Wiki Categories Archives: LIS Professional and Trade Publications

AIIP Blog

By Blake Wandling on July 5, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: AIIP Blog (formerly AIIP Connections until March 2019)

ISSN: N/A

Purpose, objective, or mission: The Association of Independent Information Professionals created the AIIP blog in order “to showcase our members’ expertise, to highlight AIIP’s generous culture of knowledge-sharing, and to inspire the info-entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”¹ The blog serves as a resource for independent business owners who provide information-related services.²

Target audience: Independent (not-employed) information professionals, individuals considering becoming independent information professionals, businesses or individuals seeking the services of independent information professionals, and business or individuals who work in any field of the information profession.³

Publisher: Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP).⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional.⁶

Medium: Online.⁷

Content: Blog posts on professional development and business management tend to be the most sought-after pieces. Other common content topics include AIIP news, getting started in the profession, case studies and success stories, tips and strategies on growing IIP businesses, tech trends, and professional development tips.⁸

Frequency of publication: Continuously.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://blog.aiip.org/contribute/

Types of contributions accepted: Original posts of 500-750 words in length on any specific topic within the subjects of research, information management and technology, marketing and communications, training and consulting, and writing and editing.¹⁰

Submission and review process: Content should be submitted in Google Docs or Microsoft Word format via email. The blog editors may make minor revisions without notification before posting.¹¹

Editorial tone: Concise writing free of complex vocabulary is preferred. The use of bullet-points to make content more “scannable” to online readers is encouraged. The submissions guidelines page offers some helpful notes and resources on making online writing appealing and easy to read.¹²

Style guide used: No particular style is indicated. Read the submissions guidelines thoroughly for notes on preferred style.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The AIIP Blog provides an excellent forum for the LIS author who has interest in exploring a career as an independent information professional (or who is already engaged in the practice). This publication could also serve LIS authors who have specialized knowledge in research techniques which would cater to the needs of the independent information professional. While LIS authors may have specialized research knowledge on research techniques, potential works should be written with a focus on how such research techniques may impact on independent information professionals from a practical perspective.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No circulation information is available. However, the blog links to many social media platforms that may increase readership of any particular post.¹³

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The subject matter and readership of the blog is international in scope. Simple, clear, and concise English should be used to make material accessible to the wide audience.¹⁴

Reader characteristics: Readers consist primarily of independent information professionals engaged as specialized business owners. Readers share a collaborative approach in sharing ideas, experiences, and observations as independent information professionals.¹⁵

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Many readers will have extensive knowledge of LIS subject matter; however, authors should refrain from using overly technical and elaborate language, and err on the side of simple explanation.¹⁶

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

LIS authors should be aware that the readers are primarily professionals who are engaged as entrepreneurs in the information field. Readers will expect articles specifically tailored to this field. While articles should be professionally written, readers will expect an approach which has practical applications or implications. LIS authors with specific knowledge in emerging techniques in the acquisition/management/distribution of information could use this publication as a forum if specifically tailored to the independent information professional.

Last updated: July 5, 2019

References

Show 16 footnotes

Archival Outlook

By Blake Wandling on June 30, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Archival Outlook

ISSN: 1520-3379¹

Website: http://www2.archivists.org/archival-outlook

Purpose, objective, or mission: A newsletter membership benefit for members of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) that updates readers on the work of the Society and its many component groups and reports on regional, national, and international news of relevance to members of the profession.²

Target audience: Those interested in or specializing in the archival profession or one of its allied fields.³

Publisher: The Society of American Archivists (SAA)⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional news.⁶

Medium: Print and online.⁷ Print issues are mailed exclusively to members, but digital versions are available to the general public on the SAA website.⁸

Content: Features often cover best-practice and how-to articles on timely archival topics; notable collections, projects, or advocacy work; how archives are used by the public; and profiles of archives or archivists at work. SAA aims to nurture both new voices and established writers; the content is primarily written by the organization’s members and those in the profession.⁹

Frequency of publication: Bimonthly: January/February, Marcy/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www2.archivists.org/archival-outlook

Types of contributions accepted: A range of relevant topics will be considered, but articles typically focus on best practices, unique collections, notable achievements by an archivist or archives, and updates on the Society and its component groups. Articles should include “some kernel of information that will enlighten the reader professionally.”¹¹ Illustrations are encouraged. Articles should run 700 words for a one-page story or 1,200 words for a double-page spread.¹²

Submission and review process: Send queries and article ideas to the current Editorial and Production Coordinator via email. This position is currently held by Abigail Christian.¹³

Editorial tone: This is the member newsletter, not the official journal. While the articles are highly relevant to the archival profession, the tone is more friendly and laid back.¹⁴

Style guide used: No style guide is specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This newsletter is a perfect place for students in the archive sector to share short articles or feature stories on news, information, special projects or advocacy, or profiles of SAA members. It is neither peer reviewed nor the official SAA scholarly journal, so it is most likely not an avenue for publishing in efforts to gain tenure, but it would be an excellent place to start writing about all things archives, explore different topics within the archives world, or share information about relevant individuals, organizations, and conferences.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 6,200+ members.¹⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Society is based in Chicago and is North America’s oldest and largest national archival professional association.¹⁶ Outlook is written in English.¹⁷ The newsletter accepts international updates and news, but is a North American publication.¹⁸

