Wiki Tags Archives: Academic libraries

Endnotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table

By iSchool Admin on May 19, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Endnotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table

ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

Website: http://www.ala.org/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/schres

Purpose, objective, or mission: The Endnotes Committee is part of the ALA’s New Members Round Table (NMRT), a which consists of ALA members with fewer than ten years’ membership. The committee’s mission is to provide support for librarians who want or need to publish scholarly articles, and to publish peer-reviewed research by NMRT members and directed at new librarians.¹

The committee oversees publication of Endnotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table.²

Target audience: American Library Association new members, specifically those who are part of the New Members Round Table (ALA NMRT)³

Publisher: American Library Association⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Online⁷

Content: According to the Endnotes Committee Charge, “Each edition of the journal will contain 2-4 scholarly articles written by members of NMRT, as well as web site reviews and scholarly book reviews of titles relevant to new librarians.”⁸

Frequency of publication: One issue per year, with the possibility of more issues if there is interest. The editor welcomes suggestions for special themed issues from NMRT members.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.ala.org/nmrt/about-endnotes-committee

Types of contributions accepted: Original research, practitioner-based research, case studies, book and media reviews. Articles range between 2000-4000 words; book and media reviews 300-500.¹⁰

Submission and review process: Endnotes accepts article submissions on a rolling basis, but NMRT members are encouraged to contact the editor about proposals to determine if it fits the journal’s scope.¹¹

Send typed, double-spaced MS word docs to nmrtendnotesjournal@gmail.com.¹²

The committee reviews manuscripts via an double-blind peer-review process. Accepted manuscripts will be returned with committee suggestions for edits, and authors will have about a month to revise the manuscript for publication.¹³

Editorial tone: Scholarly, but not too formal. The articles and reviews are almost conversational.¹⁴

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

To submit a manuscript for publication, register with the ALA and then join the NMRT, whose mission is to provide support for librarians with that specific goal. The publication is for NMRT members and directed at new librarians. Endnotes is the perfect place for LIS students and new authors to submit a query to supportive editorial staff and among a group of peers.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Endnotes is an open-access journal available online for anyone to read, but is primarily for members of the ALA’s NMRT.¹⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: ALA is based in Chicago, IL, but the website and newsletter are online open access, available to anyone with internet access, or through a library. A network of affiliates, chapters, and other organizations enables the ALA to reach a broad audience. Although it is written in American English and published by the American Library Association, the ALA does not limit itself to U.S. library concerns.¹⁷

Reader characteristics: Most readers of Endnotes, and all authors, are members of the ALA’s NMRT.¹⁸ ALA members include “librarians, library trustees, and other interested people from every state and many nations. The association serves public, state, school, and academic libraries, as well as special libraries for people working in government, commerce and industry, the arts, and the armed services or in hospitals, prisons, and other institutions.”¹⁹ The ALA’s mission is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of this scholarly journal are part of the ALA’s New Members Roundtable, so they may be expected to be aware of current LIS trends and terminology.²¹

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Readers are primarily new members to the ALA, and are interested in reading the most recent LIS scholarly research, news, reviews and updates in order to further their education or careers, and to inspire their own research and writing. This is an ideal publication for new authors to consider, and as it’s part of the ALA, has built-in credibility and respect, as well as readership.

Last updated: April 22. 2017

References

Show 21 footnotes

Federal Librarian

By Blake Wandling on May 13, 2013 in

Note: The most recent edition of this publication was the Winter/February 2018 issue. This profile is being retired as of June 2019 and will be a candidate for deletion in 2020. At that time, please contact the editor again to verify that the publication is no longer active.

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Federal Librarian

ISSN: 1940-3534(Print) and 0273-1061 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.ala.org/faflrt/newsletters

Purpose, objective, or mission: Federal Librarian is the official newsletter of the Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT).² Federal and Armed Forces Libraries represent a wide variety of library types: research, law, school, and public. Librarians working for the U.S. federal government have opportunities that span the library field, from direct services to the public, to in-depth research support for America’s military and civilian services.

