Wiki Tags Archives: Special libraries

Law Library Journal

By Lisa Lowdermilk on February 23, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Law Library Journal

ISSN: 0023-9283¹

Website: https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Since 1908, LLJ has provided up-to-date information on law, legal materials, and law librarianship.²

Target audience: “Law librarians and others who work with legal materials.”³

Publisher: American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes.⁵

Type: LIS scholarly.⁶

Medium: Print and online.⁷

Content: Sample article topics “include law library collections and their acquisition and organization; services to patrons and instruction in legal research; law library administration; the effects of developing technology on law libraries; law library design and construction; substantive law as it applies to libraries; and the history of law libraries and legal materials.”⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/

Types of contributions accepted: Information appropriate to law librarianship, case studies, descriptive or historical narratives, commentaries, reports on research projects, articles memorializing deceased members of the association.¹⁰

Submission and review process: As is standard practice for scholarly journals, LLJ only accepts unpublished manuscripts which are not being considered for publication elsewhere. The editor works closely with authors throughout the review process and keeps the latter informed of the expected production schedule. Additionally, the journal encourages potential authors to submit queries before submitting articles for consideration.¹¹

Editorial tone: Scholarly, although many articles have adapted an engaging narrative style, which is as readable as it is informative.¹²

Style guide used: The Bluebook, which illustrates how to format footnotes and references is used in conjunction with The Chicago Manual of Style.¹³

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Law Library Journal is an excellent choice for students working in law libraries, lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, as well as anyone interested in law libraries in general, including the history of these valuable institutions. Although the subject matter of this publication is relatively specialized, authors who combine research with engaging narrative to frame in-depth articles on law libraries will feel right at home with LLJ.¹⁴

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Circulates to nearly 4500 members and subscribers.” ¹⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Because Law Library Journal is published by the American Association of Law Libraries, the bulk of its audience is comprised of English-speakers, particularly those who live in the U.S. and/or are interested in U.S. law libraries.¹⁶ However, the journal also publishes research which describes the role of law in other countries, particularly European countries which have influenced the U.S.¹⁷

Reader characteristics: LLJ readers are primarily law librarians or others who work with legal materials and resources. They may work in law firms, law libraries, law schools, public libraries with law sections, etc.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will be familiar with both LIS and legal jargon.

Additionally, since the bulk of LLJ’s readers are AALL members, it’s worth examining the general knowledge base of the AALL. AALL members belong to a variety of committees, including the Citation Formats Committee,¹⁸ Fair Business Practices Implementation Task Force,¹⁹ and Recruitment to Law Librarianship Committee.²⁰

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

Law Library Journal‘s readers are very familiar with legal procedure, courts, and librarianship. While the articles in this journal are written in an easy-to-understand style, readers expect authors to accurately portray the nuances of U.S. law, the history of libraries in general, etc. Thus, although the topics portrayed within the journal are broader than the title suggests, thorough knowledge of U.S. law and its history is suggested before submitting to this publication.

Last updated: February 23, 2018

References

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Chandos Publishing

By Rachel Greggs on February 22, 2018 in

Publisher analysis

About the publisher

Name: Chandos Publishing

Website: https://www.elsevier.com/books-and-journals/chandos-publishing

Purpose, objective, or mission: Chandos is “an international leading publisher in contemporary library and information science, and social science. With a truly global perspective, Chandos produces high-value resource books combining theory and practice for researchers, academics, and practitioners. “¹ They are an imprint of the publishing house Elsevier, founded in 1880.

Target audience: LIS professionals and those in the social sciences fields.

Owner: Elsevier

Are published books peer reviewed? Yes. Elsevier’s book proposal form asks potential authors to list three experts in the field who could provide input as part of the book’s review panel. All proposals are read by Elsevier editorial staff and selected external reviewers.²

Types of books published: Reference, textbooks, research books.

Medium: Print and digital.