Reader characteristics: The newsletter can have a very insider, quirky tone because it is directed at SAA community members. A unique feature is the use of visuals (mostly archival photos) to tell a story or as stand-alone pieces.¹⁹ If a LIS student came across an interesting visual, this would be the place to share it. The publication’s articles are largely written by members and those in the archives profession. The newsletter is strictly for those in the archival profession, or those interested in it. This does not just mean those in library-specific archives: professionals from all sectors within the profession are profiled and encouraged to share news and updates.²⁰ Readers are positively archival advocates. This is a newsletter that is very proud of being all about archives and celebrating archival and library professionals.²¹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As the readership is comprised of professional archivists, LIS knowledge and language is encouraged, though education level and degrees may vary.²²

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

Readers of this publication have one crucial aspect in common: their love of archives. Articles need to focus on positive aspects of the profession - this is not the venue to share negative comments or criticisms, although critiques might be accepted, and definitely reviews of new exhibits, books, or professionals would be fine. The level of LIS knowledge is high - this is not a newsletter for neophytes but is directed toward professionals. However, its tone is friendly, open, and welcoming to anyone with an interest in archives. This would be a fun, interesting place to publish with the aim to keep readers up to date as well as entertained.

Last updated: June 30, 2019

References

Show 22 footnotes

SNAP Section Blog

By Blake Wandling on June 30, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: SNAP Section Blog [Students & New Archives Professionals]

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://snaproundtable.wordpress.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The SNAP Section is a sub-group formed within the Society of American Archivists (SAA) to focus on student and new professional goals and issues.¹ The SNAP Blog provides SNAP Section members with a forum sharing information in a more public forum, in conjunction with other social media outlets.² The blog meets supports SNAP’s goals to “provide a forum to share concerns and learn from each other” and to “facilitate remote participation in the group through social media and other online resources.”³

Target audience: Entry level or student archivists, particularly those involved in the SAA: students, interns, new professionals, early-career archivists, and those still looking for their first professional job. Per the bylaws, any member or nonmember of SAA, including new and more experienced archives professionals, may participate in SNAP in accordance with the most current Guidelines for Roundtables as set forth by the SAA Council.⁴

Publisher: The Society of American Archivists (SAA).⁵

Peer reviewed? No.⁶

Type: LIS Professional and Trade Publication.⁷

Medium: Online.⁸

Content: Sharing information relevant to the student and new archive professional community, including archive-relevant blogs, regional meetings or courses, project ideas, general Q&A regarding research, professional and student issues, and the Ask An Archivist Q&A section.⁹

Frequency of publication: Updated as often as members post online. Recently the rate has been about three times per month.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://snaproundtable.wordpress.com/about/

Types of contributions accepted: Blog reviews, accounts of regional meetings or courses, project ideas, and anything of interest to the archival community.¹¹ Special columns offer more structured writing opportunities, and can be found here.¹²

Submission and review process: Authors who want to contribute to the blog should submit a contact form with information about themselves and about the topic they plan to write about.¹³ It can be assumed that the blog team will work with authors to develop their idea and get it posted.

Editorial tone: Informal.¹⁴

Style guide used: None listed.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The SNAP Section Blog is an excellent forum for sharing archival information and concerns among a like-minded group. It should be easy for novice writers to practice publishing their thoughts, ideas, and announcements in this public forum. Posting on this blog promises networking potential, as well as the possibility of becoming a strong voice in the newest generation of archivists, who may bring to light new perspectives on issues not emphasized to more established archivists.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Currently 218 people follow the blog,¹⁵ though the number of views that blog posts receive on the site and on linked-to social media could potentially be much greater.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The audience is largely North American, as the blog concerns members of the SAA. English is the primary language. Recent blog posts demonstrate comfort with social media and current internet language.¹⁶

Reader characteristics: Since the Section focuses on students and new professionals, members are likely overall to be younger than their other SAA Section counterparts, though new archive professionals may be older individuals in the midst of a career change. Readers may also be more established archivists who want to keep up with what issues their new colleagues find important.¹⁷

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Some LIS terminology and understanding is expected; but this is not a professional-grade publication, just sharing among peers. Contributors writing about their personal experiences in the field are not necessarily expected to walk readers through each step of what their work entails.¹⁸

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

The SNAP Blog offers an excellent venue for new and student archivists to share knowledge, insights, and new ideas about their profession.¹⁹ This is a very organized, enthusiastic group of students and new professionals who are addressing the needs of those LIS professionals new to archival librarianship. Readers are hoping to learn career tips, gain insight on issues they have different perspectives on, and network with other professionals. Write from personal experience and with passion for maximized readership.