The Round Table has developed a successful series of programs to inform new and incoming library professionals about careers in federal libraries, and to assist established federal librarians grow their careers. FAFLRT also sponsors awards and recognition for outstanding federal librarians.³

From their site: FAFLRT’s mission is “to promote library and information service and the library and information profession in the federal and armed forces communities; to promote appropriate utilization of federal and armed forces library and information resources and facilities; and to provide an environment for the stimulation of research and development relating to the planning, development, and operation of federal and armed forces libraries.”⁴

Target audience: Members of the Federal and Armed Forces Round Table. “FAFLRT membership is open to all individual ALA Members interested in issues affecting Federal or Armed Forces libraries.”⁵

Publisher: American Library Association.⁶

Peer reviewed? No.⁷

Type: LIS professional and trade publication.⁸

Medium: Online.⁹

Content: Federal Librarian “presents recent developments and events of interest to Federal and Armed Forces library community, including news and reports on international, federal, DoD, state and local government issues.”¹⁰

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.¹¹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.ala.org/faflrt/newsletters#mailing

Types of contributions accepted: Federal Librarian includes a mix of current events, trends or issues affecting member libraries, tributes, feature articles, award recipients and a message from the FAFLRT president.¹²

Submission and review process: Send contributions to:

Anne Harrison, interim editor
6200 Wilson Blvd. Apt. 1107
Falls Church, VA 22044
telephone: 202-707-4834
E-mail: harrisonanne57@yahoo.com

The review process is not outlined.¹³

Editorial tone: Reviewing the latest issue (Vol. 31 #4, 2014) provides a selection of items ranging from an accounting of closures at base libraries, to a lively description of the first “Library Con” held at the JBER Library, to a tribute to a retiring librarian. Articles are written in an informal tone.¹⁴

Style guide used: None specified.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Federal Librarian offers the LIS author interested in Federal and Armed Forces Libraries a forum for informal professional discussions of issues and events that are important to this community. As one of the current strategic goals of the FAFLRT is to “establish new and continue existing liaison relationships with relevant ALA committees and round tables”¹⁶, one can assume that this journal would also be open to writers from various areas of librarianship to build connections with the FAFLRT through its newsletter.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The Federal Librarian subscription base is approximately 600.¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readership of the Federal Librarian covers a wide range of LIS professionals in Federal and Armed Forces Libraries, from all over the U.S. These libraries run the gamut from public, school, military academic or special.¹⁸ Bearing in mind the wide variety of issues that are of interest to the reader, but also the overriding cultural umbrella of membership in the FAFLRT, potential authors should tailor their submissions to this group. Articles are written in American English.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Demographics are not given for the readers of Federal Librarian. However, because subscription is included in membership to FAFLRT, readers are among 600 federal and military LIS professionals.²⁰ Readers have a vested interest in matters concerning library and information services in the federal and armed forces communities.²¹

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are generally professional librarians, so a high degree of specialized language and knowledge of LIS principles and information can be assumed.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Readers of Federal Librarian work and live in Federal and Armed Forces communities.²² Authors who also belong to this community would have an interested and supportive audience for their writing. Because the issues examined in the Federal Librarian encourage professional development of their LIS peers, the potential impact on the published author’s career is great. This is a special community who, with their shared interests, would be a knowledgeable and interested audience for the potential author.

Last updated: May 14, 2016

References

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Australian Academic and Research Libraries (AARL)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on May 10, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Australian Academic and Research Libraries (AARL)

ISSN: 0004-8623 (Print) and 1839-471X (Online)¹

Purpose, objective, or mission: Australian Academic and Research Libraries is the research journal of the Australian Library and Information Association. According to the ALIA, the publication “aims to showcase theoretical and practice-based research undertaken in, about, and relevant to, Australia and our broader region.”²

Website: https://www.alia.org.au/publications-and-news/australian-academic-and-research-libraries-aarl

Target audience: International LIS community³

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Print and online; open access after four years⁷

Content: AARL publishes articles of interest to librarians and information professionals throughout the world, including those working in research libraries and academia.⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=uarl20&page=instructions

Types of contributions accepted: AARL invites submissions of practical and theoretical research of 5,000 to 8,000 words, as well as book reviews of 500 to 600 words on all LIS topics. Manuscripts are accepted in English only, with Australian spelling and punctuation preferred. Article submissions should include abstracts of 200 words and a biography of each author of 100 words.¹⁰ Authors are encouraged to supplement their articles with related online materials, such as animations, movie clips, or sound files. Instructions for including this material with an online submission are available on the publisher’s website.¹¹

