Wiki Categories Archives: LIS Professional and Trade Publications

The Librarian Parlor

By Bethany Baker on April 6, 2021 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Librarian Parlor or LibParlor

ISSN: N/A

Purpose, objective, or mission: “. . . a space for conversing, sharing expertise, and asking questions about the process of developing, pursuing, and publishing library research.”¹

Target audience: All library, archives, and information workers especially those new to the research community.²

Publisher: The Librarian Parlor.

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Online.

Content: Any topic relevant to the LIS profession, with an emphasis on material about research in the LIS field.

Frequency of publication: “LibParlor posts are published to the website on Tuesdays about twice a month at 1 PM EST.”³

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://libparlor.com/contribute-to-libparlor/

Types of contributions accepted: The following are the types of contributions accepted for this publication: “informative or reflective blog posts; how-tos (develop research agenda, write proposals, submit IRB, etc); quick tips list; recommended reading; how it started, how it’s going; series; and webinar.”⁴

Submission and review process: Authors can submit their proposals for articles through this submission form: https://libparlor.com/contribute-to-libparlor/submit-an-idea/. After submitting, authors will hear back from an editor within one week.

Editorial tone: “Posts should be written for an audience new to research, not to experts. This is an informal, conversational space, and we like the tone of our blog to reflect that. We encourage you to write in the first-person and avoid passive voice.”⁵

Style guide used: The Editorial Policies Guidelines can be found at https://libparlor.com/contribute-to-libparlor/editorial-guidelines/

Conclusion: Evaluation of the publication’s potential for LIS authors

LibParlor is an excellent place for LIS professionals new to research to publish their work in and to find a supportive community–professionals can seek connections with other members, find collaborators for projects, or share opportunities for editing works, participating in research, etc.⁶

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As of September 2021, the LibParlor website has had more than 41,710 visitors and 378 followers. Additionally, the LibParlor Twitter account (@libparlor) has 2,793 followers.⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Personal communication with an editor of the publication revealed that LibParlor has a worldwide readership and sees readers from the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, China, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, and Germany). The material on the site is written in English.

Reader characteristics: Regarding their writers and their audience, the publication states “We intentionally work towards providing space for those with a variety of types of work experience such as non-tenure track librarians and library workers without the librarian title, as well as those with different lived experiences, such as people with disabilities, librarians of color, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ folks.”⁸

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: Due to the targeted LIS readership of this publication, readers will have more knowledge of LIS topics and jargon than the general population. However, the articles should be written so that those new to research can understand it.⁹

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

LibParlor provides LIS professionals, particularly those new to research in the field, with a place to gain experience in publishing as well as a place to build connections with other professionals.

Additionally, the LIS Wiki team facilitated an interview with Chelsea Heinbach, a co-founder and editor of LibParlor. Readers can learn more about the founding of LibParlor, the purpose of the publication, submission tips, career advice, and more about Chelsea in the interview blog.

Last updated: September 23, 2021

References

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INALJ (I Need a Library Job)

By Katie Wood on September 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: INALJ (formerly I Need A Library Job)

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://inalj.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: INALJ was started in 2010 by Naomi House as a way for librarians to find jobs in the LIS field.¹ In its tenth year now, Naomi and volunteers strive to find and share jobs that are traditional and outside the box for LIS professionals, staff and students.²

Target audience: LIS professionals and students.

Publisher: The website and its LinkedIn and social media pages are run by Naomi House, Elizabeth Leonard and many other volunteers.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Electronic / online.

Content: INALJ is not just for job postings, the site also features interviews, job hunting tips, articles and blog posts within the LIS field.⁴

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: **Update 9/8/2020-INALJ is not accepting guest submissions at this time. the Wiki Core Team will update submission guidelines as they become available**

Types of contributions accepted: **Update 9/8/2020-INALJ is not accepting guest submissions at this time. the Wiki Core Team will update submission guidelines as they become available**

Submission and review process: **Update 9/8/2020-INALJ is not accepting guest submissions at this time. the Wiki Core Team will update submission guidelines as they become available**

Editorial tone: Professional yet casual.