Last updated: June 30, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

American Libraries

By Blake Wandling on June 30, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: American Libraries

ISSN: 0002-9769 (Print) and 2163-5129 (Online)¹

Website: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: American Libraries is “the flagship publication of the American Library Association,” dedicated to publishing news “about all matters of import to libraries and librarians.”² Per the Editorial Policy, part of the ALA Policy Manual section 10.2: the editor is charged with “a particular responsibility to convey to the membership and other readers full and accurate information about the activities, purposes, and goals of the Association.”³

Target audience: ALA members, the majority of whom are professional librarians in the United States.⁴

Publisher: American Library Association (ALA)⁵

Peer reviewed? No.⁶

Type: LIS professional news magazine.⁷

Medium: American Libraries is a print publication, with occasional digital supplements. American Libraries Online is the online edition.⁸

Content: American Libraries “features articles on professional concerns and developments, along with news of the Association, library-related legislation, and libraries around the country and the world. Expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues make the magazine the premier forum for the exchange of ideas.” ⁹

Frequency of publication: The print edition is published 6 times per year, with a digital-only July/August issue and occasional digital supplements.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: American Libraries solicits contributions of 600-1,500-word articles, including book reviews, features and opinion pieces on topics of general interest to members of the American Library Association. Letters to the editor are also accepted.¹¹

Submission and review process: Manuscripts should be submitted via email to americanlibraries@ala.org. Hard copies may be mailed to American Libraries, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. After submission, there may be “editorial revisions, deletions, or additions that in their opinion support the article’s focus. Editors will make every possible effort to review copy with the author prior to publication, especially regarding any proposed substantive changes.” Authors should hear back about their manuscripts within 4-8 weeks.¹²

Editorial tone: “Informal, but informative. Factual articles must be inviting and readable, with all statements backed by responsible research and interviews with several expert sources.” The editor encourages the “expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues.”¹³

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.).¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This 100+-year-old magazine is a well-respected publication with a wide audience. It would not be scholarly enough in tone to carry much weight for someone building up publications for tenure, but it is a credible, professional publication that provides a forum for practical information sharing among members of the LIS community. American Libraries publishes feature stories and opinion pieces as well as letters to the editor, and occasionally opportunities for columnists arise. Strong writers with appropriate story ideas should be encouraged to submit work here, whether they are LIS practitioners, educators, or students.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Over 62,000 member organizations, individual members, and paid subscribers.¹⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: A geographic breakdown could not be found, though American Libraries does offer rates for the US, Canada, and International subscriptions.¹⁶ It is probably safe to assume that the majority of ALA members reside and work in the United States. American Libraries is published in English, and readers are likely to be completely comfortable communicating in English. However, overuse of regionalisms should be avoided to appeal to the diverse and widespread American audience.¹⁷

Reader characteristics: Because readers are usually members of the ALA, the vast majority work in a variety of libraries and have a high level of education.¹⁸ As librarians, these readers are likely to be interested in library topics and sympathetic to library issues. However, it is not safe to assume that readers are homogeneous in terms of how they believe problems should be solved. Letters to the editor and point-of-view pieces indicate that readers can be highly opinionated. The editorial policy states that the “expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues make the magazine the premier forum for the exchange of ideas.”¹⁹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are likely to know a lot about general library topics and issues. Still, the audience includes all types of librarians, so authors would want to avoid highly specialized topics and language. For example, public librarians may not be familiar with (or interested in) the particular jargon and issues of military librarians, and technology specialists may not be familiar with the jargon of catalogers.[19. American Libraries, “About.”

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

Because this is a professional rather than a scholarly publication, appropriate submissions would be practical rather than theoretical. Possibilities might include current topics in librarianship, or unique twists on topics of general interest to the broad LIS community such as management, advocacy, and general-interest technologies. American Libraries readers have in common a professional or personal interest in libraries, but the audience is large, and readers’ specialized interests will be quite diverse. For this magazine, general library topics would be appropriate — articles on things like library technology, marketing, or management, the kinds of topics that would be relevant to all librarians, no matter what kinds of libraries they worked in.

Authors could assume that American Libraries readers would understand general library language and that basic terms would not need to be explained (the editors of American Libraries, for example, assume that readers will understand ALA’s common acronyms, such as ACRL). However, authors should try to avoid the kinds of topics or jargon that might be related to a specific library environment or aspect of librarianship, such as academic libraries or cataloging. Articles on highly specific topics or for particular ALA subgroups would be better directed toward the publications of the related ALA divisions, such as College and Research Libraries News or Children and Libraries.

Last updated: June 30, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

Marketing Library Services

By Blake Wandling on June 29, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Marketing Library Services

ISSN: 0896-3908¹

Website: www.MarketingLibraryServices.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Marketing Library Services (MLS) emerged in 1987 and is the longest-running publication that regularly delivers how-to articles and case studies for marketers in all types of libraries. They’re written by practitioners from around the world and curated by a respected expert who has 25+ years in the field. These detailed, vetted articles deliver more value than the brief ideas and advice offered via social media.²

Target audience: Information professionals in any type of library who need to learn to do better marketing, promotion, and advocacy.³

Publisher: Information Today, Inc.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS trade.⁶

