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Practical Academic Librarianship (PAL)

By on February 26, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division (PAL)

ISSN: 1947-0037

Website: http://journals.tdl.org/pal/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Practical Academic Librarianship (PAL) is a journal “for all academic librarians and information professionals serving academic departments or affiliated institutions including centers, institutes, specialized collections, and special units within or related to academic units.”1 It is “focused on the practical side of academic librarianship.”2

Target audience: As the “International Journal” of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Academic Division, PAL is directed to “librarians serving academic departments or affiliated institutions” in the United States and internationally,3 but as an open-access journal, it is not limited to SLA members.

Publisher: Academic Division of the Special Libraries Association.4

Peer reviewed? Yes, blind peer review.5

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online.

Content: PAL primarily publishes research articles; however, the journal also encourages and provides guidelines for think pieces and for interactive online exhibits and demonstrations. The content of the journal is broad and includes “implementation of new initiatives and best practices; original and significant research findings with practical applications; analysis of issues and trends; descriptive narratives of successful and unsuccessful ventures; [and] examination of the role of libraries in meeting specialized client needs.6

Frequency of publication: PAL publishes two issues per year; however, the journal “publishes items as soon as they are ready by adding articles to the ‘current’ volume’s Table of Contents….The first issue runs January 1 – June 30 and the second issue runs July 1 – December 31.”7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: PAL accepts research papers; think pieces (not peer reviewed but screened by an editor) intended to “€spur discussion amongst scholars on message boards for each piece€”; and interactive online exhibits and demonstrations, whose form and content should be proposed to the editors, as with a written piece. The journal’s special interests include a broad list of topics: information technology, library administration and management, the library in the university mission, collections management, teaching and learning, information literacy, space planning, higher education policy, marketing, user studies, resource sharing, institutional repositories, electronic serials.8

Submission and review process: Authors must have an account on the journal’s website that enables them to be in the author role; all manuscripts are submitted online. Manuscripts must comply with the seven items on the Submission Preparation Checklist.9 The editor screens manuscripts and sends appropriate ones for “rigorous blind peer review by two reviewers.” The review process is approximately six weeks for manuscripts of 25 pages or less.10 The website provides a flowchart of the Open Journal Systems software, which is a helpful overview of the publishing process.11

Editorial tone: Scholarly tone, but very readable.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

PAL was developed specifically to present a top-tier, peer-reviewed journal “€that would provide some gravitas for [the journal’s] authors, many of whom are at tenure-granting institutions€.” The journal aims to attract well-known reviewers and publish high-quality research papers to help build its reputation, as it is a fairly new journal (established in 2011), and to provide information to the LIS academic sector.13  This is a good place for LIS authors to submit scholarly and research articles with practical application in academic libraries and related academic environments.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation data are not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: PAL is an open-access journal written in English for an international audience of academic librarians and information professionals in all manner of library, special library, and institutional settings.14 The editors are primarily from U.S. universities, but there are editors from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.15

Reader characteristics: Readers are primarily academic librarians and information professionals. The journal is part of the SLA Academic Division, which welcomes anyone “€working in or with an interest in college, university, or other higher education-affiliated libraries and information centers.”16

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: These academic librarians and LIS professionals will be well versed in LIS subject matter and jargon, both theoretical and practical. However, articles are still written to be read and understood by a broader population.

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

Readers of PAL expect high-quality research that has a practical application in LIS academic settings. This is a good place to submit current research, or a more creative think piece, focusing on any aspect of the academic LIS community and its practices. It will be read and appreciated by a group of academic peers.

Last updated: February 26, 2018

References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “Editorial Policies,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/editorialPolicies. ↩
  2. Leslie J. Reynolds and Christian Miller, “Becoming the Change We Seek,” Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division 1(no. 1): ii, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/article/view/2064/1753. ↩
  3. Home, Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/. ↩
  4. “Journal Sponsorship,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/journalSponsorship. ↩
  5. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  6. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  7. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  8. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  9. “Submissions,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/submissions. ↩
  10. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  11. “About This Publishing System,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/aboutThisPublishingSystem. ↩
  12. “Submissions.” ↩
  13. Reynolds and Miller, “Becoming the Change,” ii. ↩
  14. “Home.” ↩
  15. “Editorial Team,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/editorialTeam. ↩
  16. “About Us,” SLA Academic Division, accessed February 26, 2018, http://academic.sla.org/about-us. ↩
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Library & Information History

By on February 24, 2018 in

Note: This journal moved from Taylor & Francis to the University of Edinburgh Press in 2020, though archives still seem to be held at Taylor & Francis. The main site link below has been updated, but the rest of the entry needs review and updating.