Editorial tone: Scholarly¹²

Style guide used: Reference style follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition.¹³ For all other style questions, authors should consult the publisher’s in-house style guide¹⁴ and the guide to using mathematical scripts and equations¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Australian Academic and Research Libraries provides an excellent opportunity for LIS authors looking to publish scholarly, career advancing work. Although this is an Australian journal that publishes research relevant to the Australian LIS community, it also explicitly invites contributions from around the world. For the North American LIS researcher and author, this journal provides an opportunity to showcase original research to a global community.

The publication is abstracted or indexed in Australian education index, Australian library and information science abstracts, APAIS: Australian public affairs information service, Information science abstracts, Library and information science abstracts, and Library literature.¹⁶

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation statistics are not readily available for this journal. However, as the premier research journal for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), with 4,200 individual memberships and 800 institutional memberships,¹⁷ the potential for reaching many readers is great.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The majority of readers are Australian and the content reflects this. Authors should be aware of the language and cultural differences between the U.S. and Australia. Colloquialisms and cultural references unique to the United States should be avoided.

Reader characteristics: AARL does not provide demographic information on its readers. As it is the premier research journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, it is likely that the majority of readers are members of the ALIA, which is “open to professionals, non-professionals and individuals and organizations alike.”¹⁸

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Although some readers may not be information science professionals, the majority work in library and information fields and would therefore be very knowledgeable about LIS subjects.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Australian Academic & Research Libraries is an internationally recognized publication that holds high standards for its published works. This journal reaches a wide audience of library and information professionals who are interested in current research in the field as well as relevant issues in their workplaces. For current Australian residents, or even North Americans who have lived or travelled in Australia, this journal provides its authors with a large and knowledgeable audience. Although the majority of readers are most likely Australian, and the journal “aims to showcase theoretical and practice-based research undertaken in, about, and relevant to, Australia,”¹⁹ the editors specifically invite “authors worldwide, working across the full range of information professions, as well as those in the higher education sector and research libraries”²⁰ to contribute to the journal. The large audience of readers that this journal offers would provide an excellent forum for LIS authors worldwide.

Last updated: November 6, 2016

References

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The Journal of Creative Library Practice

By Lisa Lowdermilk on March 13, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Journal of Creative Library Practice

ISSN: 2330-4227¹

Website: http://creativelibrarypractice.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: From the website’s About page: “The Journal of Creative Library Practice provides an outlet for librarians and information professionals to describe and encourage greater creativity in library and information center communications, policies, collections, instruction, and other areas of librarianship.”²

Target audience: “This journal reaches librarians and information professionals of all types, including academic, public, school, special, medical, legal, and others.” The journal is working to broaden its readership to individuals outside the profession, to anyone interested in creative solutions to LIS issues; or anyone who wants to participate in discussions about creative issues and solutions.³

Publisher: Published as an online blog-format journal by Creative Library Practice⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes,⁵ though this blog-style journal also publishes non-peer reviewed content. The refereed articles are distinguished from the blog posts on the site.⁶

Type: LIS scholarly and professional⁷

Medium: Online,⁸ peer-reviewed blogposts⁹

Content: Posts on creative solutions to LIS issues.¹⁰

Frequency of publication: This online journal is updated as frequently as the editors write posts and peer-reviewed articles are accepted.¹¹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://creativelibrarypractice.org/instructions-for-authors/

Types of contributions accepted: Any article focusing on creative solutions to LIS issues, including communications barriers, technology issues, reviews of relevant books or websites.¹²

Submission and review process: The website provides a link to email manuscripts in MS-Word .doc, .docx, or RTF format.¹³

Editorial tone: Editor Joseph Kraus, in a Q&A with Library Journal, stated, “We want to encourage prospective authors to write with less formal rhetoric.”¹⁴

