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School Library Journal

By on June 26, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: School Library Journal (SLJ)

ISSN: 0362-89301

Website: https://www.slj.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their website, “School Library Journal is the premiere publication for librarians and information specialists who work with children and teens. A source of quality journalism and reviews for more than 60 years, SLJ produces award-winning features and news coverage on: literacy, best practices, technology, education policy and other issues of interest to the school library and greater educator community.”2

Target audience: Any librarians and information professionals working with children and teens, including librarians in K-12 schools as well as those in public libraries.3

Publisher: Media Source, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: Professional.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: Claims to be one of the most authoritative reviewers of children’s and young adult materials. It mainly focuses on books, but also includes reviews on audio and video items. The journal also contains columns, news, and feature articles.8

Frequency of publication: Monthly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.slj.com/?page=Submissions

Types of contributions accepted: Items of interest to librarians and educators who work with children: feature articles, news articles, and specialty columns.10 Articles from the last few years include topics such as rural public libraries, fundraising, app reviews, bloggers, LGBTQ+ Pride, diversity, and tips for school librarians preparing for the first day of school.11

Submission and review process: Send brief article proposals to the appropriate editor before submitting any complete articles. Feature articles are generally less than 2,500 words, while opinion pieces are around 600-700 words. News articles can vary in length, depending on the topic.12

Editorial tone: Informative, but not academic.13

Style guide used: None indicated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This is a successful and popular publication that, while encouraging of submissions, may be difficult to break into as a writer. A thorough study of the publication with attention to the authors published in their pages will give a writer a better idea if this is a good match for them.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: School Library Journal has a circulation of 23,000 in the print edition with an estimated reach of 92,000 readers.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: There is no specific breakdown on the nationality of the readers available, but the history of the journal reveals that it is entirely geared toward schools in the United States and Canada.15 Most of the readers of this journal would be those who work with youth in libraries in the United States, so there should not be any problems with cultural references, LIS jargon, or terminology particular to education.16

Reader characteristics: Readers of this journal would be those who work with K-12 students, either in schools or public libraries. They have a shared interest in promoting literacy and welcome resources that inspire student achievement.17 Articles openly and positively discuss diversity and inclusivity in library services, with article topics ranging from combating systematic racism in schools to selecting LGBTQ+ books for pre-teen collections. More articles and reviews touching on these topics would be welcome.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of this journal would not be limited to those with teaching credentials or MLS degrees. Some may be library media technicians who may not have an advanced degree, but would have enough education or professional training in order to understand the subject matter.19

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

Readers of School Library Journal have a common interest in children’€™s literature and issues regarding school libraries. Many of the readers are library technicians, so some articles are geared toward encouraging collaboration with teachers and librarians. Authors should recognize that there is an education gap as well as a wage gap between the professionals and the paraprofessionals and should refrain from using an excess of technical terms in their articles. Readers of SLJ maintain a great interest in information literacy and how this can be integrated into the curriculum, as well as increasing the technology available to the students. Introducing ideas that are on the cutting edge of technology yet are not restricted by financial or time constraints would be a way of effectively reaching the intended audience.

Last updated: June 26, 2019.

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “School Library Journal,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019. http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521399134773/52981 ↩
  2. School Library Journal, “About Us,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.slj.com/?page=About-Us ↩
  3. School Library Journal, “About Us.” ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory ↩
  7. School Library Journal, “School Library Journal content submission guidelines,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.slj.com/?page=Submissions. ↩
  8. School Library Journal, “About Us.” ↩
  9. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  10. School Library Journal, “School Library Journal content submission guidelines.” ↩
  11. School Library Journal, “News & Features,” accessed June 29, 2019. https://www.slj.com/?subpage=News%20%26%20Features ↩
  12. School Library Journal, “School Library Journal content submission guidelines.” ↩
  13. School Library Journal, “School Library Journal content submission guidelines.” ↩
  14. Library Journals, LLC., “Print,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://media.libraryjournal.com/print/#schoollibraryjournalmag. ↩
  15. School Library Journal, “News & Features.” ↩
  16. School Library Journal, “About Us.” ↩
  17. School Library Journal, “About Us.” ↩
  18. School Library Journal, “News & Articles.” ↩
  19. School Library Journal, “About Us.” ↩
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Library Worklife

By on June 24, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Worklife

ISSN: 1550-35341

Website: http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The purpose of this newsletter is to inform those working in the library field about Human Resource (HR) related issues such as career advancement, pay equity, recruitment, work/life balance, and certification.2

Target audience: Members of the target audience include members of American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA). 3

Publisher: American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA).4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional news journal.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: The newsletter covers ALA-APA news, career advancement, certification, HR law, HR practice, career advancement salaries and pay equity, recruitment, spotlight, support staff, and work/life balance.8

Frequency of publication: Issued the second Tuesday of each month.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/call-for-submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: The newsletter accepts shorter length articles, anywhere from 200 to 1200 words. Longer articles may be submitted upon previous arrangement. Articles may be based on news, trends, research, scholarly articles, noteworthy events, and individual profiles.10

“Factual articles must be inviting and readable, with all statements backed by responsible research and interviews.”11

The website has a specific section, Write for Library Worklife that lists upcoming themes and suggested topics to consider writing about.12

Submission and review process: Submissions are accepted by e-mail to bcalvin@ala.org and/or info@ala-apa.org, with the article pasted in plain text in the body of the email, or as a MS Word attachment. Articles are reviewed by the editors and they make the decision whether or not an article should be published. They may also choose to make changes if the article is accepted.13

The submission guidelines also include a list of topics to consider writing about and an Editorial Calendar with writing deadlines and distribution days per monthly issue.14

Writers are encouraged to commit to submitting three articles for a twelve-month period; one-time submissions are also accepted.15

Editorial tone: The tone of the articles is informative, and can even be humorous in the right situation. They can also be written in either first person or third person.16

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style; however the submission guidelines advise against the use of extensive footnotes.17

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This newsletter offers opportunities for those interested in writing about the details involved in the working life of librarians, especially authors willing to share their success or concerns on the publication topic. As a part of ALA it has the potential to reach a wide audience. Authors interested in writing for this publication are best served by reading past issues of the publication to gain a clear understanding for their focus.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Submission guidelines note that Library Worklife is received by thousands of ALA institutional members and individual subscribers.18

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: As a part of the ALA-APA this journal is North American based as is its readership. The headquarters for the journal are located in Chicago, Illinois.19 Library Worklife is written in English,20 however authors need to avoid specific or regional references.