Topics covered: Over 300 titles are incorporated into the following key series:

- Information Professional Series
- Social Media Series
- Learning and Teaching Series
- Asian Studies Series³

Number of titles published per year: In 2020, Chandos published five books in the LIS field.⁴

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.elsevier.com/authors/book-authors

Types of submissions accepted: “We offer a range of digital and print products to suit different subject areas, information types and customer needs. These include: reference, textbooks, fast-turn content, Major Reference Works, Reference Modules, stories and serials, laboratory and practical manuals, and atlases.” ⁵

Information that needs to be included in your proposal:

Working Title
Key Words
Author(s) and/or editors(s)
Aims and scope/Background and purpose
Your intended audience and benefits
Competing resources
Table of contents
Publishing Timeline
Sample content/chapter
Qualified reviewers

To access the official Proposal form, see Submissions process section HERE

Submission and review process: Download and fill out the proposal and send the completed form to our proposal mailbox including the following details in the subject line of your email: Proposal in (subject area) / (author name: working title)⁶

Editorial tone: Professional. The home page for Chandos Publishing states that they produce books for researchers, academics and practitioners.⁷

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Though Elsevier is a large publishing house that is heavy on journals, LIS book authors could possibly find a good fit with Chandos. In 2020, some of their published book titles included Disaster Planning for Special Libraries, Future Directions in Digital Information, and Technology, Change, and the Academic Library. ⁸Elsevier is especially supportive of less experienced researchers and authors. Their website Researcher Academy offers in depth teaching modules to help authors learn about getting their works published and promoted.

Audience analysis

About the publisher’s audience

Size: Chandos is a sizable LIS publisher. Their online catalog shows 598 books currently in print.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Though Elsevier’s headquarters is in the Netherlands, Chandos states that they are an international publisher for the global LIS community. They feature a book series entitled the Asian Studies series, producing titles such as China’s Publishing Industry and Scholarly Communication in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Chandos also publishes international titles such as Succession Planning in Canadian Academic Libraries and Australian Library Supervision and Management.

Reader characteristics: Readers of works published by Chandos will likely be LIS academics and professionals seeking out books on specific subject matter.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The home page for Chandos publishing states that they publish for “researchers, academics and practitioners,” so authors can assume that readers could potentially have an expert knowledge in the field.

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

Readers of works published by Chandos are LIS professionals located all over the world. With works such as Disaster Planning for Special Libraries and The Impact of Print-On-Demand on Academic Books, it’s clear that readers come to Chandos with well defined information needs that pertain to specific areas within the LIS field.

Last updated: February 22, 2018

References

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Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on February 16, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA)

ISSN: 1536-5050 (Print)¹ and 1558-9439 (Online)²

Website: http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla

Purpose, objective, or mission: According to the journal’s website: “The Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) is an international, peer-reviewed specialty journal that aims to advance the practice and research knowledgebase of health sciences librarianship.”³

Target audience: Instructors, practitioners, and students interested in the practice and research aspects of health sciences librarianship.⁴

Publisher: University Library System / University of Pittsburgh.⁵

Peer reviewed? Yes.⁶

Type: LIS scholarly.⁷

Medium: Print and online.⁸

Content: This journal covers a variety of topics pertaining to health sciences librarianship, including information literacy, the information behaviors of cancer survivors, library instruction in medical education, evidence-based practice, etc.⁹

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines:

http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: The journal accepts original submissions in a variety of categories, including original investigations, case studies, systematic reviews, obituaries, commentaries, and letters to the editor.¹¹

Submission and review process: Each category has different requirements or guidelines for authors to follow concerning length and format, among other criteria. For example, an original investigation should be a maximum of 5,000 words and contain the following sections: an abstract (which is a maximum of 250 words), introduction, methods, results, and discussion.¹²

JMLA uses a double-blind peer review process, which takes up to eight weeks from the time of submission.¹³

Editorial tone: Scholarly.¹⁴

Style guide used: The journal uses several style guides, including the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals; the Medical Library Association (MLA) Style Manual;Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 2nd edition; the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style; and the latest edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The JMLA is arguably the premier medical librarianship journal. Additionally, the organization for which it is named dates back to 1898 and “is the second oldest special library association in the United States.”¹⁶ Authors looking to establish themselves in the field of health sciences librarianship should seriously consider submitting to the JMLA.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Although exact circulation numbers are unavailable, the Medical Library Association “currently has more than 4,000 health sciences information professional members and partners worldwide.”¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: International,¹⁸ although the journal is based in the U.S. and is published in English.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Most readers are likely to be members of the Medical Library Association (MLA) and thus, are professionals or students within the medical librarianship field. At the very least, readers are interested in medical librarianship and will expect articles that are up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of the journal will likely have a background in LIS with specific knowledge within the medical LIS field.²¹

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

The audience for this publication is interested in original, cutting-edge research pertinent to the specialized field of medical librarianship. Additionally, readers will expects articles which are technical in nature and scholarly in tone. Thus, authors should possess specialized technical knowledge of medical librarianship and ideally, have professional experience within this field.

