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Guidelines for Authors

View a .pdf version of these guidelines
or view the responsibilities of authors & others re: FIDLs

Overview

Authors are responsible for writing the new or revised FIDL, sending the FIDL manuscript to peer reviewers (and revising it if appropriate), providing publication-ready photos and graphics, and reviewing page proofs.

For FIDLs sponsored by their region/area/IITF, FIDL Contacts (view contacts) are responsible for securing funds for publishing the FIDLs, notifying the national FIDL Coordinator when work begins on a new or revised FIDL, transmitting the final electronic text and figures to the national FIDL Coordinator for layout and publishing, and working with the national Coordinator to distribute paper copies of published FIDLs.

The National FIDL Coordinator is responsible for assigning new FIDL numbers and tracking planned revisions, providing a logo and formatting standards, maintaining the FIDLs website, identifying options for publishing FIDLs, and working with the regional/area/IITF Contacts to distribute paper copies of published FIDLs. Kathy Sheehan (ksheehan@fs.fed.us; 503-808-2674) is the current Coordinator

Initial Planning

Check the list of planned new or revised FIDLs to see if someone else is already working on a FIDL that covers your intended subject.
If your subject is not already claimed, work with your region/area/IITF FIDL Contact to secure funding for the FIDL, identify potential co-authors &/or reviewers, etc. The regional/area/IITF FIDL Contacts will notify the national FIDL Coordinator when a region/area agrees to sponsor a new or revised FIDL. For new FIDLs, the national FIDL Coordinator will assign the next available FIDL number.

FIDL Content

Each FIDL should cover one forest insect or pathogen, a group of closely related organisms (ex: #147 - Mistletoes on Hardwoods), or a group of organisms affecting a common host (ex: # 13 - Heart Rots of Appalachian Hardwoods).

The major sections of a FIDL usually are:

Introduction
Distribution and Hosts
Life History / Life Cycle
Evidence of Infestation / Symptoms & Signs of Infection
Impacts
Management
Assistance
References
Acknowledgements

Additional sections may be included at the author's discretion, such as "Spread and Intensification", "Description of Life Stages", "Natural Enemies", "Stand Conditions Conducive to Infestations", etc. As a USFS publication, standard statements regarding pesticide use (if appropriate) and non-discrimination will be included in each FIDL.

Peer Review

Authors work with the regional/area/IITF FIDL Contacts to identify potential peer reviewers. Authors send draft FIDLs to reviewers, and may modify draft FIDLs in response to feedback and suggestions provided by reviewers. Comments from reviewers may also help FIDL Contacts ensure that a given FIDL merits being sponsored by their region/area/IITF.

Publication Logistics

Number of paper copies: The sponsoring region/area/IITF determines the number of paper copies to be printed. In recent years, 2,000 to 5,000 paper copies have been printed for FIDLs likely to be of interest within one or two regions/area/IITF. FIDL Contacts are currently being queried to determine the number of paper copies desired by their FHP offices and state partners. Several regions/area/IITF may contribute funds to publish a given FIDL and receive a prorated share of the paper copies.

Estimated publishing costs: Currently, the PNW Region's Public and Legislative Affairs staff has agreed to handle layout and contracts for printing of FIDLs at no cost, so the sponsoring region/area only pays for the printing costs. Printing costs are highly variable; the most recent FIDL (2008) printing costs were $1,600 for 5,000 copies or $2,500 for 15,000 copies. In the future, the PNW Region may charge for layout and contracting services.

Images: Photos are to be submitted in .jpg format with the highest resolution possible. At a minimum, photo resolution must be 266 dpi at the publication size. Graphs, charts, and line drawings may be either .jpg format or .tiff format, as long as they are high resolution.

Submitting a new/revised FIDL:

Authors send completed, peer-reviewed FIDL manuscripts and images in electronic format to the regional/area/IITF FIDL Contact.
Assuming the region/area/IITF agrees to sponsor the FIDL, the Contact forwards the new or revised FIDL to the national Coordinator along with information about funding (job codes and override codes) and paper copies (number to be printed, who is to receive the paper copies, delivery addresses).
The national FIDL Coordinator works with PNW Region staff to layout the FIDL using a standard template. FIDL #11 (revised) is an example of the standard.
Authors review the manuscript proof, and identify typographical errors or other minor changes.
The PNW Region staff handles the contract for printing the FIDL. The national FIDL Coordinator will verify the final cost with the sponsoring region/area/IITF's FIDL Contact before the contract is awarded. A .pdf version will also be posted on the FIDLs website by the national FIDL Coordinator.
Newly printed FIDLs are delivered to the authors, the sponsoring region/area/IITF Contact, or another recipient as specified in step 2. The recipient distributes the FIDLs to a FS mailing list provided by the national FIDL Coordinator, and to others as desired.

View a .pdf version of these guidelines
or view the responsibilities of authors & others re: FIDLs

Please contact the FIDL coordinator, Kathy Sheehan (503-808-2674, ksheehan@fs.fed.us) if you have any questions about FIDLs.

last updated: October 2, 2008
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