Wiki Categories Archives: LIS Professional and Trade Publications

Computers in Libraries

By Erin Fussell on May 3, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Computers in Libraries

ISSN: 1041-7915¹

Website: http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Computers in Libraries (CIL) Mission Statement: “CIL’s mission is to provide librarians and other information professionals with useful and insightful articles about the technology that affects them, their institutions, and their patrons. We aim to publish interesting stories, case studies, and opinions that are of professional value to people working with technology in public, academic, special, and corporate libraries, as well as archives and museums. CIL is written by librarians for librarians, and it’s about technology all the time.”²

Target audience: Librarians and information professionals in academic, public, school, corporate and special libraries.³

Publisher: Information Today Inc.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS trade publication. From How to write for Computer in Libraries: “We do not publish academic research papers or vendor-written articles.”⁶

Medium: Online.⁷

Content: Computers in Libraries, per their site, “provides complete coverage of the news and issues in the rapidly evolving field of library information technology. Focusing on the practical application of technology in community, school, academic, and special libraries, CIL includes discussions of the impact of emerging computer technologies on library systems and services, and on the library community itself.”⁸

Frequency of publication: Monthly. ⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/contrib.shtml

Types of contributions accepted: Per How to Write for Computers in Libraries, “Interesting articles, written as case studies or how-we-did-it pieces. These general technical articles should be practical and helpful for the average librarian in any sort of environment — academic, public, K-12, or corporate libraries. CIL aims to publish articles that are interesting to read and appealing to people in many aspects of the field.”¹⁰

How to Write for Computers in Libraries lists an editorial calendar with author deadlines and the detailed focus of each issue.¹¹

CIL does not publish reviews of books or software, or general computing news.¹²

Submission and review process: Queries must be submitted via the online Query Form.¹³ Computers in Libraries stresses that manuscripts are not accepted. Allow up to a month after the query deadline for a response. “After considering all ideas received, CIL will respond to each person who queried. If the article idea is accepted, then we will send you writers’ guidelines and discuss the article with you to ensure that your feature will fit Computers in Libraries’ needs and style. CIL does pay small honorariums for feature articles.”¹⁴

Editorial tone: Informal, “friendly and personal.”¹⁵

Style guide used: Computers in Libraries has specific writers’ guidelines, which are sent out to authors after the proposal is accepted. Other than that, there is no style guide specified.¹⁶

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

It doesn’t matter whether you are experienced or a new author but they are “by librarians and for librarians”. Computers in Libraries is looking for interesting articles and how-to pieces. A well-written query on a relevant subject matter (written from experience) can open doors for LIS authors at this publication. The Media Kit notes that “Computers in Libraries is the library professionals only venue for sharing and learning practical information about today’s library technologies,” and “CIL’s columnists are well-known, well-respected opinion leaders in their fields.”¹⁷ As the publication accepts submissions from working librarians regarding their technology projects, this would be an ideal place for LIS students to submit queries.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Online magazine with potential for broad readership as the parent website, Information Today Inc., averages more than 50,000 visitors per month.¹⁸

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Computers in Libraries is published in English. Based in the U.K. but available and accessed worldwide online.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: General readers are average librarians in any sort of setting—academic, public, school, or special. They are not only savvy with technologybut also library managers and system, reference, collection, and acquisitions librarians who are making purchasing decisions about recent library tools.²⁰

95% of Computers in Libraries readers are involved in some way in the purchasing process, including three in five who either authorize purchases or select the products. The readers “buy, lease and use products and services such as large scale integrated library systems, tools for RFID and ERM, online services, networking hardware and software, peripheral products, security tools, books, and reference tools.”²¹

Computers in Libraries do not publish academic pieces nor does it accept articles by vendors and publishers. ²²

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of Computers in Libraries are well-informed about LIS topics and issues. They are library directors, knowledge managers, webmasters, and acquisitions librarians. Computers in Libraries do not publish articles about salaries or association trends and news; instead, it devotes itself entirely to technology topics.²³