Last updated: February 16, 2018

References

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The Oral History Review

By Maria Notarangelo on February 16, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Oral History Review

ISSN: 0094-0798 (print), 1533-8592 (online)

Website: https://academic.oup.com/ohr and http://www.oralhistory.org/publications/oral-history-review/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The mission of The Oral History Review “is to explore the nature and significance of oral history and advance understanding of the field among scholars, educators, practitioners, and the general public.” The journal reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the field of oral history. It is considered “the U.S. journal of record for the theory and practice of oral history and related fields.”¹

Target audience: The Oral History Review is a publication of the Oral History Association, which has an international membership and “serves a broad and diverse audience including teachers, students, community historians, archivists, librarians, and filmmakers.” The journal is international and cross-disciplinary, reaching “people committed to the value of oral history.”²

Publisher: Oxford University Press.³

Peer reviewed? Yes.⁴

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Available in print and online.⁵

Content: The Oral History Review “publishes narrative and analytical articles and reviews…that present and use oral history in unique and significant ways and that contribute to the understanding of the nature of oral history and memory.”⁶ A typical issue includes an editor’s introduction; original articles on research, method, practice, and theory; articles on pedagogy; and media and book reviews. Occasionally, the journal will publish a guest-edited special section, such as Looking Back, Looking Forward: Fifty Years of Oral History.⁷

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Guidelines appear on the Oral History Association website (http://www.oralhistory.org/publications/oral-history-review/the-oral-history-review-submission/) and on the Oxford University Press website (https://academic.oup.com/ohr/pages/Instructions_To_Authors).

Types of contributions accepted: The Oral History Review “publishes narrative and analytical articles and reviews, in print and multimedia formats, that present and use oral history in unique and significant ways and that contribute to the understanding of the nature of oral history and memory. It seeks previously unpublished works that demonstrate high-quality research and that offer new insight into oral history practice, methodology, theory, and pedagogy.”⁸

Submission and review process: Manuscripts for articles are submitted through ScholarOne Manuscripts for blinded peer review. Review manuscripts are submitted via email attachment to the appropriate editor.⁹

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition).¹⁰

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

There are many opportunities for LIS professionals to contribute to this publication. Guidance can be provided about cataloging and preservation methodologies for oral history collections. LIS professionals can also weigh in on the ethics of information, including collection, copyright, distribution, and access. LIS professionals should also be aware that the Oral History Association has published goals, guidelines, and standards for oral history interviews.¹¹ Prospective authors should also explore the journal’s blog.¹²

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Oral History Association members receive a free subscription and online access to current and back issues. Other circulation data are not available.¹³

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Oral History Association is located in the United States but has an international membership. The Oral History Review is published in English but “reflects the international scope of the field and encourages work from international authors and about international topics.”¹⁴

Reader characteristics: Readers have a high knowledge of and interest in oral history, from both a local and an international perspective. Readers will expect articles that are well-written and original and that exemplify the best practices and principals in oral history research and practice, as established by the Oral History Association.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: This is not strictly an LIS publication, although librarians do read it and contribute to its content. Articles should avoid LIS jargon and be directed toward a broad, international readership.

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

The Oral History Review is written for an academic and international audience, so writers who contribute should be sure that their articles exhibit the knowledge and novelty that the experienced readership has come to expect. This could make it a difficult journal for oral history novices to write for. LIS professionals and students who have expert knowledge of the field of oral history and its preservation and archival techniques would find a good outlet in this journal.

