welcome readers to IIER volume 18, number 1, our first edition to be published online only. In the past, many of our readers received their notification of publication by postal delivery of traditional hardcopy. Now that IIER's print version has been retired, as advised in Editorial 17(2), your notification will arrive by email.

Our reasons for changing to online only were set out in the previous Editorial as follows. After 17 years of publication in print format, including 10 years of dual print and online publication, the time has come for Issues in Educational Research to make the transition to an online only journal. The printed version cannot be sustained owing to increasing costs per copy, a factor exacerbated by a decreasing number of copies being ordered, increases in postal expenses, and the need to economise with the amount of honorary work required for producing and distributing copies. There will be other advantages to our readers and subscribers as well as cost and conservation issues. The publication process is expected to take less time, ensuring a more rapid turnaround time. We already have a good reputation for speedy turnaround time compared with many commercial publications, and we aim to have this continue. We believe authors prefer to have their work published before their research is out of date.