Reader characteristics: The readers are mostly part of the ALA-APA, which is an organization which endeavors “to enable the certification of individuals in specializations beyond the initial professional degree.”21 This mission was broadened after the organization’s foundation to include advocacy for the “mutual professional interests of librarians and other library workers€.”22 The readers of this journal work in all types of library environments. They are concerned with employment issues such as pay rates and human resources issues rather than advice on day to day issues that face librarians.23 One issue that readers are likely to have a strong opinion about is that of pay equity. According to the website, one of the main goals of ALA-APA is “direct support of comparable worth and pay equity initiatives, and other activities designed to improve the salaries and status of librarians and other library workers.”24

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Since this is a publication put out by ALA, with a large number of subscribers who are ALA members, the readers would likely have a thorough understanding of LIS subject matter as well as jargon.25

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

The readers are largely associated with ALA-APA. One of the important issues for such readers is the fair treatment of library workers and the status of library workers within the public’s eye. This would be a helpful issue to keep in mind when considering article ideas. The most important characteristic of the readers to remember is that they are interested primarily in the pay equity and the status of librarians in the workplace. The articles these readers would have the most interest in reading would have these issues as a central theme.

Last updated: June 24, 2019

References

Show 25 footnotes

  1. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Library Worklife,” accessed June 24, 2019, http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/ ↩
  2. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Library Worklife.” ↩
  3. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Library Worklife.” ↩
  4. ProQuest, “Library Worklife,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1407435724102/575494 ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “LW FAQ,” accessed June 24, 2019, http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/lw-frequently-asked-questions/ ↩
  9.  American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “LW FAQ.” ↩
  10. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions,” accessed June 24, 2019, http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/call-for-submissions/ ↩
  11. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  12. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association. n.d. “Write for Library Worklife,” accessed June 24, 2019, http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/write-for-library-worklife/ ↩
  13. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  14. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  15. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  16. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  17. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  18. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  19. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  20. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  21. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “About ALA-APA,” accessed June 24, 2019, http://ala-apa.org/about-ala-apa/. ↩
  22. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “About ALA-APA.” ↩
  23. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
  24. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “About ALA-APA.” ↩
  25. American Library Association-Allied Professional Association, “Call for Submissions.” ↩
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Southern California Association of Law Libraries Newsletter

By on June 24, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Southern California Association of Law Libraries Newsletter (SCALL Newsletter)

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://scallnet.org/newsletter/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The SCALL Newsletter is the official association newsletter of the Southern California Association of Law Libraries, which aims to keep members up-to-date with goings on in the society.1

Target audience: Law librarians and other information professionals working in the legal industry in the Southern California area, especially those who are members of SCALL.2

Publisher: Southern California Association of Law Libraries, a division of the greater organization, American Association of Law Libraries (AALL).3

Peer reviewed? No.4

Type: Professional LIS newsletter.5

Medium: Online.6

Content: SCALL Newsletter contains many reviews and discussions of programs and conferences, both those sponsored by SCALL and others of interest in the community. It also publishes articles about new technologies or issues in the legal profession.7

Frequency of publication: Five times per year. The issues are September/October, November/December, January/February, March/April, and May/June.8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://scallnet.org/newsletter/

Types of contributions accepted: The publication is interested in a broad range of articles and submissions, as long as they are of interest to the law library community.9

Submission and review process: Articles should be submitted to the newsletter editor via email. Deadlines for submission are published on the website and are also included in each issue along with current editor’s contact information.10

Editorial tone: Though not specifically stated, the tone seems to be informal. Many of the articles are divided into shorter sections, so the reader can quickly and easily decipher the most important points or see an outline of the ideas presented in a conference.11

Style guide used: There is no mention of a specific style guide requirement however, none of the articles in recently archived issues contained bibliographies or footnotes.12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication is useful for information professionals in the legal industry, especially those who are based in Southern California. It provides up-to-date information on events held by the SCALL as well as discussions of other local law conferences and programs. Also, this newsletter is very effective in keeping the members of SCALL informed as to what is taking place within the association, especially with regards to its officers and upcoming events.

This publication seems to be very receptive to author contributions. Most likely those who are members of the association would be especially welcomed to contribute. It seems that it would be a promising publication for an information professional who may not yet be comfortable writing academic research papers, but who is interested in discussing a presentation or conference he or she attended.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: This newsletter is a benefit of SCALL membership and according to their call for advertisers, there are over 400 SCALL members.13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The readers of this publication are primarily in the Southern California area. Many of the events discussed in the newsletter are specific to this locale.14 However, there is a separate division, San Diego Area Law Libraries, or SANDALL, for the San Diego area members of AALL, so SCALL may be said to include only Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Because this is not an international publication, authors do not have to be concerned with language or cultural discrepancies. As the readers are concentrated in a limited area and work in a specific field, it is likely that they will have a similar understanding of library issues and the words used to describe them.15

Reader characteristics: Individual characteristics of SCALL members are not available, but members of SCALL work in academic, professional, private, state, and county law libraries.16 It can be assumed that the statistics for SCALL readers are close to those of the wider association, American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). According to the AALL 2018-2019 Media Kit, the most common workplaces for members are private or corporate law libraries (35%). A  smaller, but still significant portion, 13.9 percent, work in government or other types of law libraries. The highest percentage of members (36%) are still in law school. 17 Information professionals who are likely to read SCALL Newsletter are interested in the legal field, and judging by the scope of the articles, they seem to have an interest in technology as well.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It can be assumed that readers of the SCALL newsletter are very familiar with LIS related subjects. According to the information about AALL, which all SCALL members are a part of, 38% of readers work in positions that involve high-level decision making and direction of law library services.19

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

The most important characteristic of this audience is their common interest in the legal profession. Because this is not a scholarly publication and it is intended to spread news and share information, potential authors should keep in mind that their pieces can be more casual in nature but should still be informative and thought-provoking in their viewpoints. Writers should remember that readers of this publication are interested in law libraries and the specific technological issues and advancements that affect their work. While many readers have years of experience working with legal materials, electronic resources are being introduced frequently which change the way many SCALL members are doing their jobs. These changes in the field present opportunities for authors to explain new developments, discuss up-and-coming technologies, and educate the readers.