Medium: Print and online.⁷

Content: MLS covers strategies and tactics for all marketing-related topics: advocacy, outreach, branding, segmentation, social media, funding initiatives, long-term campaigns, assessment, ROI, partnerships, promotional materials, program publicity, communications, PR, advertising, etc. Subscribers will also benefit from interviews with marketing masters, conference coverage, book reviews, and news.⁸

Frequency of publication: Six times a year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December).⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: The editor of Marketing Library Services, Kathy Dempsey, does not accept blind submissions; instead, it is preferable to email her first (see Editor below) with an article idea, so that she can see if it fits in with upcoming issues, or whether or not something similar has already been published. In a personal correspondence she asserts that if the topic is something useful to Marketing Library Services readership, she will send the author a desired length and deadline. Writers will be sent guidelines, and all graphics (photos, charts, etc.) must be in color and high resolution.¹⁰

The site itself says very little about submissions. Editorial communications should be directed to the editor, Kathy Dempsey, at kdempsey@infotoday.com.¹¹

Types of contributions accepted: From a correspondence with the editor: “Marketing Library Services covers a wide range of marketing-related topics, including these: advocacy, outreach, programming, fundraising, event planning, dealing with the media, getting votes for library issues, proving your value, making good promotional materials, community promotion, online promotion, winning related awards, studying demographics for target marketing, innovations, surveys and focus groups, strategic communication, etc. And, of course, true marketing (plans for full campaigns).” Also, “in addition to the case studies, Marketing Library Services carries news, reviews of books and videos, conference coverage, and links to library articles and culture.” ¹²

Submission and review process: Authors first should send correspondence to Kathy Dempsey stating their idea. Because Marketing Library Services is published often, timely articles are strongly recommended. Also, authors must have been directly involved in the projects they are writing about, and must write in the first person. Ms. Dempsey states that authors’ specific titles do not matter.¹³

Editorial tone: Marketing Library Services should not be written in third-person or academic tones. The newsletter’s tone is conversational, professional, and should inspire readers. According to the editor, “Articles should be written as if you’re sitting down with a colleague and explaining your project over lunch.”¹⁴

The editor will correspond with the author about this after the author’s idea has been accepted.¹⁵

Style guide used: Associated Press.¹⁶

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Marketing Library Services is a very good resource for LIS authors interested in writing on community outreach and marketing of library services. Many topics can fall under this umbrella, so it is important for potential authors to be creative and open in how they frame their content.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Marketing Library Services has 700 subscribers. Most of these are in North America, but some are in Europe and in other English-speaking countries.¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Because the content of the newsletter is in English and about a broad topic (marketing), the geographic location of the newsletter’s readership is assumed to reside across the United States. There are some readers from outside the United States, but because marketing can be culturally specific, those readers are likely already doing the work of cultural translation. English is used entirely throughout Marketing Library Services and, for the most part, readers are American or from Europe.¹⁸ Because of this spread, colloquialisms should be avoided (as in most professional writing).

Reader characteristics: According to Kathy Dempsey, the editor, most of the readership is comprised of librarians who market for their organization, while others are managers and directors. She also states that some are professors specializing in marketing. Because Marketing Library Services readership is comprised of professionals directly involved in marketing, it may be safely assumed that jargon specific to marketing is fine. As well, because this is a trade journal, readers will be interested in practical information. Kathy Dempsey states from a personal correspondence that, “MLS is written for a wide horizontal market that covers all types of libraries: public, academic, special (medical, gov’t, etc.), corporate, and to a lesser extent, K-12 school. It welcomes article queries from all of these librarians. What they all have in common is the need to promote their services. Many case studies about how one lib accomplished a goal can be used as models to doing similar things in other types of libraries. Articles on projects that have this ability to be widely replicated are especially valuable.”¹⁹

Readers of Marketing Library Services work in many types of libraries, so it may be safely assumed that they all value libraries’ continuing prosperity. That said, this does not mean that their values are identical. However, the newsletter’s tone is conversational, not argumentative. Articles written arguing strongly for one thing or another probably will not fit in Marketing Library Services.²⁰

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

Marketing Library Services is a newsletter informing LIS professionals the best practices and valuable ideas regarding LIS marketing. Professionals reading this newsletter are looking for good ideas and solidly practical plans and instances of good marketing. Marketing Library Services is not a dry tome of theoretical research written in an hermetic tone. Nonetheless, most of the readers are deeply engaged with marketing their organization, and are working professionals whose time and attention is valuable. Writers should consider their readers as interested colleagues who are deeply interested in successful programs and campaigns, and how they may learn from writers’ experiences and implement similar strategies in their own organizations.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 20 footnotes

Library Journal

By Blake Wandling on June 29, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Journal (LJ)

ISSN: 0363-0277¹

Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: This journal is produced as a trade publication with the intent to provide library news and related information. Although the emphasis of the journal is on public libraries, the journal contains information pertinent to a wide variety of professionals in the library world. Library Journal also provides reviews of books, ebooks, audiobooks, DVDs/videos, and other media annual to assist library professionals in purchasing for their institution. The mission of the journal is to provide feature articles and news stories which inform library professionals about current issues in a readable style.²

Target audience: The target audience is composed of librarians in public, academic, and special libraries, as well as library administrators, staff, and directors.³

