American Archivist Transitions to Digital-Only Content

Dear Reader,

The SAA journal American Archivist is going completely digital! Volume 83, no.2 (Fall/Winter 2020) is the last issue published in a paper format. 

Last summer the Council of the Society of American Archivists made the decision to publish the journal in an entirely digital format beginning with Volume 84:1 (Spring/Summer 2021)—a decision made in support of the responsible stewardship of SAA resources. Ever-increasing production expenses (e.g., paper costs, fuel surcharges) together with a global pandemic that limited distribution and strained budgets, contributed to this decision.

This is not our first foray into digital access. SAA initially digitized the entire back-run of American Archivist in 2007, making those issues, as well as new issues, available online and via open access (except for articles in the three most recent volumes). In fall 2020, all of the content was migrated to a new digital platform with features designed to enhance your reading experience: mobile-responsive web design, optional split-screen reading experience, suggested articles based on browser history, saved searches/alerts/notifications, and metrics for article downloads, shares, and citations.

Being digital opens opportunities for American Archivist:

• As we work on a broader and more inclusive set of descriptors, the journal remains committed to supporting diversity and inclusivity. Digital content allows us the ability to refine and improve these aspects of our publication.
• Accessibility to the journal already has increased exponentially. For individuals who are differently abled, there is the ease of use provided by screen readers, and we are exploring adding alt-text to the workflow.
• Supporting materials in non-text formats—such as video, audio files, datasets, and full-color images—can easily be added to the content mix.

As the journal continues to evolve, we’re dedicated to providing the same high-quality, peer-reviewed content, extensive author engagement, and production oversight that has made American Archivist the premier journal in the field for more than eighty years. We invite you to keep in touch with us as the journal continues to evolve. Be sure to read it at AmericanArchivist.org!

American Archivist Editorial Board
EditorialBoard@archivists.org

Accessing AmericanArchivist.org

Content on AmericanArchivist.org is open access except for the articles in the three most recent volumes. To access the embargoed content on the new platform, journal subscribers and members of the Society of American Archivists should follow these instructions:

1. Using the email address associated with your account, reset your password. Note: If the reset email doesnot display in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
2. Once your password has been reset, go to AmericanArchivist.org. 
3. Select the “Sign In” button in the right-hand corner to log in with your email and new password.
4. Explore the new site!

Note that you will need to re-create any saved searches, alerts, and notifications as personal data was not migrated from the previous site. For instructions on how to set up your profile and benefit from these features, click here.

Please contact meridiansupport@allenpress.com with any technical questions.