Last updated: June 24, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter,” accessed June 24, 2019, https://scallnet.org/newsletter/ ↩
  2. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  3. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  4. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  5. ProQuest, “SCALL Newsletter,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 24, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1406774838598/217965 ↩
  6. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  7. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, SCALL Newsletter 43 no. 3 (March/April 2016), http://scallnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SCALL_newsletter2016MarApr-1.pdf. ↩
  8. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  9. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  10. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  11. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, SCALL Newsletter 46 no. 5 (May/June 2019), https://scallnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SCALL_newsletter2019MayJun.pdf. ↩
  12. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  13. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  14. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, SCALL Newsletter 46 no. 2 (November/December 2018), https://scallnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SCALL_newsletter2018NovDec.pdf ↩
  15. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “Newsletter.” ↩
  16. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, “SCALL,” accessed June 24, 2019, https://scallnet.org. ↩
  17. American Association of Law Libraries, “AALL Media Kit,” AALL Spectrum, accessed June 24, 2019, https://www.aallnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/AALL-Media-Kit-_2018-2019_FINAL_070318.pdf ↩
  18. Southern California Association of Law Libraries, SCALL Newsletter 41 no. 5 (July/August 2014), https://scallnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/SCALL_newsletterJulyAugust2014.pdf ↩
  19. American Association of Law Libraries. “AALL Media Kit.” ↩
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Knowledge Quest

By on June 21, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Knowledge Quest

ISSN: 1094-9046 (Print) and 2163-5234 (Online)1

Website: https://knowledgequest.aasl.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: Knowledge Quest supports the American Association of School Librarians’ mission to empower leaders “to transform teaching and learning.”2 The journal is devoted to offering substantive information to assist building-level school librarians, supervisors, library educators, and other decision makers concerned with the development of school libraries and school library services.3

Target audience: “Building-level school librarians, supervisors, library educators, and other decision makers concerned with the development of school library programs and services.”4

Publisher: American Library Association.5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: LIS professional news.7

Medium: Print and online.8

Content: Per their site, “Articles address the integration of theory and practice in school librarianship and new developments in education, learning theory, and relevant disciplines.”9 Emerging trends, literacy, co-teaching, leadership, and makerspaces are some encouraged topics.10

Frequency of publication: Bimonthly, September through June.11

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/write/ (Scroll down to the link to the PDF Author Guidelines.)

Types of contributions accepted: Knowledge Quest seeks “original, unpublished manuscripts that address the integration of theory and practice in school librarianship and new developments in education, learning theory, and relevant disciplines.” The editors are not interested in “basic primers” on the role of school librarians or press releases and vendor news.12 Articles should be 2500 words or less.13

Submission and review process: Articles may be emailed to the editor14 or through an online submission form.15 “Unsolicited manuscripts undergo blind review by the Knowledge Quest editorial advisory board. The process takes approximately 3-4 weeks. When the review is completed, the author will be notified of the outcome.”16

Editorial tone: Professional. Through well-written articles, the journal provides information in a helpful and supportive manner.17

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.).18

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Although this publication has numerous readers, over half of its readership is comprised of elementary school, middle school, and high school librarians.19 The fact that its content does not apply to all aspects of library science limits the reader base and therefore, the scope of articles covered. Professionals working in school libraries are encouraged to submit their work for review. Knowledge Quest desires to be part of the library community and provide support for members of this community through its articles and reviews. Publishing in this journal represents the authors’ dedication to the school library community.20

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The publication is distributed to 7,000 members and and additional 150 readers. The online component reports over 1,200 visits per day.21

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This magazine is a publication of the American Association of School Librarians. The material provided in the magazine is designed to support the curriculum in United States public and private schools. The print version of the magazine can be shipped anywhere, but the typical readers reside and work in the United States. Readers can also access the journal via the online component KQ Web and this website can be accessed world wide over the internet.22 This magazine is presented in English and uses terminology relevant to elementary and secondary school librarians. As a publication of the AASL, the magazine has the same vision statement as the organization. This vision statement highlights the magazine’s and the association’s goal to support and embrace cultural and ethnic diversity.23

Reader characteristics: The readers of the magazine are comprised of professionals and supervisors working in library media centers. Readers can be expected to embrace and be familiar with the ethics and values present in school library programs today. By subscribing to the magazine, readers are demonstrating their stance as advocates of literacy and supporters of intellectual freedom. Media specialists are closely related to teachers as they are active members of the learning community. These individuals are well aware of the resources available to them and are always working towards learning new ways to use these resources in better and more productive ways. Most of the readers work in elementary and secondary school libraries both public and nonpublic schools, and will be interested in issues and programs such as library funding, student achievement, student internet use, literacy, intellectual freedom, and technology that effect or involve the readers. Knowledge Quest is interested in producing a quality publication that presents ideas in a friendly and inclusive manner.24

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: With 87% of readers reporting possession of a Master’s degree, it is probable that many have LIS degrees. Readers can be expected to know about school curriculum and are knowledgeable about the technologies and issues relevant to school media centers today.25

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

Since Knowledge Quest is a publication of the AASL, the readers expect that the publication will have the same guidelines and requirements characterized by an AASL publication. The readers expect the magazine to publish works which are balanced, relevant to the field, accurate, and up-to-date on issues pertinent to school libraries. 78% of readers report that Knowledge Quest is “essential professional reading,” so authors should expect to produce content that meets that description. 26

