Libyan Journal of Medicine: Achievements and Challenges

To The Editor: I read with interest the letter from the editor posted on July 8th, 2008. In the first instance, I would like to congratulate the workers in the journal and particularly the core team who thought of the idea and gathered around them all this large team of workers and supporter. I would also wish to express the appreciation of those who chose to publish in a newly established journal though it may always be tempting to send their work to "MedLine-indexed" journal. The quality of work published, the timeliness, consistency and the high quality website are all commendable. I personally think you have succeeded in achieving the aims you described in your second paragraph. I am indeed happier that you chose to adopt the constructive and supporting views and the result is exactly what you wanted "an international journal with Libyan roots". Although, "maintaining the quality focused attitude resulted in more high quality manuscripts being submitted" and the several indexing services that adopted the journal, the time has come to communicate with the appropriate authorities in the US National Library of Medicine to consider the journal for indexing in MedLine. I think this would be landmark event that will put the journal on the real map of international medical publications. I strongly recommend that efforts are focused on this very important issue at this stage. The editors' letter ended with a short statement on the funding of the journal. It is unfair to expect the members of the editorial team to carry the financial burden of the journal. I Think that this is a very much a marketing issue rather than an academic issue. Here are some possible potential sources of funding that would be very appropriate for a LJM as they are for any other journal. It is my understanding that the Journal is being published by Ibnosina Medical Association, perhaps some of the membership fees of Association should be directed towards the journal's running costs. Advertising areas on the journal's as well as Ibnosina web sites do not seem to be used and advertising pages in the hard copies should bring good revenue. In addition, advance abstracts and/or proceedings of national or regional medical conferences of acceptable quality may be prepared by the scientific organizers for publication in the journal as supplements or mini-symposia [1]. A nominal financial contribution may reasonably be expected from the …