Publisher: Media Source, Inc.⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional news. Library Journal is a non-research-oriented LIS professional news journal that includes advertising, bibliographies, illustrations, and book reviews.⁶

Medium: Library Journal is a print publication with free online content. Online archives are free, though they do not necessarily contain everything that is in the print edition.⁷ You can also subscribe to LJ’s RSS feeds and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.⁸ The online version of Library Journal also includes blogs, podcasts and message boards, links to affiliated newsletters, and tools to assist in collection development and other areas of library administration.⁹

Content: Library Journal content includes news, reviews, LJ bestsellers, commentary, departments, info-tech, special reports, letters to the editor, upcoming events, classified ads, and photos.¹⁰ Library Journal evaluates over 8,000 books annually and also provides reviews of library-related equipment and materials.¹¹

Frequency of publication: The print publication is issued 12 times a year.¹² Online content is updated continuously.¹³ Reviews are also welcomed, though review contributors are expected to regularly write, rather than simply submitting one review.¹⁴

Submission and review process: Submissions to the Features and Columns sections should be 2 to 4 pages in a magazine, or 1800 to 2700 words. Finalized drafts can be sent as an attachment along with a query describing the coverage and approach of the article as well as the writer’s connection to the subject and his or her expertise. The query can be a paragraph or several paragraphs in length. Response to queries may take between 4 to 6 weeks. LJ also accepts opinion pieces and rants about topics and concerns in the library profession for its “BackTalk” . Pieces should be in the range of 900 words. Be sure to email the appropriate editor for the type of content being submitted.¹⁵

Book reviewer guidelines for contracted and unpaid review writers can be found here.¹⁶

Editorial tone: As this publication is aimed at the general librarian population, the tone of articles should be objective as well as thought-provoking while providing topical and useful information. Articles should be written in an “accessible and readable style.”¹⁷

Style guide used: No particular style guide is indicated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

A trusted and respected publication for the library community, Library Journal certainly has the potential for an LIS author to reach a wide audience. Since the journal reaches out to public, academic, and special libraries, there are a multitude of articles that could possibly be written for this publication.

Library Journal is open to ideas for articles and columns, and also encourages “opinion pieces and rants.”¹⁸ Library Journal prefers an approach that is widely accessible by its readers.¹⁹ There is therefore great potential for newer writers who are not necessarily comfortable with a more scholarly voice. There is also a market here for librarians to offer insight and advice on practical issues facing contemporary libraries. This is a wonderful opportunity for librarians (including those who may not consider themselves to be professional authors) to share their real-world experience with others.

Library Journal Reviews+ is a popular selection tool used in public and academic libraries, and an ongoing opportunity exists here to publish reviews in a wide range of disciplines. Reviewers are not required to have previously published reviews.²⁰ This would be an excellent opportunity for library students with graduate degrees in other areas to review books in their specialty and begin to publish in the LIS field.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Library Journal is distributed to 43,000 print subscribers, and its online equivalent registers over 91,000 monthly visits. The publication is also popular on social media, with over half a million followers across various social media platforms, on which journal content is shared.²¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: LJ is printed in English, and most articles focus on topics affecting libraries in the United States. A scan of recent article titles reveals an editorial comfort with acronyms specific to the American context, such as CIA, ALA, and NYPL.²² However, authors should remain sensitive to the possibility of diverse readership, since cultural diversity and international issues are embraced by the publication, as demonstrated by recent articles on Indigenous Academic Libraries, Spanish-language collection development, and inclusion in scholarly publishing.²³

Reader characteristics: Because the audience largely consists of librarians and library staff, readers are likely to be both interested in and sympathetic to library issues. They are also likely to share common values and beliefs about the role and importance of librarianship.²⁴ The readership is large,²⁵ however, and likely diverse in their particular perspectives on library issues.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Library Journal is read by people all across the library profession, so a working knowledge of library terms can be assumed, but authors should be aware that members of their audience may not have MLIS degrees.²⁶

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

Readers of Library Journal include library directors, administrators, and staff in all types of libraries. An article written for this publication has the potential to reach and influence people across the library field, nationally and even internationally. Authors should remain aware that their readers are familiar with both the current highest standards of librarianship, yet also the practical difficulties that come with working in the field. It is recommended to aim for a broad reach, even when writing about an issue specific to one kind of library, so that readers from all types of libraries can gather ideas or inspiration from each article.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 26 footnotes

Young Adult Library Services

By Blake Wandling on June 29, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Young Adult Library Services (YALS)

ISSN: 2374-7706 ¹

Website: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/young-adult-library-services

Purpose, objective, or mission: It is the official journal of Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), whose mission is “to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives.”² In support of these efforts, YALS “features articles that showcase best and emerging practices, provides news from related fields, spotlight significant YALSA events and opportunities, and offer in-depth reviews of professional literature.”³

Target audience: Librarians and library staff who serve youths, ages 12 through 18.⁴

Publisher: American Library Association.⁵

Peer reviewed? No.⁶

Type: LIS professional news.⁷

Medium: Online.⁸

Content: Showcases best practices, news from related professions, reviews of professional literature, and spotlights YALSA events.⁹ Each issue may contain articles on important topics such as: intellectual freedom, intersectionality, cultural competence, adolescent literacy, youth development, and leadership. There may also be interviews, speeches, or bibliographic essays.¹⁰