Last updated: June 21, 2019

References

Show 26 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Knowledge Quest,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 19, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1560951075174/52980 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “About AASL,” accessed June 19, 2019, http://www.ala.org/aasl/about ↩
  3. American Association of School Librarians, “About KQ,” accessed June 19,  2019, https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/about-kq/ ↩
  4. American Association of School Librarians, “2019-2020 Media Planner,” accessed June 19, 2019, https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/KQ_mediakit_201920_WEB.pdf ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. American Association of School Librarians, “Write for KQ,” accessed June 19, 2019, https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/write/ ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  9. American Association of School Librarians, “About KQ.” ↩
  10. American Association of School Librarians, “Write for KQ.” ↩
  11. American Association of School Librarians, “About KQ.” ↩
  12. American Association of School Librarians, “Write for KQ.” ↩
  13. American Library Association, “Knowledge Quest Author Guidelines,” accessed June 20, 2019, http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/Author%20Guidelines%20REVISED.pdf ↩
  14. American Library Association, “Knowledge Quest Author Guidelines.” ↩
  15. American Association of School Librarians, “Write for KQ.” ↩
  16. American Association of School Librarians, “Write for KQ.” ↩
  17. American Association of School Librarians, “Write for KQ.” ↩
  18. American Library Association, “Knowledge Quest Author Guidelines.” ↩
  19. American Association of School Librarians, “2019-2020 Media Planner.” ↩
  20. American Association of School Librarians, “About KQ.” ↩
  21. American Association of School Librarians, “2019-2020 Media Planner.” ↩
  22. American Association of School Librarians, “2019-2020 Media Planner.” ↩
  23. American Association of School Librarians, “About KQ.” ↩
  24. American Association of School Librarians, “About KQ.” ↩
  25. American Association of School Librarians, “2019-2020 Media Planner.” ↩
  26. American Association of School Librarians, “2019-2020 Media Planner.” ↩
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Library Leadership and Management

By on June 12, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Leadership and Management (formerly Library Administration and Management)

ISSN: 1945-8851 (Print) and 1945-886X (Online)1

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their site, “Library Leadership & Management (LL&M) is the official journal of the Library Leadership and Management Association. LL&M focuses on assisting library administrators and managers at all levels as they deal with day-to-day challenges. In-depth articles address a wide variety of management issues and highlight examples of successful management methods used in libraries. Features include interviews with prominent practitioners in libraries and related fields, and columns with practical advice on managing libraries.”2

Website: http://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm

Target audience: The publication is directed toward library administrators and managers in all sectors, including public, special and academic libraries.3

Publisher: American Library Association.4

Peer reviewed? Hybrid journal: “LL&M offers both formal peer review and editorial review options depending on the author’s preference.”5

Type: LIS professional news.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: Research-based articles, interviews, new developments and success stories related to managing libraries. Specific topics relate to management, leadership, and administration.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Per guidelines, “Recognizing the LLAMA is a diverse organization, Library Leadership & Management (LL&M) welcomes articles that correspond to the interests of the membership. This includes manuscripts that relate to leadership, management, and administration, as well as manuscripts that mirror the topical interests of the sections and discussion groups.”10

“The journal accepts both longer, in-depth manuscripts of 4,000 to 6,000 words and briefer practice-based articles of 1,000 to 2,500 words. Manuscripts longer than 6,000 words should be discussed with the Editor(s) prior to submission as there may be interest in converting it into a series of articles.”11

Submission and review process: Article submission is through their online portal. Review process depends on author’s preference: editorial or peer review.12

Editorial tone: Informative.13

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style and Random House Webster’s College Dictionary are listed as resources for writers.14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Authors able to write on the topics associated with library administration and management would be a good fit for this publication. Recent articles focused on job satisfaction and employee turnover, diversity, innovative space planning, award winners, and customer satisfaction.15 The editors will consider articles presented at conferences, making this publication a possibility for LIS graduate students.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: This is an online publication with Open Access Policy providing unrestricted access to published content indicating a larger audience beyond the LLAMA membership.16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although headquartered in Chicago as part of the American Library Association,17 LLAMA and its membership is national in scope. The articles are domestic in nature, and the LLAMA Board of Directors all are from U.S. institutions.18 The publication is printed in English.19 Despite the fact that many LLAMA members manage libraries in ethnically diverse communities, the articles in the journal focus on general management issues that all administrators face, such as strategic planning, fundraising, library boards, and internet ethics, not community-specific issues.20

Reader characteristics: The commonality of LLAMA members is that they are at a managerial level within a library organization. It can be assumed that the majority of LLAMA members have been in the library business for a number of years, however no demographics are available. Unless they are a one-person operation (which could be the case for a school librarian), they hold supervisory roles within their organizations. Their interests are based on financial, human resource, building, and legal and ethical issues as they affect the success of their particular organizations. They are concerned with strategic planning, disaster planning, and facility planning.21 In looking over the editorials from recent issues, the overall value that can be attached to this journal would be one of empowerment. The content seeks to provide library managers with the tools needed to develop successful organizations out of preparedness rather than reactionary responses to a crisis.22

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Despite the fact that these are library managers, they may or may not have MLIS degrees, as some library managers followed business, not library, career tracks.23 Recent articles did not contain overly technical topics or LIS jargon, veering more toward business concepts.24

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

The audience is more specific than €™American Libraries€™, which is directed toward all library personnel. In contrast, LL&M is designed for library managers and administrators. This could be an opportunity or a challenge for a writer. Things such as negotiating with a vendor, ergonomic work stations, and staff development are matters of concern to nearly any organization manager. Topics such as working with a library board, dealing with book challenges, and internet filters are problems that are specific to library management. But both categories have a place in this publication and therefore open up a host of possibilities for articles. However, these readers, as organization managers, most likely have very limited time to pursue professional reading. Authors for the journal need to be on top of the issues at the forefront of the managers’€™ daily lives in order to offer something new to say that is of value.

Last updated: June 12, 2019

References

Show 24 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Library Leadership and Management,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 12, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1560362802779/67509 ↩
  2. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Library Leadership & Management,” accessed June 12, 2019, https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm ↩
  3. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Library Leadership & Management.” ↩
  4. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Library Leadership & Management.” ↩
  5. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Information for Authors,” accessed June 12, 2019, https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/information/authors ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Information for Authors.” ↩
  9. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  10. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions,” accessed June 12, 2019 https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  11. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  12. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  13. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  14. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  15. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives,” accessed June 12, 2019, https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/issue/archive ↩
  16. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives.” ↩
  17. Library Leadership and Management Association, Library Leadership & Management. ↩
  18. Library Leadership and Management Association, “About LLAMA,” accessed June 12, 2019, http://www.ala.org/llama/about ↩
  19. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  20. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives.” ↩
  21. Library Leadership and Management Association, “About LLAMA.” ↩
  22. American Library Association, “Archives.” ↩
  23. Library Leadership and Management Association, “About LLAMA.” ↩
  24. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives.” ↩
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CLS Newsletter

By on June 11, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: CLS Newsletter

