Publication analysis
About the publication
Title: SNAP Section Blog [Students & New Archives Professionals]
ISSN: N/A
Website: https://snaproundtable.wordpress.com/
Purpose, objective, or mission: The SNAP Section is a sub-group formed within the Society of American Archivists (SAA) to focus on student and new professional goals and issues.1 The SNAP Blog provides SNAP Section members with a forum sharing information in a more public forum, in conjunction with other social media outlets.2 The blog meets supports SNAP’s goals to “provide a forum to share concerns and learn from each other” and to “facilitate remote participation in the group through social media and other online resources.”3
Target audience: Entry level or student archivists, particularly those involved in the SAA: students, interns, new professionals, early-career archivists, and those still looking for their first professional job. Per the bylaws, any member or nonmember of SAA, including new and more experienced archives professionals, may participate in SNAP in accordance with the most current Guidelines for Roundtables as set forth by the SAA Council.4
Publisher: The Society of American Archivists (SAA).5
Peer reviewed? No.6
Type: LIS Professional and Trade Publication.7
Medium: Online.8
Content: Sharing information relevant to the student and new archive professional community, including archive-relevant blogs, regional meetings or courses, project ideas, general Q&A regarding research, professional and student issues, and the Ask An Archivist Q&A section.9
Frequency of publication: Updated as often as members post online. Recently the rate has been about three times per month.10
About the publication’s submission guidelines
Location of submission guidelines: https://snaproundtable.wordpress.com/about/
Types of contributions accepted: Blog reviews, accounts of regional meetings or courses, project ideas, and anything of interest to the archival community.11 Special columns offer more structured writing opportunities, and can be found here.12
Submission and review process: Authors who want to contribute to the blog should submit a contact form with information about themselves and about the topic they plan to write about.13 It can be assumed that the blog team will work with authors to develop their idea and get it posted.
Editorial tone: Informal.14
Style guide used: None listed.
Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors
The SNAP Section Blog is an excellent forum for sharing archival information and concerns among a like-minded group. It should be easy for novice writers to practice publishing their thoughts, ideas, and announcements in this public forum. Posting on this blog promises networking potential, as well as the possibility of becoming a strong voice in the newest generation of archivists, who may bring to light new perspectives on issues not emphasized to more established archivists.
Audience analysis
About the publication’s readers
Publication circulation: Currently 218 people follow the blog,15 though the number of views that blog posts receive on the site and on linked-to social media could potentially be much greater.
Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The audience is largely North American, as the blog concerns members of the SAA. English is the primary language. Recent blog posts demonstrate comfort with social media and current internet language.16
Reader characteristics: Since the Section focuses on students and new professionals, members are likely overall to be younger than their other SAA Section counterparts, though new archive professionals may be older individuals in the midst of a career change. Readers may also be more established archivists who want to keep up with what issues their new colleagues find important.17
Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Some LIS terminology and understanding is expected; but this is not a professional-grade publication, just sharing among peers. Contributors writing about their personal experiences in the field are not necessarily expected to walk readers through each step of what their work entails.18
Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors
The SNAP Blog offers an excellent venue for new and student archivists to share knowledge, insights, and new ideas about their profession.19 This is a very organized, enthusiastic group of students and new professionals who are addressing the needs of those LIS professionals new to archival librarianship. Readers are hoping to learn career tips, gain insight on issues they have different perspectives on, and network with other professionals. Write from personal experience and with passion for maximized readership.
Last updated: June 30, 2019
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