Last updated: February 16, 2018

References

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Notes: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association

By Maria Notarangelo on February 14, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Notes: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association

ISSN: 0027-4380

Website: http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/Notes

Purpose, objective, or mission: Notes is the journal of the Music Library Association. Since 1934, the journal has offered “its readers interesting, informative, and well-written articles in the areas of music librarianship, music bibliography and discography, the music trade, and on certain aspects of music history.”¹

Target audience: Notes is the journal of the Music Library Association, whose members are “librarians, musicians, scholars, educators, and members of the book and music trades.”² Members of the Music Library Association receive the journal in print and can access it online.

Publisher: Music Library Association, Middleton, Wisconsin.

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.³

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: A Notes issue typically contains an editorial section; general articles on music and music librarianship; reviews of books, scores, periodicals, and new media; and newly cataloged books and recently issued music scores.⁴ Articles and reviews published in Notes are international in scope.

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Information for Contributors.

Types of contributions accepted: “Notes welcomes submissions of interesting, informative, and well-written articles on music librarianship, music bibliography, the music trade, and discography, and on certain aspects of music history.”⁵ The editor welcomes preliminary ideas and manuscript proposals.⁶ Unsolicited reviews are not accepted, but those who would like to become reviewers “are invited to send a curriculum vitae and a statement delineating their special areas of interest and competence to the appropriate editors.”⁷

Submission and review process: Articles should be submitted as an email attachment to the editor, Deborah Campana (deborah.campana@oberlin.edu). Manuscripts are first read by the editor for “general suitability” and then are subjected to a double-blind peer-review process. Once a submission is accepted, the author is informed of the conditions governing that acceptance.⁸

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition).⁹ Journal-specific style requirements are delineated in the “Notes Style Sheet,” which is helpful, extensive, and “in continuous revision.” Furthermore, authors should consult the “Information for Contributors” in the most recent issue of Notes.¹⁰

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

As the quarterly journal of the Music Library Association, Notes clearly belongs to the library and information science literature. Music librarianship, however, is still largely the domain of librarians who are also scholars in the field of musicology–they have advanced degrees, teach, and publish in both disciplines. As such, publishing in Notes is only an option for LIS authors with a great deal of expertise in both librarianship and some area of musicology, such as music history, music theory, or the music trade. Being published in Notes would be a huge boost to the career of any LIS author, and it would be sure to impress almost any tenure committee.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Each quarter, 1,150 print issues are mailed.¹¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Notes is the quarterly journal of the Music Library Association, which is the U.S. branch of the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres; as such, the journal reaches an international audience. Based on the Music Library Association membership, the audience includes “librarians, musicians, scholars, educators, and members of the book and music trades.”¹² The journal is published in English.

Reader characteristics: Readers are professional music librarians and archivists, as well as LIS professionals with an interest in music, from around the world. Further, the readership of Notes likely includes scholars and students in music, musicology, and related fields from outside the LIS professions.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of this journal will have a professional knowledge of LIS, especially in terms of music librarianship and archival work.

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

Notes readers are a very educated group of people who typically have advanced degrees in both library science and musicology. It’s reasonable to assume that they expect a comparable expertise from the publication’s authors, so Notes is probably a venue that should be left for authors with that kind of background. Writers who do publish in Notes can assume that their readers are familiar with the terminology of both the music/musicology and LIS fields.

Last updated: February 14, 2018

References

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Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (JCHLA/JABSC)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on February 8, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (JCHLA) / Journal de l’Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (JABSC)

ISSN: 1708-6892¹

Website: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jchla/index.php/jchla (French language edition is at the same link; click on the drop-down menu under “Language”)

Purpose, objective, or mission: “The purpose of the journal is to provide a forum for librarians and other information professionals to share research and information related to health sciences librarianship.”²

Target audience: Canadian information professionals involved with health libraries.³

Publisher: Canadian Health Libraries Association⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes.⁵

Type: LIS scholarly.⁶

Medium: Online.⁷

Content: The journal covers a wide variety of topics relevant to Canadian health science libraries including, but not limited to, distance services, databases, electronic medical records, healthcare reform, health literacy, grants, and many more.⁸

Frequency of publication: Three times per year.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jchla/index.php/jchla/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Publishes research articles and program descriptions (peer-reviewed), as well as reviews, opinion pieces, and columns (non-peer-reviewed).¹⁰