Style guide used: N/A

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

INALJ publishes articles across a broad array of LIS topics. Its casual, straightforward, “no BS” approach to all aspects of the LIS field may be refreshing and helpful for many potential authors looking for an outlet for their writing.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: INALJ covers all fifty states, Canada and features international jobs, as well.⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: INALJ‘s audience is primarily in the United States, but it does feature coverage for Canada and some international jobs.

Reader characteristics: Readers come to INALJ for all sorts of reasons other than job hunting. Articles published span a broad range of topics. LIS students and professionals come to INALJ for career advice and ever changing, relevant information about the field.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, but varied–INALJ is used by both professionals and students.

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

Considering the wide coverage of topics and issues that INALJ covers, potential authors can expect readers to be eager for new voices in the LIS field, no matter what area you are writing about.

Last updated: September 8, 2020

References

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Library Hi Tech News

By Erin Fussell on May 9, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Hi Tech News

ISSN: 0741-9058¹

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

Purpose, objective, or mission: “The journal reports on practical uses of IT in libraries and what’s coming next in terms of technology development for academic and public libraries.”²

Target audience: Library and information science professionals, and anyone with a reason to use LIS services/technologies in their own professional workplace. ³

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS Professional and Trade Publications.

Medium: Online.

Content: Articles of varying lengths, reporting on LIS conferences, and case studies on how tech is used in the library.⁶

Regular content includes technology profiles from libraries around the world; feature articles; in-depth conference reviews and reports; new and noteworthy updates for librarians; and a calendar of relevant upcoming events.⁷

Frequency of publication: 10 issues per year.⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/lhtn?id=lhtn#author-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Extensive list found under Article Classification⁹

Submission and review process: Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, an online submission system. You need to register, create your account, and then will be able to go through the submission process to upload your article. Upload files as a Word document of 1000-3000 words. All submissions are reviewed by the Library Hi Tech News editors, who make the final decision on publication.¹⁰

Editorial tone: Informal, but informative. Speaks to readers in a knowledgeable, conversational tone that provides great information on new technologies without making the articles dull or so technical that readers are overwhelmed or tune out.¹¹

Style guide used: Harvard style formatting.¹²

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The list of content submissions is vast and touches on a variety of LIS subjects. This is an excellent place to start your LIS publishing.¹³

Library Hi Tech News‘s editorial objectives note that “publishing your article in LHTN can be a “place to start,” analogous to a “poster session in print,” and does not preclude publishing a more fulsome piece in a peer-reviewed journal at a later date.”¹⁴ A peer-reviewed journal related to this newsletter is Library Hi Tech.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: International in scope, with the primary editors of the publication based out of U.S. colleges and universities.¹⁵ Submissions need to adhere to the Worldwide English language rights, and Emerald provides resources for making sure papers are written in grammatically correct standard English, for authors for whom English is not their first language.¹⁶

Reader characteristics: Published in the U.K., readers and writers for this publication are LIS professionals and students interested in new and emerging technologies, and new uses for established technologies. The journal is part of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), “a forum for editors and publishers of peer-reviewed journals to discuss publication ethics.”¹⁷

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, as the publication is aimed at LIS professionals and students with an interest in LIS technologies.¹⁸

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

This is a wonderful publication for LIS new professionals and students, as readers and authors. The authors are seeking submissions covering such a variety of interesting topics, and seem to be open to submissions on anything that is even remotely related to technologies that can be used in libraries and the LIS field. All issues that most students, not just LIS, can speak to, and particularly relevant for those in LIS programs currently using and evaluating these technologies, personally, professionally, and through LIS studies. There are also more technical issues covered, like open source library management systems, global development for libraries, profiles of LIS professionals, and relevant conference updates. A great place to jump in and write for.¹⁹

References

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LIBREAS: Library Ideas

By Erin Fussell on May 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: LIBREAS: Library Ideas

ISSN: 1860-7950¹

Website: http://libreas.eu/

Note: the site is written mostly in German; if not fluent, use a translator to view content. Google Chrome is the easiest browser to use to translate content.