ISSN: 0887-35501

Website: www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/cls/clswebsite/collpubs/clsnewsletter

Purpose, objective, or mission: This is a newsletter produced by the College Libraries Section (CLS) of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), which in turn is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Its purpose is to provide information concerning the affairs of the CLS and ACRL to its members as well as to promote a sense of community among its members by publishing light, short articles dealing with experiences of working in academic libraries.2

Target audience: The newsletter is aimed at the general college librarian and provides information on the everyday activities of the CLS and ACRL. As such, it probably would not be of interest to a lay audience.3

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

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional. The newsletter is similar to other types of short, organizational communications meant for a general membership. It is unpretentious and full of very short pieces.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: The issues feature CLS and ACRL housekeeping pieces dealing with meetings, conferences, announcements, conventions, political issues, and promotions as well as human-interest pieces on librarians that work in academic libraries.8

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Articles and suggestions may be submitted to the editor directly via email.10

Types of contributions accepted: All types of submissions are considered with an emphasis on CLS related professional announcements and events.11

Submission and review process: All decisions are made by the editor who, from the content of past issues, is very flexible in what is accepted for publication as long as it is not too long and deals with CLS members or events.12

Editorial tone: Very informal with a simple prose style.13

Style guide used: There is no style guide specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

For a new author, these types of professional newsletters are gateway publications. These small publications are usually hungry for material and, though they do not usually pay, if the piece is not too long and is firmly down to earth it will probably be published.

The meat and potatoes of these types of newsletters are announcements of one sort or another along with scheduling and convention information pertaining to the organization itself. The short human-interest type pieces on librarians and the academic libraries where they work are usually used for filler and so the shorter and more concise they are the better.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As of August 2015, CLS had 2,533 members which is a fine indicator of circulation because the newsletter is sent to all members.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: CLS Newsletter does not focus on any particular region though it does concern itself with college-level librarianship within the United States. The majority of the newsletter deals with giving kudos to various hard-working librarians within the CLS community and so there is no regionalism present. All college libraries and college librarians from coast to coast are treated equally. Articles are to be written in clear English. As this is not a scholarly work and is really meant to be a house organ for the leadership of the CLS and, by extension, ACRL, the purpose is to communicate the internal housekeeping information of the College Libraries Section and recognize the accomplishments of its members. Because of this, the use of jargon is not detrimental though obscure, local usage might need to be clarified.16

Reader characteristics: Based on a reading of several sample copies, the general readership can be assumed to consist of professionally active, middle-aged, Caucasian, and female academic librarians who work in baccalaureate-level, four-year schools. Of course, males are represented, but females still dominate the profession. The newsletter tries very hard to steer a middle course promoting the efforts of college librarians at all times.17

The four-year college library experience is what binds the members of the CLS together. The experiences of end-of-term reserves, interlibrary loan problems and meeting the needs of demanding faculty are what flavors their relationships with each other and illustrate their successes. Most of the readers will be reference librarians or lower-level administrative librarians who are settled into their career paths; though the occasional library director of the smaller libraries might find something of interest in the newsletter.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers are all professionals who have a strong grasp of their profession. The readers are interested enough in their career to have joined these organizations and so are relatively well informed on the new trends emerging in the profession such as blogging, and patron-centered services that would directly affect their work.19

Conclusion: Reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The one thing that must be kept in mind concerning the readers of this newsletter is that they are all dedicated to the profession of academic librarianship and that they are reading the newsletter to keep up on the current events of the College Library Section and the Association of College and Research Libraries. A popular feature is the kudos of various librarians throughout the country who have been awarded some honor or achieved some success. Also the occasional tidbit of gossip or library anecdote is found in the newsletter.20

Last updated: June 11, 2019

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “CLS Newsletter,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 11, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1557276839438/480566 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “About CLS,” Association of College & Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/sections/cls/aboutcls ↩
  3. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  4. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter,” Association of College & Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/cls/clswebsite/collpubs/clsnewsletter ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  7. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  8. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  9. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  10. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  11. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  12. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  13. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  14. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  15. American Library Association, “Manual of the College Libraries Section of the ACRL,” Association of College & Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/acrlsections/cls/CLS%20Manual%202017.pdf ↩
  16. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  17. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  18. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  19. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  20. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
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EContent

By on June 11, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: EContent

ISSN: 1525-25311

Website: http://www.econtentmag.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: From their site, “By covering the latest tools, strategies, and thought-leaders in the digital content ecosystem, EContent magazine and EContentmag.com keep professionals ahead of the curve in order to maximize their investment in digital content strategies while building sustainable, profitable business models.”2

Target audience: Per their site, “decision-makers in the media, publishing, technology, and mobile sectors.”3

Publisher: Information Today, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS trade magazine.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: EContent delivers essential research, reporting, news, and analysis of content related issues. According to the “Writing for EContent” guidelines, “Each issue of EContent offers: news and analysis of what’s happening in the content industry, feature articles covering the latest trends and issues, and regular columns and departments written by industry experts.”8

Frequency of publication: 6 times a year.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.econtentmag.com/About_Us (See Writing for EContent for Author Guidelines download)10

Types of contributions accepted: Articles are accepted in the following categories: current news stories; reviews of new products; and features (narratives, art, or company profiles). See “Content” entry above for general types of articles that appear in each issue. The Editorial calendar, outlining the focus for each issue, is located in the publication’s media kit.11

Submission and review process: Authors must first send a brief query, links to samples of your work, and a brief bio to the editor. “When submitting, be sure to include particular areas of interest and expertise. If you have a specific idea for an article, submit the idea accompanied by a brief outline of the topics you expect to cover. Unacceptable unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned.”12 Check submissions thoroughly for grammatical and spelling errors. Supporting materials are required for all sources mentioned.13

Editorial tone: Editors expect authors to deliver a well written, thoroughly researched, factually correct, and on-time manuscript. Features are nonacademic in tone and must be written in a narrative style, with a beginning, middle, and an end. New product reviews should be written for a lay audience, not strictly for information professionals, as many business leaders use the magazine for exposure to new products in digital content management.14

Style guide used: No style guide is mentioned, but specific style guidelines are provided in Author Guidelines.15

