The Future of SLEEP at www.journalsleep.org

Abstract

THE JOURNAL SLEEP CONTINUES TO HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CITATIONS, IMPACT FACTOR, AND ARTICLE INFLUENCE SCORE AMONG ORIGINAL science journals that focus on sleep (the 2009 impact factor is 5.402 and the 5-year impact factor is 5.949). The journal remains committed to adapting to the changing landscape of scientific techniques and standards, to the global expansion of sleep medicine and public health demands for evidenced-based practices, and most recently, to the tremendous expansion of technologies that permit electronic publishing and electronic access to scientific information. SLEEP remains the preeminent journal for the sleep science and sleep medicine fields. However, increasingly the operational costs of SLEEP outweigh revenue. This is a reality faced by many biomedical journals, and SLEEP is not an exception. The costs associated with printing and mailing publications continue to rise each year—for example, the U.S. Postal Service recently announced it will institute an 8% increase to periodical postage for 2011. Over the past three years, efforts have been made to economize SLEEP: reduced margins, lighter paperweight, and supplemental online figures and tables. During the same time period, revenue from advertising decreased substantially. To deal with these economic realities and take advantage of new options for electronic information delivery, SLEEP, beginning in January 2011, will be offered online as a benefit to members of the AASM and SRS as well as subscribers. An option for a fee-based print subscription will also be available starting with the January 2011 issue. To ensure that SLEEP online serves the needs of our readers, we have redesigned and rebuilt www.journalsleep.org. Beginning 2011, the website will include a great deal more journal content, along with improved navigation and organization to make it faster and easier for readers to find the essential information that they want. New options will be provided that deliver the latest research on sleep in a convenient on-screen format. The website will also allow for continued expansion as we explore integration of new technologies that improve the reader's experience. The following are some of the improvements that will be available at www.journalsleep.org in the coming months. The SLEEP website is HTML-based, which integrates content better. The new website has a clean design, and includes improved functions so readers can access information easier. Tabs within an article allow readers to move easily from the abstract to full text, to references, and to the PDF version of a paper. Figures and tables are easy to enlarge and read. References within an article are hyperlinked. An improved search engine provides the most comprehensive results, making for easier access to the most relevant articles on a topic. The My CME Credits system allows access to a comprehensive list of available credits and to credits already earned. A table of contents sent via e-mail keeps AASM and SRS members abreast of science published every month. We believe that users will find the new www.journalsleep.org useful, attractive, and efficient. The updated SLEEP website is the first step toward improved access to the journal. We expect the site will undergo additional changes as needs develop and new capabilities emerge through electronic innovation. The new website is the latest in a line of improvements made to ensure SLEEP presents easy access to leading science. Consistent with this goal, we have made other changes in recent years that include SLEEP being listed in PubMed Central; providing free public access to electronic copies of SLEEP articles 6 months after publication (SRS and AASM members have immediate access from the website); and improved handling of manuscripts to reduce the time to decision.1 We recognize that the continued proliferation of electronic delivery modes that replace traditional paper-based systems requires thoughtful adaptation relative to scientific journals. The updated SLEEP website is just one part of our continuing commitment to adapt to important and useful changes in information technology that can facilitate the delivery of our scientific information. There is no denying that social networks, intranets, mobile applications, handheld computers, e-readers, text messaging, etc. are changing how people communicate and acquire information as scientists, physicians, trainees, students, patients, policy makers, media, and consumers. SLEEP must embrace the optimal utilization of appropriate electronic technologies as part of its commitment to excellence and global dissemination of scientific knowledge. The updated website is the first step in that process.