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

Prospective authors may wish to keep in mind that Computers in Libraries aims to publish articles that are interesting to read and appealing to people in many aspects of the computer-related library field. CIL does not include reviews of books or software and does not cover general computing news. The publication stresses several times throughout the mission statement and FAQ, that they “do not publish academic research papers or vendor-written articles.”²⁴ There is a month-by-month table showing publication themes for the year, which include topics like managing electronic resources, open source software, technology for check-in and checkout, etc.²⁵ This is a publication where readers will understand the use of LIS jargon, as it is “by librarians, for librarians.” However, technical writing should be geared toward a general audience and be practical and helpful for the average librarian.²⁶

References

Show 26 footnotes

Tame the Web

By Erin Fussell on May 1, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Tame the Web

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://tametheweb.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: From Tame the Web‘s About page: “Tame the Web (TTW) endeavors to provide information and discussion, through blogging, on emerging technology, socio-technological trends, the evolving hyperlinked library, LIS education, and human-centered services for LIS students and information professionals in the field.”¹

Target audience: LIS students and professionals.

Publisher: TTW is a WordPress site + blog created and run by Dr. Michael Stephens, an associate professor at San Jose State University’s School of Information.

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional blog featuring guest posts by students and contributors at the invitation of Dr. Stephens.

Medium: Online.

Content: Blog posts and articles, book reviews. Category topics (dropdown menu at bottom of the site) include engaging users, gaming, libraries/web 2.0, participatory culture, and many others.²

Frequency of publication: Several new articles and posts each month.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: All submissions are by invitation only.

Types of contributions accepted: Guest blog posts.

Editorial tone: Casual, but informative.

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Contributing authors of TTW are SJSU School of Information students and colleagues of Dr. Stephens.

The site is geared towards, but certainly not limited to, public librarianship. Recent guest posts include the unwritten, daily tasks of a user-centric library director and an introspective look at a librarian’s career throughout her thirties.

Wholehearted Librarianship: this Stephen Barnes quote gives readers and potential authors a good idea of the theme of TTW‘s content, “We must never forget that the human heart is at the center of the technological maze.”³

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Tame the Web‘s content is freely available on the web. If you are interested in Dr. Stephens’ published works, check out his page here.⁴

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readership is primarily in the U.S. and Canada, with articles published in English.

Reader characteristics: Readers are LIS students and professionals from across the spectrum of librarianship and information science.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong, but varied. Most posts are relatively LIS jargon-free.

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

Tame the Web‘s readership is unique in that readers also interact with Dr. Stephens via webinars and presentations. Readers come to TTW for its variety of guest posts and straightforward, earnest writing. As a potential author, you will find a varied audience of LIS students and seasoned professionals from across the spectrum of librarianship.

References

Show 4 footnotes

Code4Lib Journal

By Erin Fussell on May 1, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Code4Lib Journal

ISSN: 1940-5758¹

Purpose, objective, or mission: According to the website, “the Code4Lib Journal exists to foster community and share information among those interested in the intersection of libraries, technology, and the future.”² It “aims to help engender collective understanding and the necessary support for improving library technology and digital services.”³

Website: http://journal.code4lib.org/

Target audience: The target audience includes anyone who is involved in the “wider library community” who has an interest in libraries and technology.⁴

Publisher: Code4Lib. Publication began in 2007.⁵

Peer reviewed? Yes. Journal submissions are reviewed by an editorial committee⁶, and the committee views its process of selecting articles as an open peer review. According to a message from the 2020 coordinating editor, “The author and the designated editor work together to improve a paper before publication. The author knows the name of the editor and other readers on the editorial committee and vice versa. We’ve found that this process works best for us and produces consistently high quality and relevant content for our audience.”⁷

Type: Open access with Creative Commons license. Although the editorial committee consists mainly of those involved in the academic library community, contents do not necessarily have the format of a traditional scholarly research article, and the journal does not use a traditional blind peer review. Articles can vary in formality and can include case studies and personal opinion pieces. Articles do not generally include extensive literature reviews. For these reasons, the journal is currently classed here as ‘professional news’. Articles tend to be focused on the practical application of the ideas presented.⁸

Medium: Code4Lib Journal is available online.⁹

Content: From the Call for Submissions, “the editorial committee is looking for content that is practical, demonstrates how to exploit technology to create digital library collections and services, or offers insight and forethought regarding the use of computers in any type of library setting.”¹⁰