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

EContent provides numerous opportunities for authors to publish on a variety of topics related to managing digital content. To the author’s benefit, editorial calendars are posted with specific topics to be featured in upcoming articles, along with deadlines for submission. This allows authors to either find the correct issue for a topic they are writing, or write an original article according to the publication’s editorial needs. Within each topic, the editors are looking for current news stories, new product reviews, and features that give narratives, showcase art, or profile a company.16

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Purpose circulation: Per their media kit, they have more than 27,000 readers. 17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: United States.18 Readers are primarily located in the United States, therefore American colloquialisms can be used. Culturally, EContent readers are very technologically savvy, so a high level of exposure to this aspect of American culture can be assumed.19

Reader characteristics: The most important thing to remember about EContent readers is that they are not IT professionals. Most readers hold executive-level positions, so a larger amount of responsibility can be assumed as far as decisions regarding content management solutions. According to the Author Guidelines, readers are “executives and professionals involved in content creation, acquisition, organization, and distribution in B2B or B2C environments or within their own organizations.” A survey of EContent readers revealed that they work in over 20 different industries, from the entertainment industry to the military, so avoid information or jargon specific to a certain industry. What is important to remember about EContent readers is their similarities: they are all in a position to make decisions over an organization’s digital content management systems. Readers are all familiar with the technical terms and jargon related to digital content and asset management, so in this area authors can use common terminology, yet remember not to provide overly technical information. EContent does convey a progressive stance in the sense that it tries to review the latest products and provide advice on cutting-edge resources for professionals in the position to making decisions regarding content management.20

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: In a limited sense, EContent readers are familiar with one aspect of library and information science, content management. Their media kit notes, “EContent readers are executives and managers who direct the digital content strategies for their organizations. Subscribers include content executives, content managers, content creators, publishers, content marketers, and anyone who deals with digital content in order to further business objectives. They’re buyers of content and technology solutions and have the power to make purchasing decisions.”21 While this description easily includes information professionals, it also include many other professionals not familiar with LIS jargon or issues.

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

Readers of EContent are very diverse. What brings them together is their shared influence over digital content strategies, whether for a business or an information center. It is important to remember that although content management is a technical field, this publication is not geared toward IT professionals, but rather toward executives who make decisions regarding content management systems. The purpose of this publication is to offer resources and advice aimed at successful content management, and to provide information on products in order to help readers make informed decisions. EContent‘s readers do not want to know how digital content management products work, they want to know which ones are best for their needs, and how to best use them.22

Last updated: June 11, 2019

References

Show 22 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “EContent,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 11, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521727384219/91047 ↩
  2. Information Today Inc., “About EContent,” EContent, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.econtentmag.com/About_Us ↩
  3. Information Today Inc., “Advertising,” EContent, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.econtentmag.com/Advertising ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  9. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  10. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  11. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  12. Information Today Inc.,  About EContent. ↩
  13. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  14. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  15. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  16. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  17. Information Today Inc., “’19 Media Kit,” EContent, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.econtentmag.com/downloads/mediakits/2019/EC2019-MediaKit.pdf ↩
  18. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  19. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  20. Information Today Inc., “About EContent.” ↩
  21. Information Today Inc., “’19 Media Kit.” ↩
  22. Information Today Inc., “Advertising.” ↩
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Public Libraries

By on June 11, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Public Libraries

ISSN: 0163-55061

Website: Public Libraries magazine: http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries; Public Libraries Online: http://publiclibrariesonline.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: Public Libraries is the official trade publication of the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of American Library Association (ALA), and thus reflects its standards. The magazine seeks to provide public librarians with the news and information they need to be as successful in their careers as possible.2

Target audience: LIS professionals working in public libraries.3

Publisher: Public Library Association.4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS professional news. This publication focuses on the public library workplace rather than on scholarly research.6

Medium: Print.7 Public Libraries Online, a complement to the printed journal, is available online.8

Content: Quality articles and information germane to all aspects of public libraries.9

Frequency of publication: Bi-monthly10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries/writeforpl

Types of contributions accepted: The following types of contributions are considered for publication:

  • Feature articles. Manuscripts should be 3,000-6,000 words.
  • €œVerso€ pieces, of no more than 1,500 words.
  • Vendor announcements. (Contact Kathleen Hughes, khughes@ala.org.)
  • Reviews of professional literature. (Contact Kathleen Hughes, khughes@ala.org.)11

Submission and review process: Public Libraries has a specific style guide that authors should adhere to before submitting manuscripts to the editor. Manuscripts are evaluated by the Feature Editor and persons knowledgeable about the topic of the work.12 All submissions are reviewed in a double-blind process to ensure that published papers are of high quality.13

Articles are accepted on a rolling basis and the evaluation process generally takes eight to twelve weeks. Articles are typically scheduled for publication in the order in which they are received.14

All submissions must be submitted through the online Public Libraries Editorial Manager. First-time authors will need to register. You may then submit your manuscript and track its progress through the system.15

Editorial tone: From the website: “Write in a clear, simple style. Use the active voice whenever possible. Avoid overly long sentences.”16

Style guide used: Consult the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. and the Random House Webster’€™s College Dictionary for questions about grammar, usage, or spelling.17

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This is an excellent publication for public librarians, LIS professionals or student authors interested in sharing unique knowledge or experiences germane to public libraries. This is a credible resource since it is published by the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association. Potential topics this publication may address include: career development, serving diverse populations in public libraries, and improving public programming.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Subscription accompanies membership in the Public Library Association (PLA),18 meaning that each issue of Public Libraries circulates to nearly 10,000 PLA members and subscribers throughout the entire United States and Canada.19

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: PLA is a division of the American Library Association, indicating that readers of this publication are primarily located throughout the United States.20 The information in this publication is printed in the English language.21 It is culturally focused on the U.S. and on library and information science issues relevant to American librarians working in the public library realm.22

Reader characteristics: Expect readers to be familiar with current library technologies and policies. Readers are likely working in a public library, and are knowledgeable of procedures and technologies related to their field. By subscribing the magazine, the readers are displaying a personal interest in bettering themselves and their knowledge of their chosen field. The majority of this publication’€™s readers include reference, children, youth, special collections, and technical librarians working in public libraries. Although most of the audience has an MLIS education, there are professionals who have worked in libraries for an extensive amount of time and may have gotten involved when a graduate degree was not required. Furthermore, this publication is appealing to LIS graduate students interested in learning more about issues in the public library realm. This publication is progressive insofar as it is concerned with ensuring that the general public, including the disadvantaged, has access to information, services and programs.23

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Considering that this is a professional publication, most readers are already familiar with issues relevant to the library and information science profession. They will also be familiar with LIS jargon, specifically that used in public libraries.24

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

Public Library‘s readers are professionally affiliated with both the American Library Association and the Public Library Association. Collectively, readers are very likely to be public library employees. Most read this publication to learn about national public library news, to build camaraderie within the field, and to gain insight about how they might approach issues within their own libraries. Considering this publication’s national audience, it is important to link unique experiences to national issues. For instance, an article about lending e-readers in one library would make connections to copyright or cost issues relevant to other libraries.