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library & Information History

ISSN: 1758-3489 (Print) and 1758-3497 (Online)1

Purpose, objective, or mission: To publish articles on “all subjects and all periods relating to the history of libraries and librarianship and to the history of information, in its broadest sense.”2

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ylbh20

Target audience: “Library & Information History is a journal for anyone interested in the social, cultural and intellectual history of libraries and of information.”3

Publisher: Routledge.4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS Scholarly.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: Subject matter varies widely and includes topics such as the Nazi looting of European libraries, the history of archiving, how Rome’s history informs the French revolution, etc., as well as more current topics like preserving information in today’s digitized world.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.euppublishing.com/page/lih/submissions

Types of contributions accepted: According to the journal’s website: “Issues include substantial articles as well as book reviews, occasional surveys of recent publications, and guides to relevant sources.”10

Submission and review process: All submissions should be formatted according to a template available on the “Instructions for Authors” page and should be no more than 8,000 words. Six keywords should be included with each manuscript for purposes of search engine optimization. Manuscripts can be submitted in Word, LaTeX, or any other standard format and emailed to melanie.kimball@simmons.edu or p.reid@rgu.ac.uk.11

As for the review process, all manuscripts are subject to a standard double-blind peer review, in keeping with the journal’s standards for academic integrity.12

Editorial tone: Although the journal’s title suggests a neutral tone, some articles, such as “See the Movie, Read the Book! Cleveland Public Library’s Bookmarks Programme, 1923–1972” take an enthusiastic tone towards their subject matter, with descriptions like “hugely influential” and “fascinating.”13 This enthusiastic tone, however, does not in any way, shape, or form detract from the meticulous research of each article. Instead, this tone makes for a more engaging reading experience than, say, an article from a history textbook.

Style guide used: The journal asks authors to use consistently use any standard spelling throughout a manuscript, as well as single quotation marks except for  where ‘a quotation is “within” a quotation’. Lastly, the journal notes that lengthy quotes are indented without quotations marks.14 For further guidance, please see these layout guidelines.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Library & Information History is an excellent choice for authors with extensive knowledge of the history of libraries, as well as the ways our current information practices shape the “future of history.”15 When viewed through this unique “future of history” lens, the options available to authors are even broader than the journal’s title suggests. As for authors strictly interested in the history of libraries, this journal is simply incomparable.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation statistics are not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although based in the U.K., Library & Information History is an international journal with a global reach.16 As such, regional cultural references and language should be kept to a minimum.

Reader characteristics: While readers’ jobs, workplaces, and level of education may vary, they share an interest in the history of libraries and information. Since Library & Information History is a high-level academic journal17, readers will most likely have post-secondary degrees in Library Science.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The bulk of this journal’s readers are likely to be historians (amateur or professional) of library and information science. Also, due to the journal’s scholarly nature, knowledge of LIS subject matter amongst readers is likely quite high.18

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

In keeping with the tone of the journal, readers are likely to be enthusiastic LIS history buffs and will appreciate a thoroughly researched scholarly paper. Due to the international flavor of this publication, readers are likely to be open-minded and interested in a variety of other cultures. Authors with a passion for LIS history will find a diverse audience for their ideas here.19

Last updated: February 24, 2018

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. “Journal Information,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 23, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ylbh20 ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 23, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ylbh20 ↩
  3. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 23, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ylbh20 ↩
  4.  Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  5.  Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  6. Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  7. Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  8.  Library & Information History, Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 23, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/toc/ylbh20/current ↩
  9.  Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  10.  “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 23, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ylbh20 ↩
  11. “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=ylbh20&page=instructions ↩
  12.  “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=ylbh20&page=instructions ↩
  13. Karen F. Gracy, “See the Movie, Read the Book! Cleveland Public Library’s
    Bookmarks Programme, 1923–1972,” Library & Information History 33, no. 4 (2017): 236. ↩
  14. “Style Guidelines,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=ylbh20&page=instructions#Style_guidelines ↩
  15. Lena Roland and David Bawden, “The Future of History: Investigating the Preservation of Information in the Digital Age,” Library & Information History, 28, no. 3 (2012): 220. ↩
  16. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ylbh20 ↩
  17. Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  18.  Library & Information History, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519443448289/38434 ↩
  19.  “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 23, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ylbh20 ↩
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Law Library Journal

