New IJMSC Online Edition Marks First Anniversary

Abstract

The International Journal of MS Care has reached an important milestone: the first anniversary of the launch of our “new and improved,” fully searchable online edition, available at http://ijmsc.org. IJMSC is not new to online publishing: The journal was originally launched in 1999 by its founding editor in chief, Dr. Robert Herndon, as an online-only publication, and it was not until almost 2 years later that the first simultaneous print issue was published. For the next decade, articles published in the print journal were also posted on the website of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) in full-text PDF format. While this made access to journal material quick and easy, as the field of electronic journal publishing evolved, the need for increased searchability—as well as improved discoverability by people not already familiar with the CMSC and its website—became apparent. In response, the IJMSC staff embarked on a search for an online publishing partner that could meet our web-hosting needs. We found that partner in Allen Press, an established provider of both print and online publishing services to the scientific publishing community. In April 2012, our new website was launched, with current content and material from 2011 in both full-text HTML and PDF formats, and plans to gradually add older issues to the site in PDF format. So, where are we now with our digital publishing efforts? Well, as with most journals now published online, we've come a long way, but there is still far to go. The primary need for enhanced searchability has certainly been met. Both basic and advanced searches are possible, using a variety of search criteria. From the search results page, users have options to view abstracts, share articles via e-mail, export citations to citation-management software, and track citations to selected articles via an RSS feed. Registering for a profile at the site brings additional benefits including the ability to add selected articles to a “favorites page” and sign up to receive e-mail alerts when a new issue is released or a selected article is cited in new IJMSC content. Searches can be saved and the user alerted by e-mail when new articles match the search. From each full-text article, the user can find related articles via Google Scholar or search for other articles published in IJMSC by the same authors. The article can also be shared via any of numerous social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The journal participates directly in social media through a group page on LinkedIn and a Twitter feed. Within full-text HTML articles, navigation is enhanced by hypertext links to other parts of the article, including tables, figures, and reference citations. References in the reference list are CrossRef-enabled, meaning that users can conveniently access abstracts or full text of cited articles through “outbound” links using the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) system. This system also includes “inbound” links to the full text of IJMSC articles from other online journals that are published by CrossRef-member publishers, expanding access to IJMSC and increasing the discoverability of our content by researchers in other fields. IJMSC online includes a mobile-optimized website that permits convenient access to all content using mobile devices. We have completed the process of migrating back issues of the journal to the new site from their previous location at the CMSC website, so all material going back to Volume 1, Issue 1 (September 1999) is now accessible at a single location. Back issues have full-text articles in PDF format, with abstracts, titles, and other metadata in fully searchable HTML. All content remains free to everyone without a subscription. After remaining a “hidden jewel” for the first decade of its life, the journal is now poised to reach a much larger global audience. Improving the visibility of IJMSC and the discoverability of its content is a long-term process, but we are encouraged by initial usage statistics, which show accelerating growth in the numbers of unique visitors and total visits to the site over the past year. The proportion of new (versus returning) visitors each month is consistently about 75%; the proportion from outside North America has reached 40%; and the proportion getting to the site through Internet searches (as opposed to referrals from other websites or direct visits) now exceeds 50%. Our main goal for IJMSC online for the coming year is to increase traffic by identifying ways to optimize our content for search engines. Our overall objective in launching a fully searchable electronic edition of IJMSC was to enhance the journal's value as a research tool and ultimately improve clinical practice in the care of people with MS. At the 1-year mark, we feel that we are well on our way, and the future looks bright. Please feel free to send us your feedback and any suggestions for improving the site.