BuHding web-based scholarly communication forums using electronic journals

,I Scholarly comrnunication is the root of scientific progress. Research on how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the scholarly communication system is being carried out worldwide, particularJy with respect to electronic journals which can and should be constructed as communication forums. Refereeing new contributions for thest:; forums is a major means for their quality control and for the acceptance of the new media. We have implemented a web-based electronic refereeing system for an electronic journal (RIS Review of Information Science) whose many value-added features are described in detail. Faster communication and enhanced interactiyity between referees, editors and authors will be achieved by the use of this Web based electronic refereeing system. In order to ease access and browsing, articles already published will be integrated and managed in a database-based open hypertext system, in this case in KHS (Konstanz hypertext system). Finally, we describe the advantage of a real time communication system for authors, referees, editors and the domain-specific public. Further research will focus at improving the communicative features of this preliminary webbased communication · forum and at evaluating it from a user point of view.