Submission and review process: Authors must first create an account with the journal’s website before submitting a manuscript.¹¹ The journal does not accept previously published submissions or simultaneous submissions. Additional, the journal asks that all manuscripts be submitted in Microsoft Word format with 12-point font and italics instead of underlining. Additionally, authors should provide URLs where available. Next, all tables, figures, and illustrations should be placed at the end of the manuscript. Lastly, if submitting a research article or program description, authors need to follow the instructions for ensuring a blind review.¹²

As for the review process, two peer reviewers are assigned to research articles and program descriptions. These reviewers provide feedback to the author within two to three weeks of the original submission date. Feedback focuses on originality, how up-to-date the topic is, writing quality, the suitability of the methods and analysis sections, and the accuracy of the article as a whole.¹³

Editorial tone: Formal and scholarly.¹⁴

Style guide used: National Library of Medicine’s Citing Medicine.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Researchers interested in establishing themselves in the LIS field of Canadian health libraries should seriously consider submitting to this publication. Additionally, information professionals working for health libraries in general should give this publication a second look, as there is no mention of authors being exclusively Canadian or practicing in Canada. (The only exception is the JCHLA membership requirement for the Student Paper Prize, which is detailed below.) The publication accepts submissions in either English or French, but the editors will not provide translations.¹⁶

The journal offers an annual competition, the JCHLA/JABSC Student Paper Prize. Students must be “currently enrolled in accredited master’s programs in library science or library technician programs.”¹⁷ Additionally, the prize “is awarded annually to the library student who submits the best unpublished paper on health sciences librarianship to the competition. Research papers, program descriptions and review articles are eligible for the prize.”¹⁸ The winning paper is published in the journal, and the winner receives a certificate, free membership in the Canadian Health Libraries Association, and free registration to the CHLA/ABSC conference.¹⁹

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation numbers are not available. However, it is safe to say that the journal is read by the 250 members of the Canadian Health Libraries Association / Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada.²⁰ Additionally, the journal is also freely accessible online.²¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Canada²² The publication is bilingual and accepts submissions in either English or French; however, authors outside of Canada need to write using Canadian English, being aware of spelling variations. Also, authors should take steps to ensure their submissions are relevant specifically to information professionals working in Canadian health libraries.²³

Reader characteristics: It can safely be assumed that the majority of this publication’s readers are employed in health sciences libraries, interested in accurate health services information, and comfortable with the technology used to support health library services. Readers, given the specific focus of this publication, would have limited interest in general LIS topics or LIS issues relevant only to readers in the United States.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter:

Readers are likely familiar with the various library databases referenced throughout the journal (LISA, LISTA, PubMed, etc.), Web 2.0 concepts and how they pertain to health sciences libraries, etc. Furthermore, most readers likely possess a graduate or post-graduate degree in library science.

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

As professional librarians working in health libraries, readers of this journal will expect to find well-researched, informative articles on the latest trends in health libraries. As a Canadian publication, readers will expect authors to demonstrate understanding of the Canadian workplace culture and knowledge of the government’s role in their work. Non-Canadian authors interested in submitting articles to this publication should thoroughly read the author guidelines to ensure they understand the expectations of the journal’s editors and readers.

Last updated: February 8, 2018

References

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Medical Reference Services Quarterly

By Maria Notarangelo on February 7, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Medical Reference Services Quarterly

ISSN: 0276-3869 (print), 1540-9597 (online)

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wmrs20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: Medical Reference Services Quarterly “covers topics of current interest and practical value in the areas of reference in medicine and related specialties, the biomedical sciences, nursing, and allied health.” The journal publishes practice-oriented and research articles on medical reference services, with a focus on “user education, database searching, and electronic information.”¹

Target audience: Medical Reference Services Quarterly is an “essential working tool for medical and health sciences librarians” aimed at “professionals who provide reference and public services to health sciences personnel in clinical, educational, or research settings” in the fields of medicine, biomedical science, nursing, allied health.²

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.³

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.⁴

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.⁵

Content: Medical Reference Services Quarterly publishes original practical and research articles on health sciences librarianship. Regular columns include Online Updates, Emerging Technologies, Hospital Information Services, Informatics Education, From the Literature, and Book Reviews.⁶ Recent topics include using the Internet for providing medical information, using biomedical databases, managing medical reference services, continuing education, marketing, user education, document delivery, patient education, ready reference, and collection management, all within the context of medical reference services.⁷

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for authors.