By on February 23, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Law Library Journal

ISSN: 0023-92831

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

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

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

Publisher: American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS scholarly.6

Medium: Print and online.7

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

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: February 23, 2018

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1.  Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  2.  Law Library Journal, American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/ ↩
  3.  James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  4. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  5. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  6. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  7.  Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  8.  James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  9. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  10. “Editorial Policy,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/ ↩
  11. “Editorial Policy,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/ ↩
  12. James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  13. “Editorial Policy,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/ ↩
  14.  James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  15. James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries
    Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  16. James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  17.  James E. Duggan, ed. “Introduction,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  18. “Citations Formats Committee,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/report/citation-formats-committee/ ↩
  19.  “Fair Business Practices Implementation Task Force,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/report/fair-business-practices-implementation-task-force/ ↩
  20. “Recruitment to Law Librarianship Committee,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February, 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/report/recruitment-to-law-librarianship-committee/ ↩
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portal: Libraries and the Academy

By on February 23, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: portal: Libraries and the Academy

ISSN:  1531-2542 (print), 1530-7131 (online)

Website: https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy

Purpose, objective, or mission: portal is an award-winning journal that focuses “on important research about the role of academic libraries and librarianship” and “features commentary on issues in technology and publishing.” 1 The journal “publishes articles that focus on all aspects of librarianship, knowledge management, and information services and studies within higher education.”2

Target audience: portal is “intended for an audience that is interested in the broad role and impact of libraries within the academy.”3

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press.4

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.5

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.6

Content: Each issue of portal “includes peer-reviewed articles on subjects such as library administration, information technology, new forms of support for research and teaching, and information policy. Other articles address technological issues, research, standards, and policy and strategic planning.”7

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Author Guidelines.

Types of contributions accepted: portal accepts research and scholarship on libraries in the academy, especially work that explores the effects of technology on librarianship, the roles of libraries in meeting institutional missions, how the information revolution is challenging and changing library and information practices, and how libraries and librarians address the changing needs of the academy and academics. portal “welcomes submission of inquiries and proposals for topics that authors have under development and will provide guidance on the suitability for publication in portal.” The journal maintains a rigorous review policy, which requires scholarship to be unique in advancing knowledge in the field; needed and in demand, with intrinsic value and use; and used locally and of value to the field. For Features, authors may direct proposals to the appropriate editor.9

Submission and review process: The preferred method for submitting manuscripts to portal is via email with a Microsoft Word attachment. “All submissions to portal are subjected to the double-blind review process, and referees are explicitly asked to indicate when a manuscript is worthy but needs more detailed guidance to be fully acceptable for publication in portal.”10 Authors will usually receive the editor’s decision and the referees’ comments within four to eight weeks after submission.

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style.11

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

portal is a well-established, respected, award-winning journal.12 LIS authors who want to publish in it should read the 2004 article “Research and Scholarship Defined for portal: Libraries and the Academy.“13 The editors of portal encourage authors, especially new authors, to find experienced mentors to guide them through the research and publishing process. For manuscripts deemed “worthy” but in need of revision, authors are encouraged to work with an experienced mentor to incorporate the referees’ comments and to do further revision; revised manuscripts will be subject to double-blind review with different referees. Overall, portal maintains high standards of scholarship; however, the journal also values collaborative work between novice and experienced LIS writers in order to bring well-written, innovative articles to its pages.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data are not available; the journal is available through Project MUSE.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: portal is a U.S.-based journal that is published in English for an international LIS audience.16

Reader characteristics: The readers of this journal are interested in the role and impact of libraries within an academic environment. The journal’s readers are aware of the importance of a librarian’s work and of the need for careful and scholarly research in the LIS field. Readers work in academic libraries around the world and are researchers and scholars of librarianship in the academy.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are engaged academic librarians who will have considerable knowledge of LIS terms and subject matter.

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

The main audience for portal is academic librarians, faculty, library science students, information professionals, and anyone interested working in a library environment in higher education. Readers expected consistently high-quality, novel research and scholarship that helps librarians improve and innovate their practices and approaches in the academic library environment.