Frequency of publication: Four times a year.¹¹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/yals/author-guidelines/

Types of contributions accepted: Feature articles ranging from 1,800 to 4,000 words in length. News of current interest to the profession, articles on best practices, news from related professions, and reviews of professional literature. Manuscripts submitted should not be under consideration or accepted elsewhere.¹²

Submission and review process: Manuscripts should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents via email to the editor. Contact the editor for specifics concerning submission and style guidelines. Submissions may be edited for clarity accuracy, and readability.¹³

Editorial tone: There is no stated tone for article submissions, and articles can range from academic to reports on field practice. A wide variety of styles is acceptable as long as the submission conforms to the themes and types of articles YALSA is interested in for their readers.¹⁴

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication is eminently suitable to anyone who has an interest in writing articles geared towards librarians serving young adults (aka “teenagers,” adolescents,” “youth”). It would be an excellent resume builder to have been published in the YALSA journal. The guidelines are direct and exact. Getting published in this journal might be difficult for a novice, but the attempt would be worth it.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: YALS reaches YALSA membership, over 5,000 librarians and educators.¹⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: YALSA is centered in Chicago, IL, and the main geographic location served is the United States. However, they do outreach programs in other countries and some members are international, so the journal has a limited international scope as well. Cultural considerations do not generally enter into the journal’s authorship. Most authors appear to be writing solely for American librarians who serve young adults. These articles can be applicable to most any other developed country’s librarians serving youth (ages 12-18), however, even more than with young adult services in the U.S., there is a dearth of research and scholarship on developing nation’s youth services.¹⁷

Reader characteristics: Readers range in location, age, and gender. They are spread all over the U.S. in both public and school libraries. The vast majority of readers have MLIS degrees and work as Young Adult Specialists or youth generalists in public library librarians or School Library Media Technicians. Some readers are para-professionals or library assistants at these locations and do not have a MLIS degree. All the librarians who read YALS, however, are highly interested in services to young adults (ages 12-18) as that is the target issue for this particular journal. Some interests they all share are collection development for YA literature, community development, inclusivity, methods of incorporating library use into school curricula, intellectual freedom, and hot topic issues having to do with youth services. Since the librarians targeted by this journal work with young adults (ages 12-18), their needs tend to be a trifle more progressive than some fields. The world of youth services is constantly expanding and evolving due to YA reliance on the internet and technology. In order to keep up with the clientele they serve, the readers are going to be looking for innovative articles which will offer the ideas, experiences, and opinions of their colleagues.¹⁸

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Considering that most of the readers have MLIS degrees, contributors can assume that readers will be familiar with the profession’s vocabulary, particularly that pertaining to young adult services.¹⁹

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

The most important thing to keep in mind when writing for YALS is that the readership is going to be interested primarily in topics having to do with youth librarianship. They are not going to be interested in esoteric topics on archives, law libraries, etc. Some articles on cataloging or subscription databases would be acceptable, but primarily articles should be geared toward advancing, managing and delivering excellent library and information services to young people.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

College & Research Libraries News

By Blake Wandling on June 29, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: College & Research Libraries News

ISSN: 0099-0086 (Print) and 2150-6698 (Online)¹

Website: http://crln.acrl.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: C&RL News “provides articles on the latest trends and practices affecting academic and research libraries and serves as the official newsmagazine and publication of record of the Association of College and Research Libraries.”²

Target audience: Members of the ACRL.³

Publisher: Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).⁴

Peer reviewed? No.⁵

Type: LIS professional news magazine.⁶

Medium: Print and online.⁷

Content: Per their website, “College & Research Libraries News (C&RL News) publishes articles, reports, and essays written by practitioners addressing philosophy and techniques of day-to-day management of academic library services and collections. C&RL News provides current information relating to issues, activities, and personalities of the higher education and academic and research library field. Information literacy, scholarly communication, technology, professional education, preservation, government actions that affect libraries, acquisitions, grants to libraries, product updates, and the business of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) are covered in C&RL News.”⁸

Frequency of publication: 11 monthly issues.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Articles, essays, and reports.¹⁰

Submission and review process: Manuscripts must be submitted to the editor via email. Only original manuscripts that have not been published will be accepted, however, exception may be given to previous items published in other institutional newsletters. Submission length depends on type: “News notes may be 150-350 words; essays for “The Way I See It” should be 750-1,000 words; feature articles (Scholarly Communication, ACRL Techconnect, and Internet Resources) should be no more than 2,000 words.” Footnotes, charts and tables should be minimal; graphics should be included with submission. The author is responsible for obtaining permission for the use of any graphics. Please provide a brief caption and credit (if needed) for all images.¹¹ Authors should consult past issues and the author guidelines for instructions on writing for specific columns.