Types of contributions accepted: “Medical Reference Services Quarterly covers topics of current interest and practical value in public services librarianship in the areas of medicine and related specialties, including the biomedical sciences, nursing, and allied health. MRSQ has expanded its scope to cover most aspects of health sciences librarianship, including health informatics, information literacy, collection development, and management of health sciences libraries”⁹

Submission and review process: Submissions are submitted via email to the editor as Word file attachments. Manuscripts are screened for originality.¹⁰ Manuscripts are “are peer reviewed using a rigorous, double-blind process” by two reviewers assigned based on subject expertise.¹¹

Editorial tone: Formal and scholarly.

Style guide used: Chicago Publication Manual, 16th ed.¹²

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Medical Reference Services Quarterly is a journal for LIS professionals who specialize in medical and health science information services in clinical, educational, or research settings, and who produce articles of practical application and original research. Authors should be aware that this is a high-level, “highly acclaimed,” professional and research journal, with an emphasis on articles that analyze and evaluate practical application in all types of medical and health science library and information settings.¹³

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Not provided.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Medical Reference Services Quarterly is written in English for a U.S.-based audience. The editors and editorial board members are from U.S. institutions.¹⁴

Reader characteristics: Readers are likely to be well educated (often having a science or medical degree and an LIS degree) and to expect articles they can apply to improve the services they provide to their users. Readers have a shared interest in reference services, medical information, and technology. Subscribers to this journal seem to value well-researched and well-written articles that will help them in their work.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers, given the specific nature and focus of this journal, will probably have a general knowledge of LIS subject matter with extensive, in-depth knowledge of medical reference services and research.

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

Readers and authors will likely be professionals and researchers already in the field of medical reference services. Furthermore, faculty and librarians involved with developing programs on information literacy, embedded librarianship, and library instruction directed to medical and clinical students, for example, will find practical, in-depth articles to read and a high-profile journal in which to publish.

Last updated: February 7, 2018

References

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Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries (JERML)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on March 28, 2015 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries (JERML)

ISSN: 1542-4065 (Print) and 1542-4073 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/werm20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: From the publication website: “The Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries is a peer-reviewed professional journal devoted to the access, evaluation, and management of electronic resources in the medical library environment.”²

Target audience: Users of libraries in medical schools, hospitals, and other health sciences libraries³

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor & Francis⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS and medical sciences, scholarly⁶

Medium: Print and online⁷

Content: “The material in the Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries will complement articles published in Medical Reference Services Quarterly, which highlights the reference and bibliographic instruction aspects of electronic resources.”⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=werm20&page=instructions

Types of contributions accepted: The journal seeks articles with “practical, up-to-date information about important developments and issues related to the provision, selection, and use of electronic resources in health sciences libraries.”¹⁰

“Topics may include, but are not limited to:

Collection development and selection of electronic resources
Electronic document delivery in medicine and health care
Enhancing electronic resource user services
Print versus electronic or combination formats
Site licensing-what librarians need to know
Delegating work that involves electronic/digital acquisitions
Cataloging-e-books, e-journals, and other electronic formats
The merger of serial and book formats in the electronic library
Coping with electronic misinformation, fraudulence, and shams on the Internet
“E-core” lists in medicine, allied health, nursing, pharmaceutical science, mental health, and other health care fields
The role of medical libraries with Electronic Health Records
Cost analyses of digital resources”¹¹

Submission and review process: Submissions are uploaded using the ScholarOne Manuscripts site located at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jerml.”¹² Any other requests should be directed to Justin Robertson, editor-in-chief, at justincrobertson@gmail.com.¹³ Detailed submission instructions are included at the submission guidelines link provided above.