Purpose, objective, or mission: LIBREAS: Library Ideas, is an open access online journal that deals with contemporary issues in LIS.²

The site began as a student project intended in part to bolster the presence of the Berlin School of Library and Information Science at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany. The staff eventually graduated and entered a professional career and desired “an interface between the young savages and the old hands,” a public place to exchange ideas and information between old and young, academic, and professional. It is a journal that the writers want to read themselves.³

Target audience: LIS new professionals, and the public audience, with particular attention to Germany and Europe.⁴

Publisher: Published at the Berlin School of Library and Information Science at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, by LIBREAS-Verein.⁵

Peer reviewed? No formal peer-review process; content is reviewed by the publication’s editors.⁶

Type: An LIS professional publication, although some articles are scholarly.⁷

Medium: Online. You may also follow LIBREAS on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.⁸

Content: Editorials; articles and essays under topics like Theory, Practice, and Projects, about LIS-related news & events, and LIS-content book reviews. Some issues also include podcasts and photo galleries.⁹

Frequency of publication: Irregularly.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://libreas.wordpress.com/category/libreas-call-for-papers/ and https://libreas.eu/authorguides/

Types of contributions accepted: Articles and essays related to any aspect of LIS.¹¹

Submission and review process: Send a short sketch of your idea or abstract via email to the editors: redaktion@libreas.eu.¹²

Editorial tone: Information presented with a fresh, often wry perspective. LIBREAS is open, fresh, and also controversial, in order to leave room for development, to recognize niches in order to unfold trends out of them.¹³

Style guide used: None specified: but citations should be uniform and formatting should be minimal, as anything beyond structural formatting is lost in the conversion to an online format. Essays should be written in MS Word, LibreOffice or OpenOffice Writer, with a German and English abstract.¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This is a wonderful site that aims to bridge generations and LIS academics and professionals with a touch of humor and humility. The articles are interesting and well-written and apply to LIS practitioners across the globe, not just from Germany. From a 2012 issue’s editorial, LIBREAS editors see themselves as part of a culture of communication in the library and information science and library practice.¹⁵

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Not available. The journal is an open access, online publication.¹⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: LIBREAS is published at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany so many contributors and editors are from Germany. Written in German (easily translatable using a Google Chrome browser or add-on on other browsers) and partly in English, the journal references U.S. and world culture frequently, so writers from other countries should not feel intimidated.¹⁷

Reader characteristics: Editors and writers consist of scientists and library scholars, LIS professionals and students, academic and otherwise. Anyone with an interest in the information profession.¹⁸

LIBREAS aims to continue a discourse and keep LIS relevant in academic and professional circles, but also in the community at large. (Community being initially specific to Berlin, but encompassing the entire online world reading this journal.)¹⁹ They also encourage open access journals in the LIS field as a way of promoting more discourse. From LIBREAS 21: It “is important to us that a large number of colleagues bring to the library and information science debate that they also demand accountability and transparency in decisions on libraries and library infrastructure that, if necessary, call for more level of debate. And not just in the LIBREAS, but also in all other publications and forms.”²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, but authors should not assume that readers will have a working knowledge of complicated LIS terminology. As it is an open access journal, the information is easily available to anyone.²¹

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

LIBREAS was created from an idea of forging old and new LIS ideas to create a dialogue amongst LIS professionals and academics. It is passionate, but not overwhelmingly so; and articles are interesting, usually with a philosophical or larger world-view slant that will appeal to LIS and non-LIS readers alike.