Style guide used: References should be provided in a consistent format, whether Chicago, Turabian, MLA, or APA, or author may simply provide links to cited material.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The journal’s editors consider the publication to be an open source alternative to the stodgy print publications usually favored by the LIS community. They are a creative group open to all sorts of submissions, so this would be a great place to expand on an LIS student paper or thesis, or write about a creative approach tried at a library-related job, and how it helped the organization.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Statistics are not available, but as this journal is also an informal blog there is potential to reach a large audience.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is online and the editors are LIS professionals at colleges and universities around the United States.¹⁶ The journal is written in American English.¹⁷

Reader characteristics: This journal appeals to forward thinking, creative, multidisciplined, against-the-grain LIS professionals seeking to share information with like-minded peers. The journal is written for and by LIS professionals in all possible settings, including academic, public, school, special, medical, and law libraries. It also aims to reach those readers who are interested in libraries but not necessarily working in them, including teachers, parents, students, and businesses.¹⁸

The journal was created by LIS professionals who wish to have a truly open access information sharing site that features creative solutions to common problems in information organizations. This is an open minded, nontraditional group that sees the value in current technologies and is working to take advantage of anything that can help the library community achieve its goals. The journal leans toward the informal, so potential authors should keep this in mind while writing for the publication. The goal is to provide articles from a variety of perspectives.¹⁹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The knowledge level is probably quite high, but as the editors are attempting to appeal to laypeople as well as LIS students and professionals, potential authors should keep the jargon to a minimum and avoid highly technical terms and unusual acronyms.²⁰

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The Journal of Creative Library Practice is part of a new LIS journal standard: using open access for peer-reviewed articles under Creative Commons licensing, and providing relatively loose guidelines in terms of content, and even citations.

Last updated: May 14, 2017

References

Show 20 footnotes

Education Libraries

By iSchool Admin on March 6, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Education Libraries

ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

Website: http://educationlibraries.mcgill.ca/index

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Education Libraries is an electronic, refereed journal of the Special Libraries Association’s (SLA) Education Division. It offers a forum for new and challenging ideas in education, and library and information science. It also explores the effect of new technologies on the library profession and library and information curriculum.”¹

Target audience: The target audience is the membership of the Special Libraries Association, which includes those employed at “a variety of venues, including special libraries and information centers, academic libraries, public libraries, and school libraries.”²

Publisher: Special Libraries Association, Education Division³

Peer reviewed? Yes⁴

Type: LIS and Education; scholarly⁵

Medium: Online, open access since 2015⁶

Content: Education Libraries publishes scholarly articles, book reviews, member profiles, and case studies.⁷ Recent feature articles include faculty-librarian collaboration, 3-D printing in education libraries, collection development, and school library advocacy.⁸

Frequency of publication: Biannually⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://educationlibraries.mcgill.ca/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Education Libraries accepts “research studies, descriptive narratives, or other thoughtful considerations of topics of interest to the education information professional. Manuscripts focusing on issues relevant to more general concerns either in the field of education or in the field of library and information science are also welcome provided they include a significant component specifically germane to education, libraries and librarianship.”¹⁰

Submission and review process: Authors submitting manuscripts are required to register using a link provided on the publication website.¹¹ All submissions will be considered for publication and are subject to the double-blind peer review process. Inquiries about particular manuscripts may be sent via email to the editor. See the publication website for details.¹²

Editorial tone: Scholarly¹³

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) style manual, most recent edition¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Education Libraries presents an interesting opportunity for LIS writers from different types of libraries to discuss and share information that is related to education. This journal is well established, which means writers can be assured that they are submitting their work to a credible source and contributing to the scholarly conversation.

The journal is indexed in Education Libraries is indexed in ERIC, EBSCOhost’s Education Collection, and Library Literature.¹⁵

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to the SLA’s website there are more than 9,000 association members based in more than 75 countries.¹⁶ Information about exactly how many are a part of the Education Division is not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Just as members of the Special Libraries Association are located around the world, the readers of Education Libraries are also international.¹⁷ Because this is an international publication, differences in language and cultural practice should be considered.