The journal publishes articles on a multitude of subjects, as long as they support the mission statement, and is flexible with length (1,500 to 5,000 words is an approximate word count). The types of articles published in the journal include:

Case studies of projects (failed or successful), how they were done, and challenges faced.
Descriptions of projects in progress, project updates, and new project proposals.
Effective processes for project management.
Reviews/comparisons of software, frameworks, libraries, etc.
Analyses and case studies of using library metadata in technological application: novel applications or solutions, or unsolved challenges,
Thought pieces on the big problems associated with library and technology, ideas for new solutions, visions for the future.
Findings on user behavior and interaction with systems.
Best practices.¹¹

Frequency of publication: It is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December.¹²

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://journal.code4lib.org/call-for-submissions

Types of contributions accepted: The types of articles the journal is looking for include:

Book & software reviews
Code snippets & algorithms
Conference reports
Opinion pieces¹³

Submission and review process: Submissions can be sent in the form of either an abstract or a complete draft. Submit articles using the online form, or via email to journal@code4lib.org. Once submitted the article goes through an editorial process, and not a peer review.¹⁴

Editorial tone: “Writers should aim for the middle ground between, on the one hand, blog or mailing-list posts, and, on the other hand, articles in traditional journals.”¹⁵

Style guide used: From the article guidelines: “While articles in C4LJ should be of high quality, they need not follow any formal structure or guidelines.”¹⁶ However, endnotes and references should be cited using the Council of Science Editors (CSE) Style Guide.¹⁷

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This journal provides a semiformal setting in which to discuss issues of technology in the library and information science world. The information in the journal is concentrated around technology, and its place within the library setting, so it would be a good place for anyone with an interest in this subject to find a home for one of their articles.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Since the journal is 100% online, there was no information on the exact circulation available.¹⁸

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The editorial committee is based throughout the United States, but the writers come from both within and outside the United States.¹⁹ The journal is written in English, and although the editorial committee is American, not all of the contributors are. (Article guidelines note that articles should be written in English, and that “American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these.”)²⁰ Also, due to the online nature of the journal, people from anywhere in the world would have the ability to access the articles. Because of this, it would most likely be prudent to explain the use of any language or content that was too culturally specific.

Reader characteristics: Code4Lib is a “volunteer-driven collective of hackers, designers, architects, curators, catalogers, artists and instigators from around the world, who largely work for and with libraries, archives, and museums on technology ‘stuff’.” From looking through the author’s information supplies with the articles, it appears that almost all of the contributors work in academic libraries, although their actual job titles vary quite a bit. These job titles range from web designer to information technology coordinator to systems librarian. While this information is about the writers, it goes to show that the journal is of interest to all different types of professionals involved technologies in libraries. Of course, they also all have a professional interest in the intersection of libraries and technology. Code4Lib is of interest to “technology folks in libraries, archives, and museums to informally share approaches, techniques, and code across institutional and project divides.”²¹ The readers of this journal are likely to have established opinions about the place of technology in libraries. A look at the mission statement shows that the readers are likely to feel that technology holds a key position in the future of libraries.²²

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers of Code4Lib Journal would have a good knowledge and understanding of LIS topics and issues. They would also be familiar with library jargon. On top of that, due to the technical nature of the journal, they would also be familiar with most technical jargon.²³

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

The common thread running among these readers is an interest in, and a passion for, technology and its use within a library setting. Their level of technical knowledge would be rather high, and this would be an important thing for writers to keep in mind. In fact, it would also be a necessity for the writers of a proposed article for Code4Lib Journal to have significant expertise in technology.

References

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DttP: Documents to the People

By Erin Fussell on May 1, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: DttP: Documents to the People

ISSN: 2688-125X¹

Website: https://journals.ala.org/index.php/dttp

Purpose, objective, or mission: DttP: Documents to the People is the official publication of the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) of the American Library Association (ALA). This publication disseminates information to ALA and GODORT members about government information and activities on a local, state, national, and international level, and provides information on the professional activities of GODORT.²

Target audience: ALA and GODORT members as well as individuals interested in the global and national environments, and government information and activities.³

Publisher: American Library Association.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional news magazine.⁶