Last updated: June 11, 2019

References

Show 24 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Public Libraries,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 11, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521399522510/23515 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine,” Public Library Association, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries ↩
  3. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5. American Library Association, “Write for Public Libraries Magazine,” Public Library Association, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries/writeforpl ↩
  6. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  7. Proquest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  9. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  10. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  11. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Editorial Guidelines,” Public Library Association, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries/writeforpl/editorialguidelines ↩
  12. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  13. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  14. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  15. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  16. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  17. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  18. American Library Association, “Subscribe to Public Libraries,” Public Library Association, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries/subscribe ↩
  19. American Library Association, “Advertise with PLA,” Public Library Association, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/advertise ↩
  20. American Library Association, Subscribe to Public Libraries. ↩
  21. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  22. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  23. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
  24. American Library Association, “Public Libraries Magazine.” ↩
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CCL Outlook: Newsletter of the Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges

By on June 11, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: CCL Outlook: Newsletter of the Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://cclibrarians.org/outlook/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The constitution of the Council of Chief Librarians (CCL) states that the organization’s purpose is “€œThe purpose of the Council of Chief Librarians is to represent, promote and advance libraries in public California community college education; to provide a vehicle for communication, discussion and collaboration among libraries; to provide opportunities for professional development, training and leadership development for library leaders and other librarians; and to support data collection, analysis and dissemination for the purpose of good public policy development.”1 The CCL Outlook supports that goal by serving as the primary means of communication between the organization and its members.

Target audience: CCL membership, which is limited to the chief librarians of each community college in California.2

Publisher: Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges.3

Peer reviewed? No. Content decisions are made by the editor.4

Type: LIS professional newsletter.5

Medium: Online.6

Content: The major portion of the material included in Outlook is news announcements from the organization itself. Each issue begins with “News from the President.” The items that follow frequently include discussions of the actions of the organization and its committees, announcements of relevant conferences and seminars, job postings, and administrative issues such as new officer elections. These items are almost always submitted by the officers or staff of the CCL.7

Additionally, some issues contain brief articles written by members or other librarians that discuss topics relevant to the membership; these have included a description of new information literacy training implemented at one college, a discussion of new teleconferencing techniques and a comparison of new OPAC software.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://cclibrarians.org/newsletter/editorial-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: News items about events and open positions should be less than 300 words. Most issues of Outlook include one or more brief articles (500-1,500 words) contributed by outside authors. These are brief summaries of topics that would be of interest to the administrators of community college libraries.10

Submission and review process: Articles may be submitted through the CCL website. The editorial team will revise for grammar, spelling, formatting, and style.11

Editorial tone: Per the website, “Succinct, inviting and informative style of writing is preferred.” The tone of the newsletter is, not surprisingly, very informal. Much of the communication content in Outlook is frequently conversational; the articles do tend towards a more professional tone, but are still very relaxed.12

Style guide used: There is no style guide listed, but the editorial guidelines state that endnote citations should be in accordance with the current edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

CCL Outlook has a very small audience, and its content is limited to very brief articles; therefore publishing in this newsletter would not generate widespread name recognition, nor would it aid significantly in a tenure or promotion cause. Nevertheless, an author who is working, or hopes to work, in the field of community college libraries could gain valuable exposure in a publication that is read by their potential mangers.13

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Although it is available on the Internet for anyone to read, the CCL Outlook is intended for a group of librarians, library managers, and library deans, to whom it is sent electronically.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The chief librarians for whom the newsletter is written are specifically located in California. The community colleges at which they work are located throughout the state. The newsletter is written in English, and it would be safe to assume that all of the library directors are fluent. However, authors should be aware of the cultural diversity of the colleges at which these librarians work. California is home to many diverse communities, and so the community colleges will reflect that diversity. Many of the colleges are in highly populated areas and may have large minority populations, while other colleges are in smaller urban centers located in sparsely populated rural communities.15

Reader characteristics: While no information is available concerning their ages, members are all supervising librarians and it is probably safe to assume that they have a high degree of professional experience. The readers all work at community colleges as head librarians, and as such share many common interests. However, their professional environments should not be seen as completely homogeneous. The interests of the chief librarians at Los Angeles City College or Grossmont College in San Diego, who each supervise large staffs and serve over 16,000 students in high-density urban settings, are very different from the interests of the sole librarian at Barstow College, who serves less than 3000 students in a low-density farming community.16

Although some of the community colleges in California are small, most are large enough that the chief librarian is primarily an administrator, rather than a practicing reference librarian. As such, they will tend to consider issues from an organizational, rather than an individual, point of view. They will be less interested in a new approach to the reference interview than in a new resource that will help their librarians to provide more efficient reference services. Also, the readers are all likely to have years of professional experience, and will possibly be wary of highly theoretical approaches that they feel lack practical grounding.17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers are all experienced LIS professionals who will be familiar with the operations of libraries, and the practices of librarianship. Their interests will be specific to community colleges, and so authors should be familiar with the specific needs of those institutions. While readers might not be fully current with cutting-edge research in information science, they will generally be familiar with emerging trends in librarianship.18

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

When writing for the CCL Outlook, there are three important factors that an author must consider: this is a professional rather than scholarly publication, the readers will be library leadership, and the audience will be concerned with community colleges. Regarding the first two issues, the author must remember that the readers will be looking for practical approaches, and hopefully, solutions; authors must address big-picture issues, and focus on the implementation of projects, rather than the theory behind them. The recent contents of Outlook also indicate that readers are very interested in legislative issues that will have an impact on community colleges.19

The third consideration -€“ the orientation towards community colleges -€“ is essential. Authors should recognize that this publication is very specific to that environment. While the chief librarians are almost certainly interested in developments outside of their area, they also know that there are many other publications to which they can turn for those developments, but that Outlook is where they go for community college news.