Last updated: February 23, 2018

References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “Overview,” portal: Libraries and the Academy, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy. ↩
  2. “Author Guidelines,” portal: Libraries and the Academy, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy/author-guidelines. ↩
  3. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  4. “Overview.” ↩
  5. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  6. “Overview.” ↩
  7. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  8. “Available Issues,” Project MUSE, accessed February 23, 2018, https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/159. ↩
  9. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  10. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  11. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  12. “Awards,” portal: Libraries and the Academy, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy/awards. ↩
  13. Charles B. Lowry, “Research and Scholarship Defined for portal: Libraries and the Academy,” portal: Libraries and the Academy 4, no. 4 (October 2004): 449-453, https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2004.0068. ↩
  14. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  15. “Available Issues.” ↩
  16. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
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Pennsylvania Libraries: Research and Practice (PaLRaP)

By on February 21, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice (PaLRaP)

ISSN: 2324-7878 (online)

Website: www.palrap.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice provides (PaLRaP) provides opportunities for Pennsylvania librarians to share their knowledge and experience in all areas of librarianship with other librarians in the state and beyond.1

Target audience: Librarians and LIS professionals in Pennsylvania, as well as those in other states and countries.2

Publisher: The journal is published by the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh, and cosponsored by the College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association and the University of Pittsburgh Press.3

Peer reviewed? Articles in the Research and Practice section are double-blind peer reviewed. Essay and Commentary articles are not peer reviewed but are edited and fact checked. News, features, and letters  are not peer reviewed.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online and open access.5

Content: Sections appearing regularly in PaLRaP are Editorial, Letter, Commentary, Feature, Interview, Practice, Research, and News.6 Although the journal emphasizes scholarship from Pennsylvania libraries, the Research and Practice articles are original, current, and applicable to public and academic libraries outside of the state.

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: The journal is a forum for the “unique and valuable work of librarians in Pennsylvania.” PaLRaP “includes articles from all areas of librarianship, and from all types of libraries in Pennsylvania,” including original research, innovative initiatives and practices, and current trends and challenges.8 Each section of the journal has its own editorial guidelines, scope, and style.

Submission and review process: PaLRaP uses an online submission system. Registration as an author on the PaLRaP website is required to submit and check the status of manuscripts. Authors should read the section policies for editorial guidelines and to determine the correct category for manuscripts. Articles submitted to the Research and the Practice sections are submitted to blind peer review.9 The website provides a flowchart of the Open Journal Systems software, which is a helpful overview of the publishing process.10

Editorial tone: The Research and Practice articles are scholarly; the tone of other sections is less formal but appropriate for a scholarly journal.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th edition,11 and the journal’s own “Additional Manuscript Guidelines for Authors.”12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LIS authors writing from and about Pennsylvania will find an excellent outlet in PaLRaP. The journal welcomes submissions from all types of libraries and all areas of librarianship. The journal’s focus on Pennsylvania may limit the ability of LIS authors from out of state to get published; however, LIS authors whose research and practice is in Pennsylvania have a great opportunity for publishing in a high-quality LIS journal whose content is relevant to academic and public libraries beyond Pennsylvania’s boarders.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: This is a five-year-old online open-access journal directed specifically to librarians and LIS professionals in Pennsylvania.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: PaLRaP‘s focus is on libraries in Pennsylvania, and its primary audience is in Pennsylvania; however, it is an open-access journal, so it can reach audiences worldwide. It is written in English.

Reader characteristics: Readers will most likely be librarians in Pennsylvania who expect to read about research and practice from within their state. Readers will expect “to be exposed to the unique and valuable work of librarians in Pennsylvania that may not be published elsewhere in the library literature.”13

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will have LIS subject matter knowledge.

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

Although this publication focuses on library research and practice from the state of Pennsylvania, this is an open-access journal whose content is relevant outside of the state as well. Authors should keep in mind that there is potentially a much wider audience than just a local one.