Medium: Online ⁷

Content: From their site, they publish articles on government information and government activities at local, state, national, and international, and intergovernmental levels, and documents the professional activities of GODORT.⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://journals.ala.org/index.php/dttp/about/submissions#authorGuidelines¹⁰

Types of contributions accepted: Accepts full-length articles (prefer 1,500-3,000 words in length), news items, letters, and other information intended for publication encompassing subjects within DttP‘s scope. Of particular interest for LIS students will be Student Paper Submissions¹¹

Submission and review process: Manuscripts are submitted via email to the Co-Lead Editors at dttp.editor@gmail.com, and reviewed for acceptance by editorial staff. Email attachments preferred, in MS Word.¹²

Editorial tone: The Instructions for Authors ask for articles written in a “grammatically correct, simple, readable style.”¹³

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style¹¹

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Within the scope of this publication’s focus, there is considerable potential for LIS authors interested in writing to increase their visibility. While this publication is not peer-reviewed they offer informative works covering a variety of topics. While it may seem that government documents are a narrow field with a limited audience, check out the archived issues for interesting article topics that might be surprising.¹⁵

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Online worldwide

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Because DttP covers local, state, national, and international government information, it is safe to assume that a majority of its subscribers are U.S. LIS professionals but since it’s available online, anyone could access the publication. Although most articles deal with issues within the LIS field, they are written in English using language that is comprehensible to the layperson, informal, and straightforward.¹⁶

Reader characteristics: GODORT does not have any demographic information specified on their circulation information but, because they stress the subject scope of DttP, we might assume that most subscribers are LIS professionals within a law library or government setting and also include LIS students and laypersons interested in government records. The majority of DttP readers are ALA/GODORT members and are likely to be LIS professionals. According to the ALA website, GODORT works to “provide a nexus for initiating and supporting programs to increase the availability, use and bibliographic control of documents.”¹⁷

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Because most readers are most likely ALA/GODORT members, the DttP audience will be knowledgeable about general LIS issues and topics. They would be especially familiar with subject matters that involve government information use and dissemination, as well as national efforts to restrict as well as to promote access to these types of information.¹⁸

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

A majority of the readers of DttP are GODORT members that are documents librarians or interested in local, state, national, and international government information, however, this publication is also available to non-GODORT or ALA members and, because it is a trade and not a scholarly publication, it is also made accessible to non-LIS professionals. Authors who want to contribute to the journal should opt for an informal yet informative tone and avoid discussing specialized LIS issues that the layperson would not immediately understand, such as bibliographic organization. Although it does pay attention to LIS issues, the primary focus of the journal is on documenting government information and the professional activities of GODORT.¹⁹

References

Show 19 footnotes

base line

By Erin Fussell on May 1, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: base line

ISSN: 1943-6548¹

Website: http://www.ala.org/magirt/publications/baseline/

Purpose, objective, or mission: base line is the official publication of the Map and Geospatial Information Round Table (MAGIRT). MAGIRT “leads and inspires information professionals at all levels of expertise in their work with map and geospatial information resources, collections, and technologies in all formats, through community, education, and advocacy.”² “The purpose of base line is to provide current information on cartographic materials, other publications of interest to map and geography librarians, meetings, related governmental activities, and map librarianship.”³

Target audience: As per MAGIRT’s site: “People interested or involved in any aspect of map or geospatial librarianship.”⁴

Publisher: American Library Association.⁵

Peer reviewed? No.⁶

Type: LIS professional news.⁷

Medium: Online.⁸

Content: Each issue “provide(s) current information on cartographic materials, other publications of interest to map and geography librarians, meetings, related governmental activities, and map librarianship.”⁹

Frequency of publication: base line is published electronically six times a year: in February, April, June, August, October, and December. All older issues of base line are now freely available on the MAGIRT website.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: On the first page of each issue: http://www.ala.org/magirt/publications/baseline/

Types of contributions accepted: base line calls itself “a medium of communication for members of MAGIRT and information of interest is welcome.”¹¹ Articles related to cartography, geography, “related governmental activities, and map librarianship ” would be welcome.¹²

Submission and review process: Depending on article content, contributions can be sent to one of the editors, check the first page of the latest publication. These are the editors as of April 2020:

Editor: John A. Olson
Government and Geo-Information Librarian
Syracuse University
Tel: 315-443-4818 E-mail: jaolson@syr.edu

Distribution Manager: Mike Smith
Subject Specialist for Maps, California Gov Info, GIS
Coordinator, UCSD
Tel: 858/534-1248 E-mail: mls003@ucsd.edu

Cataloging Editor: Tammy T. Wong
Cartographic Materials Cataloger
Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
Tel: 202/707-6735 E-mail: twon@loc.gov

Digital Mapping Editor: VACANT

New Maps and Books Editor: Kim Plassche
Sciences Librarian, Liaison to Geography & GIS
University at Buffalo
Tel: 716/645-8168 E-mail: kf43@buffalo.edu¹³

Editorial tone: Articles tend towards an informal, but professional voice.¹⁴

Style guide used: Not specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Although there is an informality in tone to this publication, there is still room for a more professional article related to geospatial information. This publication offers a good opportunity for a writer with experience in this field of librarianship to be published.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As a benefit of membership in MAGIRT, base line reaches 313 members on top of being freely available on the web.¹⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This publication is based in the U.S. and is written in American English.¹⁶ As members hail from across North America, authors should avoid using local terminologies or dialects, and should be tailored to a national audience.

Reader characteristics: Readers are mostly members of MAGIRT. As such, one can assume that the majority of readers are “involved in the geospatial librarianship world.”¹⁷

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

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

The readers of base line are interested in professional news. Authors would want to write short articles and reports relevant to MAGIRT committee work and topics related to geospatial librarianship. Members of MAGIRT seem eager to “connect with like-minded people, to learn, or to impart…knowledge.”¹⁸ Although the pool of readers is relatively small, the LIS author who is interested in geospatial information will find a supportive and interested readership in base line.

References

Show 18 footnotes

BayNet Newsletter

By Erin Fussell on May 1, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: BayNet Newsletter

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://baynetlibs.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The BayNet Newsletter gives members of the San Francisco Bay Area Library and Information Network (BayNet) a place to share their news with other members of the organization. BayNet is a multidisciplinary library association dedicated to bringing together librarians, archivists, and information professionals from all over the Bay Area so they can share and learn from each other.

Target audience: LIS professionals in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

Publisher: San Francisco Bay Area Library and Information Network.

Peer reviewed? No. “The editor reserves the right to make editorial revisions, deletions, or additions that, in their opinion, supports the author’s intent. When changes are substantial, every effort is made to work with the author.” This applies to both article blog posts and newsletter submissions.¹

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Online newsletter + blog.

Content: BayNet’s site contains job notices, relevant news, events and more. See ‘Types of contributions accepted’ below for more information from the editor on what the newsletter contains.

Frequency of publication: New posts added multiple times a week; BayNet’s newsletter is published quarterly.²

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://baynetlibs.org/news/submission-guidelines/

Types of contributions accepted: “Informal but informative blog posts relevant to the interests of BayNet Members with a focus on interdisciplinary communication. News articles should be factual and inviting, preferably concerning the institution with which the author is affiliated. Opinion pieces should be well researched, and professional with an emphasis on sharing knowledge with fellow professionals of related professions. Links to relevant information is encouraged.”³

Submission and review process: “Electronic submissions are preferred. Submissions should be sent to baynetlibs@gmail.com with the phrase “BayNet News Submission” in the subject line.”⁴

Editorial tone: Informal but informative.

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

BayNet may be a good outlet for LIS authors in the area who have recent news or information pertinent to the Bay Area and beyond–events are especially welcome. Articles are relevant to the area but not necessarily limited to Bay Area residents.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Anyone can join BayNet’s mailing list. In addition to the website and newsletter, there is also a Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Listserv that readers can access.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readership is geared towards LIS professionals in the San Francisco Bay area of California. Articles are written in English.

Reader characteristics: BayNet is a place for networking, sharing information, and fostering connections, so it can be assumed that readers are professionals in the field interested in the latest LIS news for the Bay Area.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Feel free to include your LIS jargon–readers are professionals working in the field across all aspects of librarianship.

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

BayNet newsletter is read by professionals across all LIS fields. Readers are eager to hear about Bay Area events and the latest information that is relevant to their jobs.

