16 replies to this topic

[Laura Miles]

Does anyone know when the next issue of CP (#66, I believe) is scheduled to be out? I emailed almost a month ago and was told it would be sent out electronically "any day".
Just curious if anyone knows what the hold up is.
Laura

[Jimbo]

Seriously what does CP stand for?

[razornole]

Seriously what does CP stand for?

Cartographic Perspectives

[CGIS]

My understanding was that they were going Digital - I read something to the effect of: It's to better serve our members. Not sure how - thinly-veiled cost saving mechanism.

[Jimbo]

Seriously what does CP stand for?

Cartographic Perspectives

Thanks!

[Mike Boruta]

I just noticed that the new issue of CP (#66) is now available for download at the NACIS site.

[Robert Roth]

Thanks for the interest in Cartographic Perspectives (CP), the journal of NACIS, and apologies for the delay in posting of CP #66 to nacis.org. We currently are undergoing an exciting transition of CP to a primarily digital medium in order to maintain the journal as a useful resource for the cartographic community; the recent call for proposals to redesign the CP website that appeared on CartoTalk is one component of this modernization effort. I was lucky enough to serve on a committee that helped defined the transition (along with a lot of other great NACIS folks), so can give a few initial details here. Updates to the journal are based primarily on the feedback gathered in a readership survey completed at the end of 2009 (a write-up can be found in CP #63). As a result of this feedback, we are adjusting its delivery mechanism (i.e., going digital) and updating its content to serve more equitably the diverse interests of both researchers and practitioners in the cartographic community. We expect to make an announcement about these changes shortly; we will post a link to this announcement within this thread once made available. We encourage continued feedback on the transition through CartoTalk, as it will be helpful to ensure that NACIS and CP continue to meet the needs of its membership and readership respectively. I also want to note that Patrick Kennelly (Patrick.Kennelly@liu.edu), the 2011 incoming editor of CP, has been really active in this transition as well and can answer additional questions about content/submissions.

Best,
Robert Roth | reroth@wisc.edu

Does anyone know when the next issue of CP (#66, I believe) is scheduled to be out? I emailed almost a month ago and was told it would be sent out electronically "any day".
Just curious if anyone knows what the hold up is.
Laura

[Laura Miles]

Thank you for the information, Robert! I have been fiending for my next dose of CP.
I know it's not very environmental of me, but I will miss the print edition...
Laura

[Tom Patterson]

I find the digital version CP easy to read with the iBooks app on iPad, although the type is a tad small for my aging eyes. Perusing the articles is very efficient (and great fun), the color illustrations are gorgeous, and it is pretty cool seeing CP parked on a virtual book shelf. The transition away from paper took me a little time to get used to -- about 2 minutes.

Congratulations to the entire CP team for shepherding our venerable publication into a new era.

Tom

[natcase]

My understanding was that they were going Digital - I read something to the effect of: It's to better serve our members. Not sure how - thinly-veiled cost saving mechanism.

Memebers are not just readers... going digital will considerably speed up the timeline between submission by the author and availability to the public, which in this day and age makes it a more attractive place to publish papers on current technology and publications. It also means the reach of the publication will not be limited to paper subscribers. The peer review process will continue as before. And it does save a bunch of money, which will be put to better use supporting content instead of supporting paper.

It should be noted, that copies can be purchased as print-on-demand for those that need/want them. But they are pricey, I think US$15 or so.

See current information here.

[tanya]

As promised, Cartographic Perspectives 66 is here:
http://www.nacis.org/CP/CP66/CP66.pdf

A big thanks for all of the help from the team that put CP66 together, along with the patience and participation of the contributors! And, of course, to the cartographic community for reading!

Tanya Buckingham
tanya@nacis.org

we will post a link to this announcement within this thread once made available.

Best,
Robert Roth | reroth@wisc.edu

[CGIS]

While I understand your point - the vast majority of members are readers. The number of readers will greatly outweigh the number of authors in the majority of technical publications. In my opinion, this is the necessary focus of a publication; to cater to the readership, without becoming a higher volume publication vessel to further one's resume.

Also, the publication was previously available to paper subscribers as a benefit of membership. The reach of the publication was tied directly to the number of members. I've got nothing against an organization saving money - I think though, that when the cuts affect the principle products of the organization, they should be made very carefully, and with the input of the membership. I felt from the outset that the transition to digital was already a done-deal the moment I saw the first NACIS questionnaire about it. I would be very interested in seeing the responses to the poll (number of responses & membership numbers). If I'm alone, I'll quiet down and accept the new reality.

[Dennis McClendon]

Add my voice to those really unhappy about ending print production. CP was already largely irrelevant to me. Now it will be both irrelevant and invisible.

[David Medeiros]

I've just started reading the new issue (very nice BTW), but to do so I had to print it 2 pages per 11x17 sheet, front and back. I don't have a lap top or an iPad and reading at the desktop is not conducive to leisurely thought and reflection. I prefer the hard copy and feel like maybe NACIS jumped the gun on their budget solution. There are probably a number of alternatives that involve both digital and affordable print copies that could have been explored. Like the full size paper street map, some things just don't translate to a digital only existence. I'd guess that overall this change will cause a drop in readers. And I mean readers not down loaders. I often pull down copies of digital only media but never get around to fully reading them because it's just not convenient.

Edited to add: I haven't renewed my NACIS membership yet although I've been at the sign up page a few times. I can tell you that what keeps stopping me from paying is the fact that there is no longer a print publication as part of the membership benefit.

[CGIS]

Edited to add: I haven't renewed my NACIS membership yet although I've been at the sign up page a few times. I can tell you that what keeps stopping me from paying is the fact that there is no longer a print publication as part of the membership benefit.

Same here David, it's the main reason I'm yet to renew.