References

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Strategic Library

By Erin Fussell on May 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Strategic Library

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://libraryworks.com/strategic-library

Purpose, objective, or mission: Strategic Library focuses on innovation, best practices, and emerging trends in the complex and rapidly evolving library landscape. Thought-provoking articles by subject matter experts address, leadership, technology, funding, and more to promote organizational success.¹

Target audience: LIS managers and administrators.²

Publisher: LibraryWorks, Inc.³

Peer reviewed? No.⁴

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Online by subscription only.⁵

Content: Strategic Library offers “in-depth articles, written by highly regarded professionals in the field, (that) focus on leadership, management, evaluation, assessment, marketing, (and) funding.”⁶

Frequency of publication: Monthly

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.libraryspot.net/SL/SL_Guidelines.pdf

Note: the subscription paywall hides a lot of information and our guidelines PDF is currently 5 years old in 2020. But you can access the latest issue for free online: https://www.libraryworks.com/strategic-library-current-1

Types of contributions accepted: Strategic Library encourages and welcomes submissions from librarians in management positions who have stories to tell and expertise to share.

Editors offer these basic guidelines:

Draw story ideas from personal experience and expertise. Here is an Editorial Forecast from 2015.
Organize thoughts by preparing an outline.
Write around 2500 words.
Focus on strategic planning through trends and solutions.
Include charts, graphs, photos, and links.
Put footnotes, references, and a brief bio at the end.⁷

A sample outline is also available to guide the author.⁸

Submission and review process: Articles should be sent in a Word file to the publisher, Jennifer Newman: jenny@libraryworks.com. According to the writer’s guidelines: “Once received, the article will be edited and formatted for Strategic Library style and clarity. It will be returned to the author for review and for answers to any questions posed in the text during editing. Once in a final version, the article will be assigned to an issue.”⁹

Editorial tone: Informal, yet professional.

Style guide used: While no specific style guide is mentioned, editors prefer submissions to be in Microsoft Word document format. “Footnotes, references, and further readings should be formatted as endnotes in any standard style.”¹⁰

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication offers a forum for a variety of writers with an interest and experience in current best practices in the library landscape read by a paid subscription so readers are heavily invested in the content.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to the 2015 documentation, subscribers number approximately 8,000, “although that number is an estimate since many of (their) subscriptions are institutional.”¹¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This is a North American publication written in English.

Reader characteristics: “Subscribers to Strategic Library are executive decision-makers at all types of libraries: academic, public, and specialty. Our subscribers number around 8,000, although that number is an estimate since many of our subscriptions are institutional. Since our audience is quite broad, we publish a range of articles in each issue, many that have overlapping applications to various types of libraries. Remember, the readers of your article are experienced managers who are looking for the latest strategies and best practices on a range of topics to help them plan for the future.”¹²

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: These are experienced LIS professionals who will understand LIS terms and expect authoritative writing on the subject of library management.

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

This audience is looking for ways to improve service in innovative, cost-effective ways. Authors who would like to share successes can effectively communicate by using the first-person narrative of their own experiences. Case studies or best practices are other options for the potential author to explore. Above all, the author must remember that these are subscribers and very experienced LIS professionals eager for current knowledge in the field of library management.

References

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The Crab

By Erin Fussell on May 6, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Crab

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://www.mdlib.org/content.asp?contentid=151

Purpose, objective, or mission: This is the official publication of the Maryland Library Association (MLA). ¹

Target audience: The primary target audience is the association’s membership, which includes “library staff and trustees, library school students, libraries, and friends of libraries representing the full spectrum of librarianship in Maryland.”²

Publisher: Maryland Library Association.

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional news.

Medium: Online digital publication.

