Dear Mr. Tyson et al., =20
Another way to get articles is to write to the author (via email) for a reprint request. I recently transitioned from the academic world to a government job (and therefore do not have journal access), and contacting the author is a good way of getting articles. Providing reprints (for me pdf preferred) is in the best interest of the author because his/her citation index increases with the number of people that read the article. An increase in a person's citation index can increase the probability of receiving grants, getting tenure, etc. Thus, paying for a journal article is almost NEVER necessary. =20 Although I have never published anything in Science, authors of the article in question probably do not profit from the sale of online articles. I have not profited from the sale of my publications (maybe no one has bought them??). Also, most of the time the authors PAY to have their manuscripts published in journals. =20 On a different subject, I think, the fact that I do not have journal access as person responsible for conserving natural resources of a state is counter-intuitive. But, as I explained, obtaining journal articles (for free) is not difficult. =20 Shannon Torrence Coastal Ecologist Coastal Conservation Program Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 1502 FM 517 East Dickinson, TX 77539 281-534-0136 office 281-534-0122 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] =20
