Announcing 2013 Open-Access MCJA Book Reviews

Building on the MCJA momentum generated by our shift to a new publishing house, our expansion from two to three journal issues per year, and our creation of a digital subscription option for institutions, the MAC Editor and Board of Directors are pleased to announce that 10 new open-access MCJA book reviews are now posted on-line.   With space on the printed page at a premium for publishing new articles, we have initiated the streamlined distribution of book reviews through the MAC web site (http://www.midwestarchaeology.org/mcja-book-reviews/).

Ten book reviews that we have solicited and received since January, 2013, are currently posted.  To minimize lag-time for “getting the word out” to MCJA readers about important new publications, each new review will be posted on line as soon as it is received, and will be retained on the website in perpetuity for ready access and reference. We also plan to add all pre-2013 MCJA book reviews to our web page by the end of the year.

These reviews include color images of the book cover, the table of contents, a scholarly review, and a hot link to the publisher to aid readers seeking further information or who wish to purchase the volume.  Most importantly, the reviews are OPEN ACCESS so anyone may read them – readers need not be MAC members. Book publishers we have talked to see this as an especially appealing aspect of our approach.

This project could not have moved forward without the support of the MAC Board, the willingness of Ken Farnsworth to act as MCJA Book Review Editor, and the technical knowhow of Mike Lewis, ISAS Production and Network Manager, and Jamie Kellie, MAC Web Master.  A well-deserved thanks to them all.

Thomas E. Emerson
Editor, MCJA

2013 MAC Student Paper Award

Call for Submissions
The MAC Student Paper Award recognizes an outstanding conference paper or poster based on original research by a student member. All student members of MAC in good standing are eligible to participate. Student Paper Award Committee members evaluate and score papers on the basis of:

1. clarity of research question
2. clarity and quality of arguments presented 
3. quality, appropriateness, and strength of supporting evidence 
4. significance of the contribution to broader methodological or theoretical issues in archaeology
5. significance of the contribution to understanding a specific region or topic 
6. quality of writing (writing style, paper structure, and length)
7. quality, appropriateness, and number of graphics.

The award winner is announced at the Annual MAC Business meeting on Friday October 25th, the winner is acknowledged by the MAC president, and receives an impressive number of books and journals, a ticket to the banquet, and $250 in cash.

Requirements and Submission Procedures

• The paper or poster abstract must be accepted by MAC for the upcoming annual meeting program.
• The student must be the senior (primary) or sole author, must be a currently registered student at an accredited University or College, and must be the presenter at the meeting.
• The student must have a faculty or supervisory sponsor review the paper or poster before it is submitted to the MAC Student Paper Award Committee; AND
• The faculty/supervisory sponsor must send an email to the submission address at the time of paper submission saying that he/she has read and approved the submission.
• The paper or poster must be formatted according to the following instructions (i.e., the poster needs to be submitted in paper form for the competition):
  • a separate title page with name, full contact information including institutional affiliation, and name of faculty or supervisory sponsor 
  • the conference paper containing slide call-outs (numbered to correspond to numbered captions for all Powerpoint slides), references, and references cited
  • double-spaced, with 1-inch margins
  • 12-pt Times or Times New Roman font
  • paper document to be submitted as an electronic pdf
  • a pdf of all Powerpoint slides, with numbered captions, that will be used in the oral presentation should be submitted at the same time 

Please Note:

• do not submit tables of raw data unless they are to be presented as part of the paper 
• An average 15-minute paper is approximately 7.5 pages long (double-spaced, not including references cited). Any paper longer than 10 pages will be docked points.

Please send submissions to the Student Paper Competition Committee Chair, Dr. Jeremy Wilson at wilsojer@iupui.edu.

Helpful Links:

Student Paper Award Committee evaluation rubric

Creating good PowerPoint presentations:
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/microsoft/bb/powerpointrules.htm
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Creating-a-Professional-Microsoft-PowerPoint-Presentation&id=166464
http://www.cellbio.duke.edu/.../powerpoints/powerpointpresentation.ppt

Deadline for Paper Submission
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, September 15, 2013.

Please note that late submissions will NOT be considered.

Send Submission to:
Dr. Jeremy Wilson (wilsojer@iupui.edu)

Letter from the Editor: MCJA to partner with Maney Publishing in 2014

Dear MAC members and MCJA subscribers:

Over the last two years it has been increasingly clear to the Editor and the Board that the MAC had outgrown the current format of its periodical, the Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology.  The publisher’s 6 by 9 inch format and maximum length of 288 pages typically limited publication to a dozen or less articles per annum. This has led to a backlog of accepted manuscripts. When the Board decided to sponsor an annual symposium with a recommendation that the papers be published as a special issue of the journal the problem of backlogs became more serious.  The lack of a digital edition was also a serious detriment to the future growth of the journal.

Consequently, the Board authorized the Editor and Treasurer, John Doershuk, to investigate a renegotiation of the current publishing contract as well as the flexibility to approach other journal publishing houses. Ultimately, after exploring several alternatives, it became clear that the well-established United Kingdom firm, Maney Publishing, was able to offer the MAC Board a venue that allowed for the publication of additional pages per annum, an increased frequency of 3 numbers per volume, and a digital format that will increase the attractiveness of MCJA to libraries challenged by a lack of shelf space.  In addition, Maney will make available its computerized editorial system that will allow authors, reviewers, and the editorial staff to work with submissions in a digital format (similar to that used by American Antiquity). This new format will go into effect with the 2014 volume.

This is a significant step forward for both MAC and the MCJA.  Below is Maney Publishing’s news release announcing MAC has joined with them in the production of the MCJA.  I encourage you to check out the organization and their offerings.  They have an impressive journal list especially in archaeology and heritage studies, two of their specialties.  They are also actively expanding their North American list of archaeology and heritage publications – all of which increases the potential for subscriber and member growth for the MCJA.

I would also like to acknowledge the insights and assistance of John Doershuk, former editor Mark Schurr, current president Mark Lynott, and former president George Milner, and the MAC Board members in moving this process forward.

Sincerely

Thomas E. Emerson

Editor, MCJA