Abstract
“Peer reviewers will continue to be a critically important component in the JALA publishing process.”
In the May 2003 issue of National Geographic, Lynne Warren wrote that “peer-reviewed (scientific) publications remain the gold standard: reliable sources for credible science.” Throughout 2003, JALA tapped into its goldmine of ALA members and recruited dozens of experts from around the world to conduct rigorous reviews of the many manuscripts submitted to JALA.
JALA peer reviewers considered not only the quality of a proposed manuscript's content, but also the clarity of its presentation. They asked themselves questions such as: Does this paper report a specific, identifiable advance in knowledge? Are its conclusions justified, soundly based, and logically consistent? Are procedures and methods made sufficiently clear? Is the paper as concise as it could be? Are figures and tables relevant and properly prepared?
These volunteers became, in a sense, the JALA gatekeepers. They worked very hard, often under tight deadlines, to ensure that what JALA accepted for publication offered meaningful value to ALA members. Every manuscript submitted to JALA received careful critical consideration, most by two or more peer reviewers. Of the manuscripts considered suitable for JALA, almost without exception, revisions were requested—some minor, some major—and when authors revised their manuscripts accordingly, their efforts always yielded a stronger end result: timely and relevant manuscripts of which authors could be proud, and readers could appreciate.
The role of peer reviewers will not diminish in 2004. Peer reviewers will continue to be a critically important component in the JALA publishing process. Our commitment to confidentiality prohibits us from thanking these unsung heroes by name, but it should be known that their interest, enthusiasm, expertise, and attention to trends and detail help make JALA a truly multidisciplinary international forum devoted to the advancement of technology in the laboratory.
Sincerely,
