be its searchability. Many different types of searches will be possible using a robust set of search tools to help users find specific content as well as content related to that currently being viewed. When the site launches in April, the full text of the Spring 2012 issue, as well as all 2011 issues, will be available in fully searchable HTML format, as well as article-level PDF files. Over time, most of the journal's older back issues will be gradually added to the archive in a searchable PDF format.Another key feature of the new online edition will be its incorporation of hypertext links to related content in the same issue and other issues of IJMSC. This ability to link directly to the full text of related and cited articles will greatly facilitate use of the journal as a research tool. In addition to “outbound” links from the references in IJMSC articles to those articles in other online journals, “inbound” links will be set up from cited references in other online journals to the full text of IJMSC articles, thereby expanding access to IJMSC content.Other useful features of the new online edition that will be of special benefit to researchers include a content alerting service, whereby the reader who registers with the site can sign up to receive e-mailed tables of contents of each new issue of IJMSC and new content meeting user-specified search criteria. Registered users will also have the ability to download marked references from the results list, abstract page, or table of contents to a number of citation management systems; e-mail links to interesting articles to their friends and colleagues; and build their own library shelf on the website by adding articles to their “favorites” area.A special feature of the new electronic edition is a mobile-optimized website that will allow easy access to the journal using tablet computers and mobile phones. It uses an HTML5 Web-based application that is compatible across multiple devices. All journal content available on the journal website will also be available via the mobile site. We hope that this feature will be especially valuable to busy clinicians who need to access information while “on the go.”The primary aim behind launching a fully searchable electronic edition of IJMSC is to enhance the journal's value as a research tool and ultimately improve clinical practice in the care of people with MS. Moreover, the new online edition is expected to result in a heightened profile for the journal both domestically and abroad. This is likely to help it attract more attention from prospective readers, contributors, and CMSC members. The many interactive linking features, in addition to facilitating research, may broaden the base of readership by bringing the journal to the attention of researchers in related fields who might not otherwise see it. All of these benefits will combine to improve the quality and value of IJMSC as an important tool for the transmission of information related to the care of people with MS. The journal staff is proud to announce this important step forward, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions once the new site is launched and fully operational.