Article alerts: Introduction and items from 2009, part I.

This 'Article Alerts' feature is intended to apprise readers of recent methodological work in research synthesis and compile previous such contributions from various outlets. In this first installment we introduce the feature by commenting on its main aims and distinguishing between the print and archive versions. The feature's content and process are also described, including encouragement of interactive contributions from readers. The current installment's 100 items, a subset of relevant work published in 2009, are categorized by type of contribution and supplemented with suggested keywords.