Reader characteristics: It is safe to assume the readers of this publication are interested in academic libraries and their role in education. Due to the professional focus of this publication the readership is largely comprised of individuals already working in academic libraries with considerable experience in the field. The readers of this publication are likely to value education and research. They are likely to be interested in learning about new technologies as well as in innovative teaching methods. Recent articles demonstrate a general acceptance of new technologies and changes in librarianship.¹⁸

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It is likely that, as library employees, a majority of readers are very familiar with LIS subject matter. Additionally, we can assume that the readers are familiar with new information technologies issues as well as issues surrounding the growth of digital content in library collections.¹⁹

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The most important characteristic of the Education Libraries audience is its interest in education and technology related to instruction and learning. Authors must keep in mind the fact that this journal is scholarly, and the widest audience is those who work in higher education libraries, therefore well researched studies are particularly important. Potential contributors writing book or technology reviews as well as opinion pieces may want to relate their subject back to its value to learning in order to appeal to the audience.

Last updated: April 13, 2017

References

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The Journal of Academic Librarianship

By Lisa Lowdermilk on April 5, 2012 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Journal of Academic Librarianship

ISSN: 0099-1333 (Print) and 1879-1999 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620207/description#description

Purpose, objective, or mission: The journal’s goal is to provide a forum for academic librarians and professionals to present their research in a scholarly environment and highlight issues and trends pertinent to college and university librarians.²

Target audience: College and university librarians, academic administrators, educators, and students enrolled in library and information science programs³

Publisher: Elsevier B.V.⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Print and online⁷

Content: The journal features current practices, issues and trends occurring within the field and analyzes these trends in an intellectual manner. The journal tends to speculate about the future of academic librarianship and is committed to alerting readers to new and recently published books in the library and information science field.⁸

Frequency of publication: Bimonthly⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620207/authorinstructions

Types of contributions accepted: The journal accepts articles, book reviews, and full length manuscripts.¹⁰

Submission and review process: Extensive Guide for Authors provided as PDF file. Articles are submitted through the online Elsevier system. Submissions are subject to a double blind-review process to ensure they coincide with the journal scope of interest and expected quality of writing.¹¹

Editorial tone: Academic¹²

Style guide used: No specific style is required, as long as references are consistent.¹³

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This journal publishes well-researched work of scholars, professors, library practitioners, and longtime professionals in the field. The articles contained in each issue demonstrate authors’ extensive knowledge of the field. Publishing in this journal would require expertise in the field and would represent a major career booster.

Previously published authors and individuals with highly developed research and writing skills would be the most likely to be published. The author with the most potential would be one aware of the social issues attached to academic librarianship as well as the role libraries play.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No information available

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is published in English¹⁴ in the United Kingdom.¹⁵ As one of the top journals in the LIS field, the editors attempt to be as respectful of cultural diversity as possible. Although no statements about cultural diversity are posted on the journal’s website, it is clear through the tone of the articles that these issues are taken into consideration.

Reader characteristics: Academic librarians are by nature supporters of the academic community. They are also researchers, managers and scholars. Academic librarians are required to publish; therefore, as readers they read with a critical eye. Academic librarians often specialize in one discipline. The readers of this journal typically have graduate degrees, attend library conferences, and are members of one or more library related associations. Readers probably subscribe to other professional journals besides The Journal of Academic Librarianship. The journal is written for an audience that expects accuracy and insightful information in each issue.¹⁶

The primary audience is those within the world of higher education. The journal’s readers are college and university librarians, academic administrators, educators, and students in LIS programs. The readers are typically university or community college librarians who are knowledgeable of the jargon and terminology associated with libraries. Librarians at the academic or scholarly level exist to support the needs of the institution and the average librarian is aware of their role on campus and in the life of the student. Academic libraries and the issues within are the main focus of the journal and although some readers may be outside this field, the journal is written to serve the academic community. The journal is written with objectivity and respect to the reader and to the profession.¹⁷

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers have a great knowledge of LIS subject matter. Many of the readers are writers and reviewers themselves and have high expectations of the writing in academic journals. It can be assumed that the readers stay abreast of current trends and concerns pertaining to academic libraries. Often academic librarians are also library school teachers, which gives them a current understanding of LIS subject matter.¹⁸

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The readers of The Journal of Academic Librarianship are often highly educated and are more specialized than librarians in other fields. These readers expect the journal to have specialized articles. Articles that generically or broadly discuss library science will not satisfy the needs of the reader base. Potential authors are urged to read the past issues and make themselves aware of the specialized fields in which the journal is likely to publish articles. Authors should be aware that they are writing articles for other writers and scholars. The successful submission will be insightful, original, well researched, and well written. Published articles will have a scholarly tome and must be directly written for informed readers. Articles should represent current issues in the field and be constantly aware that the library is at the center of an academic institution and must support the goals and mission of the college or university with which it is associated.