References

Show 4 footnotes

Against the Grain

By Erin Fussell on April 30, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Against the Grain

ISSN: 1043-2094¹

Website: http://www.against-the-grain.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: From the website: Against the Grain “is your key to the latest news about libraries, publishers, book jobbers, and subscription agents. Our goal is to link publishers, vendors, and librarians by reporting on the issues, literature, and people that impact the world of books and journals. ”²

Target audience: Publishers; vendors of book, journal, and other scholarly materials; and library and information science professionals, particularly those interested in issues surrounding acquisitions, access, online platforms, publishers, and serials subscriptions.³“>https://against-the-grain.com/about/]

Publisher: Against the Grain.⁴

Peer reviewed? No. All feature presentations and special reports are refereed by at least two editors. Columns are refereed by the column editors only. A list of editors who review manuscript drafts and a proofreader for ATG is available here.⁵

Type: A hybrid scholarly journal and professional news magazine. While informative and based on professional practice and expertise, most submissions have an informal tone and lack extensive bibliographies, though some do provide endnotes.⁶

Medium: Print. ATG print subscribers can also be approved for a free online membership to access subscriber-only content on the ATG website.⁷ Free online access to archival content more than three years old is available at the Against the Grain Archives.⁸

Content: Articles. The ATG also accepts additional content like job postings and announcements.⁹

Frequency of publication: “Against the Grain is published six times a year, in February, April, June, September, November, and December/January; and the ATG NewsChannel website that is updated daily with the latest news, announcements, and online-only content.” ¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.against-the-grain.com/submit-content/

Types of contributions accepted: Regular article contribution areas include features, interviews, reviews, legal issues, publishing, bookselling and vending, technology, and standards.¹¹

Submission and review process: Contact Tom Gilson at gilsont@cofc.edu to submit an article for either online or print publication. Alternately, Katina Strauch (Editor), Tom Gilson (Editor, ATG Website), and Leah Hinds (Editor, ATG Website) can be contacted at editors@against-the-grain.com. Sample submission deadlines are listed on the content submission page.¹²

Editorial tone: There are no stated guidelines for the submitted articles’ tone,¹³ though most content is written in a clear, well-informed, but fairly informal style.¹⁴

Style guide used: ATG uses Turabian/Chicago Manual of Style format. Bibliographic citations, when included, are provided in endnotes and are not supplemented by a bibliography. Endnotes are indicated in-text by superscript Arabic numbers after the punctuation of the phrase or clause to which the note refers; endnote references are numbered in the same order that they are cited in the text.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

ATG will be a good fit for authors interested in writing shorter pieces exploring access, collection development, publishers, serials subscriptions, and online platforms.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: ATG currently has over 2,000 print subscribers. A readership survey indicated the average subscriber circulates each issue of Against the Grain to 4.6 colleagues, giving ATG a readership of well over 9,200.¹⁶ The Against the Grain Archives provides free online access to archival content more than three years old (1989 on) at the Against the Grain Archives.¹⁷ Access to more recent content is limited to subscribers.¹⁸

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: United States (editorial institutional affiliations).¹⁹ Written in American English.²⁰

Reader characteristics: A typical reader would be interested in the interactions between libraries, publishers, book jobbers, and subscription services. They could work in a variety of library types, or in the larger publishing community.²¹ Typical readers will work in libraries or with publishers or jobbers, focusing on those who “impact the world of books and journals.”²² Readers will be looking for cutting-edge information about all things library.²³

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will be familiar with trends and patterns in acquisitions, access, and online platforms, along with distinctions between various publishers and third-party subscription content providers.²⁴

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

Against the Grain’s content is geared toward library and information science professionals who are interested in keeping up-to-date and informed about trends in libraries, publishing, and subscription services. Brief articles and case studies of a few pages, often with subheadings or bullet points, are recommended to focus the reader’s attention and to make content easy to digest.

References

Show 24 footnotes

ALSC Matters!

By Erin Fussell on April 30, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: ALSC Matters! (formerly ALSConnect)

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.ala.org/alsc/alscconnectonline/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Formerly ALSConnect, ALSC Matters is a newsletter for ALSC members highlighting activities and information of interest for librarians working with children.¹

Target audience: LIS professionals who work with children.