Editorial tone: Practical, accurate, informative, and informal. Even humorous essays are welcomed.¹²

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed.¹³

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Publishing with C&RL News provides a strong foundation for both an author’s portfolio, in addition to allowing the author to be involved in a LIS association. Authors are not required to become ACRL members to publish with C&RL News; however, ACRL offers a variety of publication tools and resources, including wikis and other forums for information sharing that is important to the professional development of librarians, and LIS authors. C&RL News provides new LIS authors the potential to build their writing portfolio within a supportive, field-specific environment.¹⁴

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The largest division of the ALA, the ACRL claims a membership of over 10,000.¹⁵ Since these members receive automatic subscriptions to the C&RL News, this would be a certain count towards the circulation. However, nonmembers can also subscribe to the publication, and the latest circulation total notes the total circulation count at 14,000. Aside from members and nonmember single subscriptions, there may also be subscriptions by other libraries or related groups (educators) that may have an interest in receiving this publication.¹⁶

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: As the ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, the publication is geared towards academic and research libraries in America. However, the subscription information provides rates specific to subscriptions to Canada, Postal Union of the Americas and Spain (PUAS) countries, and all other countries.¹⁷ The publication is printed in English and serves as the official news outlet for a US-based organization, so cultural considerations do not seem to expand beyond the U.S. However, some columns may include international websites and stories on librarianship in other countries¹⁸ which demonstrate an awareness of how library trends and practices in other countries can affect U.S. librarianship.

Reader characteristics: The audience of C&RL News is comprised of members of the ACRL, who are professional librarians, staff, administrators, directors, educators in LIS, and students. Nearly all members report affiliation with universities or colleges, with almost half belonging to large research or doctoral-granting universities. The smallest reported group of subscribers is those affiliated with two-year or technical colleges, who comprise 11% of the current membership.¹⁹ Readers are used to the publication’s inclusion of more personal insights into individual experiences and humorous anecdotes, and are therefore likely to be open to new perspectives.²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As the ACRL is a professional association of academic librarians and individuals with interest in academic librarianship, an advanced and specific knowledge of LIS subject matter can be assumed. Readers will not want definitions and descriptions of issues that they are familiar with; this audience expects to be informed on the current news, trends, and practices in academic and research libraries.

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

This publication’s readers are involved in their libraries, their institutions, the academic library community, and the academic community itself. Though not a scholarly publication, informal research exploring best practices and methods for improving services is a sure way to maintain readers’ attention. From archives to community college public services, any essay on a specific topic within the academic library field could offer readers the opportunity to apply the author’s findings to their own institutions. However, authors should keep in mind that readers have diverse experiences. Staff members at technical colleges may be more interested in new resources on serving local communities, whereas administrators at research universities may have a greater interest in international trends. Whatever the chosen topic, authors should be sure to write from experience and with the confidence of expertise.

Last updated: June 29, 2019.

References

Show 20 footnotes

ProQuest, “College & Research Libraries News,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019. http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1561866753201/119300 ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/pages/view/about ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies.” ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
American Library Association, “About ACRL,” Association of College & Research Libraries, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl. ↩
Association of College & Research Libraries, 2018-2019 Media Planning Guide, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/ACRL_MediaKit19.pdf. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies.” ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Past Issues,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/archive. ↩
Association of College & Research Libraries, 2018-2019 Media Planning Guide. ↩
Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩

LISNews

By Blake Wandling on June 29, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: LISNews

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://www.lisnews.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “LISNews is a collaborative weblog devoted to current events and news in the world of library and information science.”¹

Target audience: LIS professionals and anyone interested in reading about library and information science news.²

Publisher: Blake Carver, MLS.³

Peer reviewed? No.⁴

Type: LIS professional news and forum.⁵

Medium: Online.⁶

Content: The content on LISnews varies from day to day and includes newspaper articles from the United States and other English-speaking countries, editorials, interviews, book reviews, and original writings. Glancing at the most recent postings reveals excerpts and links from LIS-related articles in popular publications and organizations. Activity on the site has slowed down significantly in recent years, but new blog posts are added about once a week by the blog’s owner. Some articles do not speak anyone’s interest; other postings can generate heated, but civilized discussion for several days.⁷

Frequency of publication: According to the blog owner, content is updated “frequently, usually 7 days a week.”⁸ However, recent activity suggests a pattern of updating slightly more than once per week.⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: There are no guidelines as this is an informal forum for open discussion. The author attempts to maintain accuracy and fairness in postings and gently hints that others do the same.¹⁰

Types of contributions accepted: Articles, editorials, original work; anything of interest to a LIS audience.¹¹

Submission and review process: Submissions can be sent to the ”submit suggestion” link on the website. Contributions remain the property of the author and can be removed from the website any time by request. There is no review process other than the publication of that which interests a majority of readers. The author does caution that anything that “causes trouble” will be deleted.¹²

Editorial tone: Informal blog that accepts any writings about LIS news. Authors are free to post and opine on the blog regarding any previously published works. The publisher does, however, “reserve the right to remove any work at any time for any reason.”¹³