Content: Coverage of the MLA annual conference; program and workshop reports; news about Maryland libraries and library people; articles on issues concerning libraries and librarianship in Maryland; reviews of books and other materials with local or state interest; letters to the editor.³

Frequency of publication: Four times per year.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.mdlib.org/content.asp?contentid=157

Types of contributions accepted: From the submission guidelines, The Crab seeks coverage of the following topics: MLA conference; MLA division, committee or interest group news; reports on programs and workshops of interest to librarians in Maryland; news about Maryland libraries and people; articles on issues concerning libraries and librarianship in Maryland; reviews of books and other materials, based on their local and state interest will be considered for publication; letters to the editor – these must be signed, although names may be withheld from publications upon request.⁴

Submission and review process: Submissions should be via e-mail to editor Annette Haldeman, Legislative Librarian, Maryland General Assembly Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis: Annette.Haldeman@mlis.state.md.us.⁵

Editorial tone: Informal, friendly.

Style guide used: APA.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication, as indicated by their mission, focuses on local Maryland library organizations, people, and events. An author with local knowledge or connections will find it easier to place a variety of material than an out of the area author. On the other hand, there are examples of articles that address larger LIS sector trends and activities. There are publishing opportunities for an author who can write in an accessible manner with a local connection to the Maryland audience. As with any publication, reviewing the past issues will provide a solid sense of what type of article the editor and readers would find interesting.

Audience analysis

Publication circulation: The print publication is available for a subscription fee from the MLA (membership numbers not available) and is also available online for any visitor to read as well as back issues.⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Primarily people the State of Maryland, with additional reach to members in the vendor community that is not located in Maryland.

Reader characteristics: Association members include professionals, LIS students, and a large number of non-librarian staff members. Members/readers come from the full variety of library types and the full variety of jobs in those institutions. Some LIS vendors are included. It may be assumed that most readers will be sympathetic to libraries, understand their various missions, and will view themselves as important to their organizations and the achievement of their organizations’ goals.⁷

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: MLA members are mostly professionals in the LIS field.⁸

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

Considering the diversity of background, skills, professional duties, missions, and interests of the readers, authors should consider presenting material that is practical, general in scope, accessible in tone and language, and appealing to the interests of readers in the Maryland area.

References

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Hack Library School

By Erin Fussell on May 5, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Hack Library School

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://hacklibschool.wordpress.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Hack Library School is a collaborative project begun in the Fall of 2010. It quickly grew from a Google Doc to a wiki to the rotating group of contributors that it is today. HLS was founded on the principle of students taking the future of librarianship into their own hands.”¹ Hack Library School was inspired by a 2010 post by Micah Vandegrift on In the Library with the Lead Pipe, a train of thought brought about by Hacking the Academy, where “a group of academics, librarians and higher ed techies crowdsourced submissions for a born-digital book.”²

Target audience: LIS students.

Publisher: Hack Library School (a WordPress site)

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS Professional and Trade Publication.

Medium: Online. The primary content is via the blog; information is also shared via Twitter and Facebook.

Content: “Hack Library School is an invitation to participate in the redefinitions of library school using the web as a collaborative space outside of any specific university or organization. Imagine standards and foundations of the profession that we will create, decided upon by us, outside of the institutional framework. Ideas like the democratization of the semantic web, crowdsourcing, and folksonomies allow projects like this to exist and we should be taking advantage of it. What will the information professions be next year if we define it for ourselves today? If we had a voice in the development of curriculum, what would that degree entail? This is our challenge to you; participate or come up with a better idea. How would you hack library school?”³

Frequency of publication: All online media updated as frequently as contributors post. The goal is to post new content regularly.⁴

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: For guest posts, see the guidelines.⁵

Types of contributions accepted: Anything related to LIS, from a you-should-know, student perspective. Posts are meant to be conversation starters.⁶

Submission and review process: Send an email to hacklibschool@gmail.com. If accepted, HLS will get back to you with comments and start working on scheduling your post to the site.⁷

Editorial tone: Informal.

Style guide used: None. Links to other sites, citations, and references to other points of view are encouraged but not strictly regulated.⁸

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

HLS has gained recognition around the LIS blogosphere and already has great social media presence on Twitter and Facebook. This is the place to post your experiences in the LIS world, thoughts on improvements, issues, and ideas for a group who really gets it, and will use the information you provide in the quest of their own LIS degree and pursuits. If you have yet to write articles or blogs, this would be a great place to get started, writing to like-minded peers.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Open source digital website, blog, and social media.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Mainly US college & university LIS students, but the site is read available world-wide online.