Publisher: American Library Association for Library Service to Children

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS professional newsletter.

Medium: Online.

Content: Apart from general ALSC news, ALSC Matters! also features:

Bright Ideas: highlights ideas in planning services and programming in libraries around the country.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!: discusses resources, events, and honors of interest to ALSC members
ALSC Voices: highlights members, showcases ALSC profiles, and includes interviews with ALSC members²

Frequency of publication: Published quarterly.³

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions should be sent to Laura Schulte-Cooper: lschulte@ala.org.⁴

Types of contributions accepted: ALSC Matters! is a vehicle for brief, current information, contains program news, committee news, relevant news and items of interest to our members and other librarians serving youth, ALSC Office notes, member news and profiles, conference announcements, and an idea exchange section.⁵

Submission and review process: Review the policies and submit a proposal to Laura Schulte-Cooper⁶

Editorial tone: Professional⁷

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

A great resource for librarians working with youth so if this is an area of interest or expertise, submit.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Members of ALSC receive issues of ALSC Matters!, though non-members can also subscribe using an online form.⁸

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readers of ALSC Matters! are likely ALA members, therefore they will be North American librarians.

Reader characteristics: Readers are LIS professionals and those interested in children’s librarianship

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Considering that ALSC is for professionals, LIS knowledge will be strong.

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

Readers of ALSC Matters! are professionals and students already involved in the field of children’s librarianship. ALSC Matters! may be a good venue for you to showcase projects that could be a source of inspiration, as well as relevant events and LIS happenings.

References

Show 8 footnotes

Archeota

By Erin Fussell on April 30, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Archeota

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://sjsusaasc.weebly.com/archeota.html

Purpose, objective, or mission: Archeota is the publication of the Society of American Archivists Student Chapter at the San Jose State University School of Information. This open source digital publication provides a platform for student voices, and is written by students for students. Archeota publishes original, substantive content on issues and events connected to the world of archives. Articles include profiles of iSchool students in recognition of outstanding achievements, student experiences working in archives, and think pieces related to archives on current events, controversial issues, pop culture, and other topics in the archival field.

The mission of the Society of American Archivists Student Chapter at the San Jose State University School of Information (SJSU SAASC) is to promote archival interests in the academic community, provide a platform for discussing archival issues, and to engage students in professional activities in order to enhance career development. The chapter serves its membership by organizing repository site visits, virtual panel discussions and webinars, providing networking opportunities, and inviting professional archivists to share knowledge about the field.¹

Target audience: SJSU SAASC members, and students in the MLIS program (particularly those pursuing the Archival Studies and Records Management career pathway) and the MARA (Master of Archives and Records Administration) program.²

Publisher: SJSU SAASC.³

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: LIS student publication.⁴

Medium: Online.

Content: The newsletter features editorial pieces by students in graduate archival studies and library science, interviews with practicing archivists, and insights from internship experiences. Students may also share relevant coursework or projects, as well as promote their blogs or other work.⁵

Frequency of publication: Biannually (twice per academic year, once during Spring semester and once during Fall semester).⁶

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://sjsusaasc.weebly.com/archeota.html

Types of contributions accepted: Think pieces on archives-related events and stories in the news; reflections or advice pieces based on first-hand experience, including jobs, internships, or volunteer work; interviews with practicing archivists; reports on SAASC events and site tours; reviews of archives-related media, such as podcast, blog, book, etc.⁷

Submission and review process: Contributors should be graduate students at San Jose State University School of Information. You can send an email with your proposal idea to sjsusaasc@gmail.com⁸

Editorial tone: The magazine-style publication is geared toward graduate students in the information profession interested in archives.

Style guide used: APA.⁹

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Archeota presents an excellent opportunity for graduate students to publish original content and contribute to discourse in the archival field. The publication serves as a platform for student voices and promotes archival interests in the School of Information community at San Jose State University.¹⁰

Information edits provided by Kelli Roisman, SJSU SAASC Chair 2019/2020

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Archeota is an open-source digital publication.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations:

The audience of Archeota is primarily SJSU SAASC members, and also SJSU iSchool students. The SJSU School of Information is a 100% online program, therefore the student body is widely dispersed in the United States and internationally. The physical location of the university is San Jose, California. As an English-language graduate program, it can be assumed that readers have a strong grasp of the English language.