Last updated: May 14, 2017

References

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Journal of Education for Library and Information Science (JELIS)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on April 29, 2011 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of Education for Library and Information Science (JELIS)

ISSN: 0748-5786 (Print) and 2328-2967 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.alise.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=445

Purpose, objective, or mission: “JELIS supports scholarly inquiry in library and information science (LIS) education by serving as the primary venue for the publication of research articles, reviews, and brief communications about issues of interest to LIS educators.”²

Target audience: LIS faculty and educators, and more specifically, ALISE members³

Publisher: Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS and education scholarly⁶ JELIS is a peer-reviewed journal that features scholarly papers, original research, reports, and studies. Although the journal does also publish brief communications, reader comments, and guest editorials, its primary purpose is the presentation of scholarly research.⁷

Medium: Online⁸

Content: JELIS publishes peer-reviewed research articles that contribute to scholarship in the field of education in library and information science and brief communications on topics important to the field. The later is not subject to peer review, but editorial approval only.⁹

Frequency of publication: Quarterly¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://ali.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458

Types of contributions accepted: JELIS accepts submission of major articles of up to 7,000 words and more reflective, brief communications of up to 1,500 words.¹¹

Submission and review process: Manuscripts must be submitted via the online submission widget. The publication acknowledges the receipt of all submissions. Major articles go through a double-blind review process.¹²

Editorial tone: Formal and academic.¹³

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition. Additional information on style and formatting guidelines is included in the guidelines.¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

As a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal in the field of LIS education, JELIS would be a suitable publication venue for those involved in academic librarianship or graduate-level teaching. Although its readership may be relatively small, publication in JELIS would definitely help in the process of building tenure and establishing professional credibility. Ulrichsweb notes that “(JELIS) Authors are most often professors in schools of library and information science.”¹⁵ However, information professionals, LIS faculty, and even LIS students with relevant experience and strong academic writing skills should consider submitting work to JELIS.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Actual numbers are not available, but JELIS is made available to all ALISE members, both individual and institutional, as a benefit of membership.¹⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although detailed geographic information is not available, the ALISE mission specifically mentions serving faculty in North America.¹⁷ JELIS is published solely in English, ¹⁸ and its North American base would suggest that most readers are comfortable communicating in English. Due to the prominent Canadian reader contingent, authors would definitely want to avoid colloquialisms and cultural references that are specific to the United States.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Though demographic information on readership is not available, ALISE does note that its members are generally faculty in library and information science graduate programs.²⁰ It is difficult to make blanket characterizations in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity, as readers range from LIS students to deans. No detailed breakdown of reader workplaces is provided by JELIS or ALISE. The ALISE membership brochure notes that its members include “All levels of faculty, administration, students, librarians, researchers, educational institutions, and others interested in library and information science education.”²¹ Readers likely share a high level of education and a professional interest in LIS education and graduate-level teaching.

JELIS readers, particularly LIS faculty members, are likely to have established opinions based on their area of expertise.²² They are also likely to share the core values of librarianship and view the profession as highly important and relevant in both the academic and professional spheres. Yet JELIS does also feature divergent viewpoints and constructive criticism in its reader comments and guest editorials.²³

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: JELIS readers are extremely knowledgeable about LIS subject matter and well-versed in library jargon, particularly that which relates to education.²⁴ Authors will want to focus their submissions on the most relevant topics for LIS educators, as this publication is quite specialized and readers might not be interested in more general or overarching library concepts.²⁵

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

This is a scholarly publication that features specialized content geared towards a relatively small audience of LIS educators and students. Successful submissions will exhibit a professional and academic tone, and should specifically address emerging issues and trends in LIS education in the United States and Canada, or internationally. Appropriate topics might include technological advances in distance learning, course management systems such as Blackboard or WebCT, the use of Web 2.0 applications (i.e., blogs, wikis, podcasts) in teaching, or a comparative analysis of international LIS education. Additionally, authors might consider including original research to more effectively connect with JELIS readers.

