Whether you’re writing an article for a scholarly journal or are in the midst of finishing up a term paper, LibGuides are a great way to familiarize yourself with a topic. For those who don’t know, LibGuides are subject guides, created by librarians, that compile a variety of resources on a specific topic (anything from […]
Author Archive | Lisa Lowdermilk
Writer’s resource: The Researching Librarian
The Researching Librarian is a great website for librarians conducting “research for purposes of publication, promotion, tenure, or other reasons.”1 Created by Kerry Smith, an independent indexer, editor, and writer,2 and maintained by Beth Ashmore, a librarian, editor, and manuscript reviewer,3 The Researching Librarian is an independent volunteer project which is clearly organized by type […]
Wiki feature: Tag cloud
One of my favorite wiki features is the tag cloud that Maria, one of our wiki editors, recently implemented. You’ll see this cloud of popular tags in the right-hand column of every wiki page. As you probably know, tagging is an information retrieval system used to group webpages with content on similar topics. Just as […]
Why your manuscript was rejected
Picture this scenario: you’ve submitted a manuscript to your favorite LIS publication and are eagerly awaiting their response. But weeks after submitting it, you receive the following reply: Thank you very much for your submission. Our editorial team has reviewed your manuscript and decided that it does not meet our publication’s needs. We wish you […]
Avoiding logical fallacies: “Appeal to authority” and “either/or”
Since my discussion on the “argument to logic” fallacy wound up being more detailed than I’d anticipated, I decided to write another post on other fallacies, specifically the “appeal to authority” and the “either/or” fallacies. Hopefully, these blog posts will get you thinking about how you can avoid fallacious thinking in your own writing. Appeal […]
Avoiding logical fallacies in your writing: “Argument to logic”
One of the best ways to ensure your manuscript stands out from the competition is to verify that your arguments are free of logical fallacies. What are logical fallacies, you ask? According to Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL), “Fallacies are common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument. Fallacies can […]
Writing tips: The difference between “that” and “which”
My time with the wiki has taught me many valuable things, including the fact that I—as an American writer—have been using “that” and “which” erroneously. If you—like me—are in the habit of using the word that “sounds right,” rather than referring to your style guide, read on! This post may just have a tidbit or two […]
Publication spotlight: School Library Journal
School Library Journal (SLJ) is an LIS professional publication that highlights topics immediately relevant to information professionals who serve children and teens. SLJ includes many useful book reviews as well as articles on common-interest topics like diversity. The publication features a casual yet informative tone that should appeal to anyone interested in LIS issues as […]
How the wiki has helped me
Being an editor for SJSU’s LIS Publications Wiki has helped me in a variety of ways, both expected and unexpected. Unsurprisingly, the wiki has made me aware of numerous LIS publications I didn’t know existed. The Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve is of particular interest to me due to my interest in rare […]
Publication spotlight: School of Information Student Research Journal
School of Information Student Research Journal is the student-run scholarly journal of San Jose State University. This publication covers all types of libraries, and it features articles by both students and professors. It has a formal, scholarly tone which should appeal to anyone interested in original LIS research. From 2010 to 2017, the journal was known […]