Editorial tone: Scholarly¹⁴

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

As this is a journal “aimed at the practicing librarian,”¹⁶ and is described as a “source for practical, up-to-date information,”¹⁷ any librarian with knowledge of current issues and developments in electronic resources in the broader LIS field would be a welcome contributor to JERML.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation information is not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: JERML is published in English in the United States.¹⁸

Reader characteristics: Readers are likely well-educated and work in “academic medical school libraries, hospital libraries, and other health sciences libraries.”¹⁹ Readers expect well-researched, academic articles²⁰ that provide practical knowledge that will inform the service they provide.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will be well-versed in LIS subject matter, specializing in the medical LIS field, with a special interest in electronic resources.²¹

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

As the readership for this journal is specialized, potential contributors should tailor their articles to an academic, knowledgeable audience. Readers will be looking for rigorously researched papers that provide new information on access, evaluation and management of electronic sources.²² This is a go-to journal for medical librarians to obtain up-to-date information about electronic resource management for their libraries. The potential LIS authors to reach a extensive and engaged audience it great.

Last updated: May 15, 2017

References

Show 22 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

Show 22 footnotes

Journal of Archival Organization

By Lisa Lowdermilk on May 11, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of Archival Organization (JAO) (includes Library & Archival Security)

ISSN: 1533-2756 (Print) and 1533-2756 (Online).¹

Website: https://www-tandfonline-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/loi/wjao20

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their website, “The Journal of Archival Organization is an international, peer-reviewed journal encompassing all aspects of the arrangement, description, and provision of access to all forms of archival materials.”²

Target audience: Librarians, students, employees of museums and government agencies, as well as anyone interested in archival materials.³

Publisher: Routledge.⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes.⁵

Type: LIS Scholarly.⁶

Medium: Print and online.⁷

Content: Per their website, “JAO addresses a broad range of issues of interest to the profession including archival management and staffing, archival technologies, the arrangement and description of records collection, collection growth and access, diversity and gender, grant-funding, and institutional support. Articles addressing academic, public and special/corporate libraries, museums and governmental agencies are all welcome.”⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www-tandfonline-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjao20&page=instructions

Types of contributions accepted: Book/resources reviews, as well as articles in the following sections: Creating Architopia: Reflections on Archival Management, Archives and the Law, and Technology Matters in Archives.¹⁰

Submission and review process: Manuscripts are required to be accompanied by a brief abstract (maximum of 100 words) and a statement saying the manuscript is unpublished and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. To submit their manuscripts, authors are required to create an account through the site’s Editorial Manager. To ensure all manuscripts are original, the journal uses CrossCheck software.¹¹

As for the review process, all articles undergo “rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous double-blind review.”¹²

Editorial tone: LIS scholarly.¹³

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style.¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Journal of Archival Organization provides an excellent forum for LIS authors interested in publishing scholarly articles related to emerging archival technologies, the digitization of archives, cataloging, as well as numerous other topics related to archival materials.¹⁵ Additionally, this journal incorporates Library & Archival Security,¹⁶ which holds the distinction of being “the only journal that stresses legal and organizational issues and incidents in libraries, archives, and other information centers.”¹⁷

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation statistics are not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is published in English in the U.S.¹⁸ However, authors should be mindful that the journal has an international reach, with many articles focusing on issues outside the U.S.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Since the journal encompasses professional organizations outside libraries (e.g., museums and government agencies), the audience will be professionally varied. The majority of readers, though, will be LIS professionals working in archives or libraries. Since this journal covers articles on grant-funding and institutional support, readers may hold managerial or supervisory positions in their institutions.²⁰

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Most readers will have specialized knowledge of LIS subject matter, particularly MARC, AACR2, Encoded Archival Description, and other rules/standards related to cataloging, archiving, and metadata.²¹ This characteristic implies that most readers will have graduate and post-graduate degrees. However, authors should keep in mind that some readers may be affiliated with government agencies and museums. Thus, authors should explain LIS jargon where necessary.²²

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

JAO readers want cutting-edge information pertaining to archives.²³ They expect articles to be organized, well-researched, methodical, and objective. Additionally, all content should be scholarly but accessible to ensure it reaches as many members as possible of this publication’s broad audience.

Last updated: March 14, 2018

References

Show 23 footnotes

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