Last updated: May 15, 2017

References

Show 25 footnotes

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication (GKMC)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on April 18, 2011 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication (GKMC) (formerly Library Review). The title change went into effect in January 2018.¹

ISSN: 2514-9342.²

Purpose, objective, or mission: GKMC “publishes contemporary research and practice which explores the way that people and organisations interact in the digital information environment.” It’s “concerned with innovation and developments in digital information, as they relate to global knowledge, communication and world memory. It covers the creation, management, dissemination and use of the full range of information objects.”³

Website: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=gkmc

Target audience: Academics, LIS teachers and researchers, all practicing librarians and information professionals, interested library users, and practitioners in related fields.⁴

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.⁵

Peer reviewed? Yes.⁶

Type: LIS scholarly.⁷

Medium: Print and online.⁸

Content: “Submissions are welcomed on the following major themes:

Global Knowledge and Communication:

Social interaction, networking, social media and space
Free/open access to information: legal, technical, social and managerial issues
Information and knowledge as agents of and for social, political, cultural and organisational change
Connecting the individual: personalised and meta-services
Sociological and philosophical aspects of information and knowledge, including service provision

World Memory: Text, Sound, Vision and Artefacts:

Information creation, ‘collection’ and curation
Information seeking, discovery and use
Sustainable preservation, including environmental, social, technical and legal issues
Sharing and facilitating individual engagement with archival, cultural and literary heritage: objects and services
Memory institutions and organisations: role and purpose, design, delivery, evaluation and cultural issues
Professional collaboration – consortia, exchange and sharing.”⁹

Frequency of publication: Nine times a year.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=gkmc

Types of contributions accepted: Submissions should belong to one of the following categories: research paper, viewpoint, technical paper, conceptual paper, case study, literature review, or general review.¹¹

Submission and review process: The journal welcomes original, unpublished manuscripts (between 6000 and 8000 words) which aren’t currently under review elsewhere. Submissions should be accompanied by a structured abstract which contains four to seven subheadings (maximum of 250 words). (Please see the How to…Write an Abstract guide here for more details.) Additionally, Emerald Publishing Limited partners with Peerwith, an organization which provides editing, translation, and other useful services. Submissions to GKMC are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Information on registering and using the ScholarOne Manuscripts is located here. Per the “Author Guidelines,” “Each paper is reviewed by the editor and, if it is judged suitable for this publication, it is then sent to at least one independent referee for double blind peer review.”¹²

Editorial tone: Scholarly, assumes professional industry knowledge of LIS issues.¹³

Style guide used: Harvard style.¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication is an excellent choice for authors looking to publish with a respected journal addressing global LIS issues. GKMC dates all the way back to 1927,¹⁵ and its recent name change reflects its commitment to memory institutions (e.g., museums, archives, etc.) in addition to libraries.¹⁶ Thus, authors interested in publishing with this journal have a wider range of topics to choose from than they do with traditional LIS journals.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Although specific circulation statistics are unavailable, the journal likely enjoys substantial readership (due to its international focus).¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is published in English in the U.K. and has readers and subscribers worldwide.¹⁸ GKMC‘s international scope is exemplified by its first issue published under its new name, with topics such as “The State of Institutional Repositories and Scholarly Communications in Nigeria,” “Utilisation of Subscribed Electronic Resources by Library Users in Mzumbe Library, Tanzania,” etc.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Readers are likely to value cutting-edge research on information-based topics pertaining to libraries and other information organizations. Additionally, readers will expect articles to be meticulously researched and to clearly document all findings, in keeping with the standard current and past articles have set.²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Writers can assume that readers have considerable knowledge of LIS issues and terminology, as well as information terminology in general.²¹

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

In keeping with the journal’s new name, readers will expect articles on a broad spectrum of information science issues. For instance, a 2018 article entitled “Chinese Female Preference of Cosmetic Products Information Channels” describes Chinese women’s information-seeking behaviors in regards to cosmetics.²² In other words, readers will expect articles to be varied in terms of topic selection but remain grounded in solid LIS theory.

Last updated: March 12, 2018

References

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