Last updated: February 21, 2018

References

Show 13 footnotes

  1. “Editorial Policies,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope. ↩
  2. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  3. “Journal Sponsorship,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/journalSponsorship. ↩
  4. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  5. Homepage, Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, www.palrap.org. ↩
  6. Tom Reinsfelder and Anne Behler, “Editors’ Note: Five Years of PaLRap,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice 5, no. 2 (Fall 2017), https://doi.org/10.5195/palrap.2017.169. ↩
  7. “Archives,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/issue/archive. ↩
  8. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  9. “Submissions,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions. ↩
  10. “About This Publishing System,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/aboutThisPublishingSystem. ↩
  11. “Submissions.” ↩
  12.  “Additional Manuscript Guidelines for Authors,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/pages/view/manuscriptguide. ↩
  13. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
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Journal of Web Librarianship (JWL)

By on February 17, 2018 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of Web Librarianship (JWL)

ISSN: 1932-2909 (Print) and 1932-2917 (Online).1

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjwl20

Purpose, objective, or mission: According to their site, “The Journal of Web Librarianship is an international, peer-reviewed journal focused on all aspects of librarianship as practiced on the World Wide Web, including both existing and emerging roles and activities of information professionals.”2

Target audience: Information professionals (worldwide) interested in Web-based librarianship.3

Publisher: Taylor & Francis, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: Hybrid: LIS scholarly journal and LIS professional news source. JWL is a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal which also publishes a significant number of professional articles. Taylor and Francis mentions that JWL “strives to find a balance between original, scholarly research, and practical communications.”6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: The journal covers a wide variety of topics, including library website design and usability, strategies for cataloging web information, Web 2.0 technologies (i.e., wikis, RSS, etc.), search engines, and the future of web librarianship.8 Issues contain editorials, articles, professional communications, global connections, and reviews.9

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions

Types of contributions accepted: Per their site, “The Journal of Web Librarianship welcomes articles covering topics including but not limited to library web page design and redesigns, web project management, usability testing of library or library-related sites, cataloging or classification of Web information, international issues in web librarianship, library integration with other web sites, and future aspects of web librarianship. The journal is also interested in articles related to user behavior on the web, including search behaviors, social networking site trends, and the connection between the web-at-large and library web resources.”11

“The journal accepts empirical studies providing objective evidence related to current web-related challenges for libraries, including usability test reports, user survey results, and analyses of web statistics. The journal will also consider case studies of cutting-edge web projects in all types of libraries and best practices based on library experiences, literature, tutorials, and literature reviews.”12

Submission and review process: Work is submitted via the ScholarOne Manuscripts program and must be accompanied by a statement that the manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Articles should contain a 100 to 200-word abstract.13

Authors can expect JWL‘s double-blind peer review process to take anywhere from six to eight weeks. Additionally, two editors typically review each manuscript, adding an additional layer of objectivity.14

Editorial tone: Most manuscripts should have a scholarly, unbiased tone (e.g., scholarly research articles). Considering that the journal also publishes practical communications, it seems reasonable to assume that these non-scholarly communications should have a slightly more down-to-earth tone.15

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style16

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

JWL is a relatively new journal (its first issue was released in 2007),17, its credible and highly relevant information on “hot” topics in LIS make it an exciting and unique publishing opportunity for LIS practitioners, educators, and student authors. LIS practitioners could submit a case study on the practical application of a Web 2.0 technology in their workplace, while educators might conduct original research in the field of virtual librarianship. LIS students could submit an interview, an article describing an internship experience practiced in the Web environment, or an in-depth literature review (to name but a few options).

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although there is no detailed information available regarding the geographic location of JWL readers, a significant portion of the publication’s content is devoted to international issues. For example, many issues feature a “Global Connections” section, which has featured articles on Jamaica, Scotland, South Africa, and Egypt.18 Additionally, editors from all over the world serve on the Editorial Board.19 Thus, although the journal is published solely in American English, authors should limit their use of colloquialisms and specific cultural references.20

Reader characteristics: No demographic information is available for JWL readers. Since the journal is published in American English and is geared towards Web-based technologies, it seems safe to assume that most readers live in the U.S., work in information-based organizations, and are technologically inclined.21 In addition to information professionals of all types, LIS students are likely to be part of the journal’s core audience. Regardless of their profession, readers of JWL almost certainly share common professional interests, such as virtual library services or web design.22

JWL readers are likely to have established attitudes about the future direction of librarianship and might be considered progressive (especially in light of how articles in previous issues have enthusiastically advocated for new technologies and services).23

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: JWL readers are likely to be knowledgeable about certain LIS jargon and subjects, such as those that specifically relate to technology and Internet use in librarianship.24

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

Because JWL is both a professional and scholarly journal, authors have multiple opportunities to reach readers. Whether an author decides to submit a theoretical research paper or a practical case study, it is important to focus the work on the highly specialized interests of JWL readers. As mentioned in the Publication Analysis, appropriate topics might include such issues as Web 2.0/Library 2.0, web design and usability testing, international or comparative issues in web librarianship, or the future of the profession. In order to connect with this audience, articles should demonstrate superior technological expertise and cutting-edge research.