Reader characteristics: The readership comprises students enrolled in the SJSU School of Information’s MLIS and MARA programs. Readers are those who plan to work (or are already working) with archives and records within a range of settings: libraries, government, corporate, or nonprofit institutions. Potential career paths for students in these programs include archivists, digital archivists, digital asset managers, electronic records managers, digital project specialists, knowledge managers, and technical information specialists.¹¹ ¹²

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As a publication targeted toward graduate students, knowledge of LIS subject matter may range from an emerging familiarity with archival theories and practices to more significant experience and specific knowledge of the field.

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

Archeota is produced by and published for students pursuing careers in archives and records, or those who simply have an interest in the field. Contributors have a good opportunity to share their practical experiences of what it’s like to work in a particular setting, professional projects and internships, and reflections, observations, and commentary on archival issues.

References

Show 12 footnotes

BayViews

By Erin Fussell on April 26, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: BayViews

ISSN: unknown

Website: http://www.bayviews.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: BayViews is a publication of the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California¹, with reviews aimed at evaluating new books to identify titles appropriate for library purchase. BayView‘s goals are “to strengthen and maintain work with youth in the libraries of Northern and Central California according to the highest standards of professional librarianship by:

Reviewing and evaluating children’s books and other materials produced for young people
Working actively to further the cause of library work with children
Discussing various phases and problems of this work
Cooperating in the solution of problems of mutual concern
Encouraging and stimulating the personal friendships of its members”²

Target audience: Members of the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California, including both public librarians and school librarians.³

Publisher: The Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional news. BayViews is published by a professional organization with the prime purpose of educating its own members.⁶

Medium: BayViews is an electronic and print publication. Additionally, BayViews has a blog on their website which is updated frequently.⁷

Content: BayViews is a journal of book reviews and opinions aimed at children’s librarians.⁸ The members of the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California use its pages to review new books in the field of children’s literature (including books for babies, children, and teens), as well as meeting in person to discuss the reviews. Each copy of BayViews also contains a section called “BayNews,” which keeps a calendar of upcoming events and collects news about goings-on related to children’s services at libraries within the region.⁹

Frequency of publication: 11 times per year.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Online at http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools

Reviews are submitted using an online form on the above page, which also includes sample reviews and a letter from the editors regarding content, voice, and other review considerations.¹¹

Types of contributions accepted: Contributions are accepted by members only, including book reviews of children’s and young adult literature, as well as news about events and services in the Northern California library community.¹²

Reviewers are now able to choose their own review books at meetings.¹³

Submission and review process: Contributors must be members of the organization. Reviewers choose their own review books at meetings. Authors wishing to contribute to the BayNews section should contact the editor.¹⁴

Editorial tone: Reviews should be concise and critical.¹⁵

Style guide used: Not specified but read guidelines on the site¹⁶

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication is a great opportunity for writers in Northern California who are interested in reviewing children’s and young adult literature. Since authors must be members of the Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California, and reviews are presented at the ACL chapter meetings, they would probably want to reside in the area to get the most out of their membership.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The membership of ACL who receive as a membership benefit both the print (for a fee) and electronic copy (free) of the journal.¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural views: Based in Northern and Central California, the publication is published in English with no special considerations.¹⁸

Reader characteristics: Children’s librarians with a desire to learn more about books than reviews in the LIS press offer. Readers are interested specifically in children’s and young adult books, and issues related to working in public and school libraries. Written by, and for, the membership.¹⁹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: General LIS knowledge and expertise in their area of the field.

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

As a publication for the education of the membership of ACL, authors should be well versed in the subject of children’s and young adult literature and willing to follow the membership guidelines to participate in the ACL community.²⁰

Last updated: April 26, 2020

References

Show 20 footnotes

Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Mission Statement. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/mission ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Mission Statement. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/mission ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Mission Statement. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/mission ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayNews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.baynews ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2016). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). ACL Review Tools. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/reviewtools ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). Membership. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/membership ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2016). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩
Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California. (2020). BayViews. BayViews. Retrieved from http://www.bayviews.org/ ↩

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