Journal of Great Lakes Research FAQ

Q. What are my options for reviewing an article?
A. Individual articles currently are not for sale; however; you have several options for reviewing the articles you wish to read:

1. Purchase a hard copy back issue. These are available from the business office at $20 each, special issues $30 each, plus shipping and handling.
2. Contact the author. They usually have reprints available upon request.
3. Become a Member. An electronic membership includes complete access to current and past articles via our searchable online archive.
4. Visit a library near you. Contact the business office for a list of subscribing libraries.

Q. Where do I submit a manuscript?
A. An electronic copy in a single Microsoft Word file is to be submitted to the editor with a single hard copy sent by mail. Authors electing not to send electronic copies must send four hard copies to the editor; a disc copy also is requested.

Q. Is my paper suitable for the Journal of Great Lakes Research?
A. The journal publishes original contributions reporting new information from all disciplines pertaining to the science and management of large lakes of the world and their watersheds. A manuscript should advance knowledge on a subject or promote a better understanding of existing concepts. It can not have been published or can not be simultaneously submitted for publication elsewhere.

If an author is unsure about the suitability of his/her paper, then he/she can contact the editor to discuss the paper.

Q. Where can I find complete Instructions to Authors?
A. The Instructions to Authors can be found in the first issue of the most recent year and are posted on the web. In addition, all authors will receive an electronic copy of the Final Instructions to Authors (also posted on the web) to assist them in preparing their final submittal.

Q. Besides the manuscript, what else do I need to submit before publication?
A. The journal requires that all authors sign a Copyright Agreement which transfers copyright of the published article to the International Association for Great Lakes Research. Government employees sign a statement indicating that the work has not been published elsewhere. All authors must also sign a Page Charge Commitment form. Both these forms are sent to the author upon receipt of a manuscript and should be signed and returned immediately to avoid delays later should the paper be accepted.

The final submittal should include original, camera-ready prints of the figures (and digital versions if available), 2 copies of the final version of the manuscript, and a diskette containing the manuscript exactly as it appears on the hard copies in a single Microsoft Word file.

Q. What's the status of my paper?
A. After a paper is submitted the editor will assign it to an associate editor who will handle the review process. The associate editor solicits outside reviews and if revisions are recommended the associate editor will work with the author to insure that necessary revisions are addressed and the manuscripts are improved. After completion of all the required revisions the associate editor will forward the manuscript to the editor with a recommendation for publication. The editor may require additional revisions and will make all final decisions on the suitability for publication of a paper. After the editor has accepted the paper, it will be forwarded to the managing editor for typesetting and page layout. The managing editor may require additional corrections (especially for figures or references). After the entire issue is assembled by the managing editor it will by typeset and page proofs will be forwarded to the author by the managing editor. After all corrections to the proofs are made, the journal will be printed and mailed.

The length of time that a manuscript spends in the process is variable but depends largely on the time the author spends in revising the manuscript. Papers inactive for more than six months will be withdrawn by the editor and a letter sent to the author informing them of this change in the status of their manuscript. Manuscripts and revisions submitted electronically go through this process the quickest. After a paper is accepted by the editor, the production process takes about three months given the current production schedule.

If at any time during this procedure an author wishes to know the status of a paper, the appropriate editor (associate editor, editor, managing editor) may be contacted. Or, the editor can be contacted at all stages.

Q. Do I have to pay the page charges?
A. Yes and no. The journal has waived page charges for regular issues with the exception of color plates and glossy paper (ca. $1,300 US a plate) and costs for galley proof corrections. While waivers can be granted in special circumstances for the higher charges, authors need to be aware of the page charges and should expect to receive an invoice for them upon publication of their papers as circumstances merit.

Authors publishing papers in Special Topics Issues are also required to pay the page charges at $100 US a page (plus extra costs for color plates and glossy paper); Guest Editors sometimes have funding for those charges.

Q. How do I propose a Special Topic Issue?
A. Details of Special Topic Issues are presented in the Journal of Great Lakes Research 24:2. A special topics guest editor will submit a formal application to the editor of the journal which specifies the special topic title, the source of the papers (workshop, symposium, etc.), justification of the need for the special topic, an estimate of the total number of papers, an approximate listing of authors and titles, any preface, introductory, or summary papers, and an estimate of the completion date of all submittals. The editor will discuss the application with the Association Publication Committee to make a decision to accept or reject the special topic application.

For accepted special topics the editor will assign an associate editor to work with the special topic guest editor to insure that the papers are reviewed and revised in accordance with normal journal procedures and standards. Review of a preface or short introductory paper by the topic organizer(s) and/or a longer overview or summary paper will be at the discretion of the editor. Special topics papers submitted to the journal will be treated the same as regular submissions, and will be subject to the same standards, review procedures, and copyright transfer as regular papers. Papers of a special topic will be collectively published in a single, regular issue of the journal along with regular submissions. As with regular submissions, all decisions regarding acceptance or rejection of individual papers rests with the editor. A special topic will not be assigned to an issue until acceptance of all papers in the collection.