Last updated: February 17, 2018

References

Show 24 footnotes

  1.  “Journal Information,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wjwl20 ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
  3. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
  4.  Journal of Web Librarianship, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404780301975/599351 ↩
  5. Journal of Web Librarianship, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404780301975/599351 ↩
  6.  Journal of Web Librarianship, Taylor and Francis, accessed February 16, 2018, http://explore.tandfonline.com/cfp/bes/jwl-cfp16 ↩
  7.  Journal of Web Librarianship, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404780301975/599351 ↩
  8. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
  9. “List of Issues,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjwl20#.U7s96rGdROg ↩
  10. Journal of Web Librarianship, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404780301975/599351 ↩
  11. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
  12. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
  13. “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions#.U7s-GLGdROg ↩
  14.  “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions#.U7s-GLGdROg ↩
  15.  “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions#.U7s-GLGdROg ↩
  16. “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions#.U7s-GLGdROg ↩
  17. Journal of Web Librarianship, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404780301975/599351 ↩
  18. “List of Issues,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjwl20#.U7s96rGdROg ↩
  19. “Editorial Board,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7tDhbGdROg ↩
  20. “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions#.U7s-GLGdROg ↩
  21. “Instructions for Authors,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wjwl20&page=instructions#.U7s-GLGdROg ↩
  22. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
  23. “List of Issues,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjwl20#.U7s96rGdROg ↩
  24. “Aims and Scope,” Taylor and Francis Group, accessed February 17, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wjwl20#.U7s-D7GdROg ↩
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Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA)

By on February 16, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA)

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

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

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

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

Publisher: University Library System / University of Pittsburgh.5

Peer reviewed? Yes.6

Type: LIS scholarly.7

Medium: Print and online.8

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

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: 

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

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

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

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

Editorial tone: Scholarly.14

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: February 16, 2018

References

Show 21 footnotes

  1. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  2.  Journal of the Medical Library Association, University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla ↩
  3. “Focus and Scope,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope ↩
  4. “Focus and Scope,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope ↩
  5. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  6. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  7. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  8. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  9. Journal of the Medical Library Association, University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla ↩
  10. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  11. “Author Guidelines,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  12. “Author Guidelines,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  13. “Peer Review Process,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/editorialPolicies#peerReviewProcess ↩
  14. Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  15.  “Author Guidelines,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  16. “Medical Library Association Archives 1898-2002,” U.S. National Library of Medicine, accessed February 16, 2018, https://oculus.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=nlmfindaid;idno=mla ↩
  17. “Medical Library Association,” American Psychological Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.apa.org/pubs/databases/news/2011/08/medical-library-association.aspx ↩
  18. “Focus and Scope,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope ↩
  19.  Journal of the Medical Library Association, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 16, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1404782616098/49383 ↩
  20.  “Focus and Scope,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope ↩
  21. “Focus and Scope,” University Library System / University of Pittsburgh, accessed February 16, 2018, http://jmla.mlanet.org/ojs/jmla/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope ↩
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The Oral History Review

By on February 16, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Oral History Review

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

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

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

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

Publisher: Oxford University Press.3

Peer reviewed? Yes.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Available in print and online.5

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

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

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

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

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

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: February 16, 2018

References

Show 14 footnotes

  1.  The Oral History Review, Oral History Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.oralhistory.org/publications/oral-history-review/. ↩
  2. “About OHA,” Oral History Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.oralhistory.org/about/. ↩
  3. The Oral History Review, Oxford Academic, accessed February 16, 2018, https://academic.oup.com/ohr. ↩
  4. “Information for Authors,” The Oral History Review, Oxford Academic, accessed February 16, 2018, https://academic.oup.com/ohr/pages/Instructions_To_Authors. ↩
  5.  The Oral History Review, Oral History Association. ↩
  6. “About the Journal,” The Oral History Review, Oxford Academic, accessed February 16, 2018, https://academic.oup.com/ohr/pages/About. ↩
  7. Teresa Barnett, “Guest Editor’s Introduction,” The Oral History Review 43, no. 2 (Summer/Fall 2016): 315-317, https://doi.org/10.1093/ohr/ohw079. ↩
  8. “Information for Authors.” ↩
  9. “Information for Authors.” ↩
  10. “Information for Authors.” ↩
  11. “Principles for Oral History and Best Practices for Oral History,” Oral History Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.oralhistory.org/about/principles-and-practices/. ↩
  12. “About the Blog,” oralhistoryreview.org, accessed February 16, 2018, http://oralhistoryreview.org/about/. ↩
  13.  The Oral History Review, Oral History Association. ↩
  14. “Information for Authors.” ↩
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New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship

By on February 14, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship

ISSN: 1361-4541 (print), 1740-7885 (online)

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcll20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship “is multidisciplinary in nature, providing opportunities for the ‘€˜pure’ discussion of children’s literature, and of issues relating to one of the key places in which to find such literature — €”libraries for young people.”1

Target audience: Those working in the field of children’s and adolescent literature around the world, including public and school librarians, scholars, critics, and teachers.2

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.3

Peer reviewed? Yes.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship is international in scope and publishes articles on a broad range of topics in the field of children’s and adolescent literature and library services, including “the management of library services to children and adolescents; education issues affecting library services; user education and the promotion of services; staff education and training; collection development and management; critical assessments of children’s and adolescent literature; book and media selection; and research in literature and library services for children and adolescents”6

Frequency of publication: Two issues per year.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for authors.

Types of contributions accepted: The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship accepts “original papers of both an experimental and theoretical nature,” as well as those grounded in practical issues in children’s and adolescent literature and library services. The journal publishes original research and scholarship on a broad range of professional issues in children’s and adolescent library services as well as theoretical analyses and discussions of children’s and adolescent literature.8

Submission and review process: Manuscripts and all editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor9 for editorial screening and peer review.10 Taylor & Francis provides a general overview of the publication process.11

Editorial tone: The tone is academic and appropriate for an international audience.

Style guide used: MLA Handbook (8th ed.).12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship is an appropriate outlet for LIS scholars, practitioners, and researchers from around the world who are writing about children’s and adolescent literature and library services. The journal publishes high-level research and analyses, as well as theoretical articles and those with practical application.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation numbers are not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The New Review of Children’s Literature is international in scope and is published in English. The journal’s editor is based in the United Kingdom, as are many members of the editorial board. In addition, there are editorial board members from Ireland, France, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Thailand.13

Reader characteristics: Readers are most likely public and school librarians, as well as researchers in children’s library services and teachers and critics of children’s literature.14

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As an academic journal, it can be assumed that most readers have a solid professional knowledge of LIS subject matters.

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

Readers of the New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship have a high level of knowledge of the topic and expect to read articles that further their knowledge with well-reasoned analysis and research presented in a straightforward writing style. Readers are also practicing librarians who look to the journal for “informed comment and advice.”15 The journal’s readership is international, and so authors should provide some context for regional practices.

Last updated: February 14, 2018

References

Show 15 footnotes

  1. “Aims and Scope,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rcll20. ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  3. “Journal Information,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rcll20. ↩
  4. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  5. “Journal Information.” ↩
  6. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  7. “Journal Information.” ↩
  8. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  9. “Instructions for Authors,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=rcll20&page=instructions. ↩
  10. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  11. “Author Services,” TaylorandFrancis.com, accessed February 14, 2018, https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/. ↩
  12. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  13. “Editorial Board,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rcll20. ↩
  14. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  15. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
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Notes: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association

By on February 14, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

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

ISSN: 0027-4380

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

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

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

Publisher: Music Library Association, Middleton, Wisconsin.

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

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.

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

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Information for Contributors.

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

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

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

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

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last updated: February 14, 2018

References

Show 12 footnotes

  1.  Notes, Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/Notes. ↩
  2. “About MLA,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/?page=AboutMLA. ↩
  3. “Information for Contributors,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/?page=Notescontributors. ↩
  4. “Where to Send Materials for Review,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/Notesmaterials. ↩
  5. “Information for Contributors.” ↩
  6. “Call for Proposals,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/page/Notesproposals. ↩
  7. “Information for Contributors.” ↩
  8. “Information for Contributors.” ↩
  9. “Information for  Contributors.” ↩
  10. “Notes Style Sheet,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/mpage/notes_style. ↩
  11. “Advertise with Us,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, https://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/?page=advertisers. ↩
  12. “Welcome,” Music Library Association, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/. ↩
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