Reader characteristics: The prevailing concepts are that information should be shared and discussed, and that learning need not only take place within educational institutions. And that we respect each other’s opinions, comments, and posts. From the Guest Post guidelines: “Take responsibility for your own opinion and respect other opinions.”⁹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, but in various stages. HLS is written for, by and about LIS students, but that also means people in their first year in the program, or those just considering getting their degree. Don’t assume readers will understand LIS jargon; explain references so lay readers can easily comprehend.¹⁰

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

Readers of HLS want to know what you think, what your experiences, thoughts, and issues are with LIS education. The idea is for LIS students to imagine, discuss, and develop the profession the way we want to see it in addition to what is being taught in school. If you know something that’s outside of the books please share it. If you have ideas, concerns, professional advice, career tips, or just a cool LIS subject you’d like to broach, the editors and readers of HLS will be happy to hear from you.¹¹

References

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Programming Librarian

By Erin Fussell on May 5, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Programming Librarian

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://programminglibrarian.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: Programming Librarian is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office. Its mission is to “provide the resources, connections, and opportunities libraries need to fill their role as centers of cultural and civic life. ProgrammingLibrarian.org is a place for library professionals to share, learn, and be inspired to present excellent programming for their communities. Through resources, ideas, and professional development opportunities, [it] seeks to help libraries fill their role as cultural and civic hubs in their communities.”¹

Target audience: Programming Librarians. “Though the job title can vary, a programming librarian is charged with any element of planning and presenting cultural and community programs on behalf of the library. Programming librarians can be found in public, academic, special and school libraries, from the largest urban communities to the smallest rural communities, and everywhere in between. Usually, programming librarian is one of many hats that a librarian wears, which makes up-to-date resources like this site even more important.”²

Publisher: American Library Association Public Programs Office.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional news.

Medium: Online.

Content: Programming ideas, resources, and professional development opportunities.⁴

Frequency of publication: New content is continually posted.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.programminglibrarian.org/about/write-us

Types of contributions accepted: Programming Librarian is always looking for new voices, story ideas and program model suggestions.⁵

Submission and review process: Contributors should complete a webform that describes their library program details (advance planning, budget, activities, evaluation, advice), and include any related materials (reading lists, images). Submissions chosen for publication will be publicly available on ProgrammingLibrarian.org.⁶

Editorial tone: Informational.

Style guide used: No particular style guide is specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Programming Librarian presents an opportunity for LIS authors to contribute their expertise so that other professionals may build upon their work. The site aims to be a database of program ideas for libraries, and program models are presented in a standardized format. ⁷

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Programming Librarian serves as an online resource center for the Programming Librarian Interest Group (PLIG), a Member Initiative Group of the ALA.⁸ PLIG membership is open to all ALA members. The PLIG Facebook group has approximately 16,917 members (2020).⁹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The site features programs held at libraries related to ALA.

Reader characteristics: While job titles can vary, a programming librarian is “charged with any element of planning and presenting cultural and community programs on behalf of the library,” and programming is often one of many hats that a librarian wears. Programming occurs in diverse settings, public and private, and librarians are invested in fulfilling cultural and civic roles through programming.¹⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are generally professional librarians interested in practical ideas and strategies for developing programs, so a fairly strong knowledge of LIS knowledge can be expected.

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

The Programming Librarian readership seeks ways to learn from fellow libraries, browse ideas, and explore learning opportunities. This is a good place for LIS authors to write about programs in their professional settings.¹¹

References

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Learning Exchange

By Erin Fussell on May 5, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: LearningExchange: The newsletter of the Learning Round Table of the American Library Association.