Last updated: June 11, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Organization,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/about-us/organization ↩
  2. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges. “Home,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org ↩
  3. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  4. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/newsletter/editorial-guidelines ↩
  5. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  6. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  7. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Outlook Archive,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/newsletter/outlook-archive ↩
  8. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Outlook Archive.” ↩
  9. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  10. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  11. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  12. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  13. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  14. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Mailing List Information,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/about-us/mailing-list-information ↩
  15. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Directory,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/directory ↩
  16. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Directory.” ↩
  17. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Organization.” ↩
  18. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Organization.” ↩
  19. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Outlook Archive.” ↩
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Information Outlook

By on June 9, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Information Outlook

ISSN: 1091-0808 (Print) and 1938-3819 (Online)1

Website: https://www.sla.org/access-membership-3/io/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Information Outlook is the official publication of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). The SLA “promotes and strengthens its members through learning, networking, and community building initiatives.”2

Target audience: Information Outlook is targeted towards their membership of information professionals, specifically those working in special libraries.

Publisher: Special Libraries Association (SLA).3

Peer reviewed? No4

Type: LIS professional news.5

Medium: Print and online.6

Content: Per their website, the publication contains “articles on timely topics such as data curation, digital asset management, bibliometrics, and value co-creation; columns about technology, copyright law, and other issues of perpetual interest; and interviews with SLA members, offering a close-up look at information professionals in different disciplines, work environments, and countries.”7

Frequency of publication: Bi-monthly.8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.sla.org/shop/information-outlook/write-for-i/

Types of contributions accepted: From the “Write for IO,” “Although written primarily by SLA members, articles in Information Outlook also are contributed by futurists, attorneys, academicians, technology professionals, human resources specialists, communications experts–anyone with knowledge or ideas about how information professionals can better serve their clients.”9

Submission and review process: Interested authors should send a query email to the current editor with an outline of your topic along with your qualifications. The editor will forward your query to the advisory council for review. The guidelines encourage illustrated article of approximately 2,000 words in length.10

Editorial tone: Written in an active voice following the SLA style guide provided in the submission guidelines.11

Style guide used: Current edition of Chicago Manual of Style.12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Information Outlook is an excellent forum for LIS authors writing on topics of interest to special libraries. Since there is such a wide variety of special library types, there are a number of topics that can be addressed. Despite differences among particular types of special libraries, many experiences and situations can be generalized and made applicable to all of Information Outlook readers.13

Although this is not a scholarly journal, Information Outlook is a highly respected journal, and LIS authors would benefit from having their work published by the SLA.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Over 4,000.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Special Libraries Association has 49 regional chapters. The majority are located in the United States, but there are also chapters in Canada, Africa, the Arabian Gulf, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. In addition to the regional chapters, SLA boasts members in 75 countries.15 Information Outlook is published in English, but circulates to members in other countries as well (as listed above). Issues pertaining to special librarians will be of general interest to all readers, but there may be some regional/cultural specifics that might not be applicable to readers in different countries.16

Reader characteristics: The readers of Information Outlook are individuals who typically hold a library degree. Many have master’s degrees in subject specialties as well. There is gender diversity in the audience, and they range in age, typically from late 20s upwards. They may be brand new to the profession or they may be upper management with many years of experience. All readers of Information Outlook are special librarians, and therefore they have a common mission and values, and much in common within the profession. However, they work in settings that are incredibly varied, both in size and type. Readers might work alone or in large organizations, and might specialize in institutions such as government, medical, legal, and academic libraries.17 The readers of Information Outlook care specifically about issues pertaining to special libraries. According to the publication’s website, its readers are interested in articles about “administration, organization, marketing, and operations.” They value information that will help their organizations stay successful and stay informed of the latest developments and technologies.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of Information Outlook are extremely knowledgeable about issues relating to library and information science. They will be at different stages of their careers, of course, with some readers having more experience and expertise than others, but writers can assume a basic level of knowledge and can expect readers to understand LIS jargon.19

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

Information Outlook‘s readers are hungry for the latest information about issues that impact special libraries. They want to read articles that have practical application in their day-to-day lives and careers. As stated on SLA’s website, “readers want to read articles about new techniques, new ideas, new trends…They’re interested in growing their organizations and in planning their careers…They want to know how to confront problems and how to avoid them.” The profession is comprised of individuals who “strategically use information…to advance the mission of the organization…through the development, deployment, and management of information resources and services.”20

Potential authors can reach this audience effectively by providing case studies and real-world examples, and by focusing on what is new and innovative in the field. Most special librarians are technologically savvy and interested in cutting-edge applications that will help them accomplish their professional goals and serve their patrons. They will also likely have limited time to devote to professional reading, and will only devote that time to articles and reviews that are relevant and timely. Therefore, authors will be best served by submitting writing that is direct and to the point.

Last updated: June 9, 2019

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Information Outlook,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 9, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1412097741980/63314 ↩
  2. Special Libraries Association, “About SLA,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/about-sla/ ↩
  3. ProQuest. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. Special Libraries Association, “Information Outlook,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/shop/information-outlook/ ↩
  8. Special Libraries Association, “2019 Editorial and Advertising Calendar,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/shop/information-outlook/editorial-calendar/ ↩
  9. Special Libraries Association, “Write for Information Outlook,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/shop/information-outlook/write-for-i/ ↩
  10. Special Libraries Association, “Write for Information Outlook.” ↩
  11. Special Libraries Association, “Write for Information Outlook.” ↩
  12. Special Libraries Association, “Write for Information Outlook.” ↩
  13. Special Libraries Association, “About SLA,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/about-sla/ ↩
  14. Special Libraries Association, “Association Finances,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/about-sla/association-finances/ ↩
  15. Special Libraries Association, “Chapters,” accessed June 9, 2019, http://www.sla.org/get-involved/chapters/ ↩
  16. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  17. Special Libraries Association, “About SLA.” ↩
  18. Special Libraries Association, “Editorial and Advertising Calendar.” ↩
  19. Special Libraries Association, “About SLA.” ↩
  20. Special Libraries Association, “About SLA.” ↩
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