Style guide used: None.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LISNews does not provide any scholarly writing opportunities, but does offer an almost daily opportunity for new writers to post their work and ideas on any library topic. The blog offers a nice opportunity to get one’s feet wet in the world of LIS writing but not much else. This may be good venue to find the pulse of library and information science news, to find out what others are talking about, what is of interest to other LIS professionals, and what LIS topics are making headlines in mainstream publications.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: There is no circulation information available. However, readership is not necessarily restricted to the activity on the site, as the blog is also be delivered via an email subscription list.¹⁴

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The publisher is in New York, and it is claimed that there is some international reach.¹⁵ American English is the standard for communication as the focus is on North American information science and news. Newspaper articles posted here are from all over the country, Canada, and the UK.¹⁶

Reader characteristics: A majority of the readers are librarians of every specialty; however, the publisher does not ask any specific information. The readers are likely to have similar types of workplaces, as the majority of most recent posts focus on public or academic librarianship.¹⁷ Readers, as librarians, tend to be open to new information, are willing to express their opinion online, and listen to what others have to say. The editor will post anything of value related to library issues but will remove anything that causes too much discord.¹⁸

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Since this is an audience of mostly librarians (as determined by the editor)¹⁹, there is a great deal of LIS knowledge. Information is gathered from many sources for contributions to LISNews. Some posted articles are highly technical, while others are newspaper articles free of any jargon.²⁰

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

This is a resource for librarians to contribute information on anything related to library and information science from the conventional to the bizarre.²¹ Some articles are very technical and directed toward librarians with a specialization and a knowledge of library jargon and acronyms. Other articles are of a general nature that are of interest to not only librarians, but a general audience as well. Authors are welcome to contribute on any library related topic. Since there are few productive authors relative to prior years, there is opportunity for authors to stand out and be heard by posting frequently. ²² This is an informal and engaged audience of librarians that will be interested in anything that writers have to post.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 22 footnotes

MLAConnect

By Blake Wandling on June 29, 2019 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: MLAConnect

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://www.mlanet.org/mlanews

Purpose, objective, or mission: “MLAConnect is MLA’s online newsletter, featuring the latest resources, professional advice, and association news.” ¹

Target audience: Members of the Medical Library Association (MLA).²

Publisher: Medical Library Association (MLA)³

Peer reviewed? No.⁴

Type: LIS professional newsletter.⁵

Medium: Online. The print MLA News publication transitioned to the new all-digital format in 2017. ⁶

Content: Professional notices of importance to the membership, articles of practical matters of interest, letters to the editor, classifieds, etc.⁷

Frequency of publication: Continuously.⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=154

Types of contributions accepted: Submissions must be emailed to the editor. Any timely newsworthy piece that would be of interest to the membership including letters to the editor and reviews of conferences. Authors should take care to avoid content that overlaps with the subject areas of regular column writers listed on the editorial team.⁹

Submission and review process: Articles no more than 700 words, no more than 5 references allowed. All submissions subject to editing and abridgement. Submissions required 6 weeks in advance of publication.¹⁰

Editorial tone: Informational.¹¹

Style guide used: The publication uses its own MLA Style Manual.¹²

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Writers with expertise in the medical library field and interest in reaching the members of this organization would find this publication a good place to submit work.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Most articles are restricted to MLA members.¹³ The most recent media kit places membership at over 3,000.¹⁴

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Most readers are located in the US, but articles should remain culturally neutral in consideration of possible international audiences.¹⁵

Reader characteristics: MLA member and readers are generally hoping to connect with colleagues and expand their professional skills and knowledge.¹⁶ Readers work in a variety of medical organizations, but share an interest in their association’s mission to promote excellence in health sciences librarianship.¹⁷ They will likely have a specific interest in their field, their medical specialty, with less interest in general LIS topics.¹⁸

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Most readers will have a familiarity with LIS subject matter but may not have a MLIS degree.¹⁹

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

Authors considering submitting work to this publication will be best served by reviewing the past issues of the publication and remembering that readers are expecting to learn how to better perform and understand their work. While MLAConnect is not a peer-reviewed journal, readers are articles that represent the forefront of new developments in the field.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

Medical Library Association, “MLA: Publications: MLA Publications,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=65 ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLAConnect,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/page/submitting-articles-for-mla-news ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLAConnect.” ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLAConnect.” ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLAConnect.” ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLAConnect.” ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLA Connect.” ↩
Medical Library Association, “MLA: MLA News: Latest News,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=1138 ↩
Medical Library Association. “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLA Connect.” ↩
Medical Library Association. “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLA Connect.” ↩
Medical Library Association. “Publications: Submitting Articles for MLA Connect.” ↩
Medical Library Association, “Publications: MLA Style Manual,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=198 ↩
Medical Library Association, MLA: MLA News: Latest News. ↩
Medical Library Association, “Advertising and Sponsorships: Advertise in MLA News,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=173 ↩
Medical Library Association, “MLA: About: International Programs,” June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=23 ↩
Medical Library Association, “MLA: About: MLA Individual. Membership: Connect…Learn…Lead…JOIN!” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/join ↩
Medical Library Association, “About,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=21 ↩
Medical Library Association. “MLA: MLA News: Latest News.” ↩
Medical Library Association. “MLA: About: MLA Individual. Membership: Connect…Learn…Lead…JOIN!” ↩

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