ISSN: 0360-0688¹

Website: http://www.ala.org/learnrt/newsletter

Purpose, objective, or mission: LearningExchange is the official publication of the Learning Round Table of the American Library Association (LearnRT). Per their website, LearnRT:

“The Mission of the Learning Round Table….
….promotes quality continuing education and staff development for all library personnel. We help you NETWORK with other staff development and continuing education providers for the exchange of ideas, concerns and solutions.

….serves as your SOURCE for staff development continuing education assistance, publications, materials, training and activities.

….is your ADVOCATE for quality library staff development and continuing education at both the local and national levels.”²

Target audience: Interested parties and members of the American Library Association Learning Round Table.³

Publisher: American Library Association.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Online

Content: Articles about continuing education initiatives for library staff, reports on education opportunities, guides on best practices.⁶

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.ala.org/learnrt/newsletter

Types of contributions accepted: Writing that “promotes quality continuing education and staff development for all library personnel.”⁷

Submission and review process: To submit content or get more information about the LearningExchange, please email the LearnRT Newsletter Editor, Colleen Hooks editor@alalearning.org⁸

Editorial tone: There are no stated guidelines, though content from the most recent newsletter reads professional and informal.⁹

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LIS authors have the opportunity to share resources about continuing education of library personnel.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As of 2018, ALA’s Learning Round Table had 382 members.¹⁰ All members of LearnRT receive a subscription to Learning Exchange.¹¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Learning Exchange is written in English for a North American audience.¹²

Reader characteristics: “Librarians who conduct training and professional development activities.”¹³

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will be knowledgeable about LIS issues.

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

This is a knowledgeable, motivated audience. Many readers will be involved in education or supervisory or management positions since LearnRT members either conduct or will conduct training sessions with staff. Authors have a good opportunity to share their knowledge with like-minded professionals in the LIS field.

References

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AISL Independent Ideas

By Erin Fussell on May 3, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: AISL Independent Ideas

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://aislnews.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Independent Ideas is the blog of AISL, the Association of Independent School Librarians.

Created in 1987, the founders of AISL “envisioned an apolitical and affordable association – complementary to other library associations – that would provide a means of exchanging information, ideas and best practices among a network of independent school librarians.”¹

Target audience: Independent school librarians and members of AISL.

Publisher: The blog is run and maintained by AISL members.

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional blog.

Medium: Online.

Content: Blog posts of varying lengths, usually complete with photos or videos. There’s a group of frequently used tags on the right-hand side of the blog that show some of the most frequently written about topics: collaboration, information literacy, research, school librarians, and technology are some of the tags used most often.²

Frequency of publication: New posts are published a few times a week.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Independent Ideas: Managed by Alexendra Patterson – Mercersburg Academy. ³If you are an AISL member and you would like to write a blog post, contact membership coordinator, Renee Chevallier: Rchevallier@ursulinedallas.org .⁴

Types of contributions accepted: Book reviews, ideas for children’s programming, and more.

Submission and review process: Contact membership coordinator listed above.

Editorial tone: Casual, yet professional.

Style guide used: None.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

If you are a member of AISL and you have written a short, informal piece that would be useful to your peers, this blog may be a viable publication option. Topics are varied and tied to school librarianship of students in all grades. Recent posts have been about topics such as are librarians actually theater people? and high schoolers acting out Google searches. Humor and creativity are found all throughout this blog, so think outside of the box!

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Though the blog is geared towards members of AISL, anyone can access and read all posts.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: AISL members are in the U.S. and Canada, and blog posts are in English.

Reader characteristics: Readers are like-minded librarians looking to exchange information and ideas about their field. There are approximately 700 members of AISL.⁵

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, but focused on children and school librarianship.

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

AISL is a unique, close-knitted community of independent school librarians, and readers of its blog are eager to learn and collaborate. Working with children of all ages requires fresh ideas and innovation, so you can be sure readers of Independent Ideas are eager for new voices in the field of school librarianship.

References

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