Publication analysis
About the publication
Title: Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America
ISSN: 0730-7187 (Print) and 2161-9417 (Online)1
Website: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/journals/journal/adx.html and https://arlisna.org/publications/art-documentation
Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their website, “Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America is a peer-reviewed journal presenting issues of concern to librarians working within art history, art criticism, the history of architecture, archeology, and similar areas. The journal has established itself as a vital publication for art information professionals, acting as a forum for issues relating to both the documentation of art, and the practice and theory of art librarianship and visual resources curatorship.”2
Target audience: Art, architecture, and design librarians and visual resources curators.3
Publisher: University of Chicago Press4
Peer reviewed? Yes5
Type: Art and LIS, scholarly6
Medium: Print and online7
Content: Articles and information relevant to art librarianship and visual resources curatorship in academic, special library, and museum settings.8
Frequency of publication: Semiannually9
About the publication’s submission guidelines
Location of submission guidelines: Art Libraries Society of North America- Publications. Basic submission guidelines can also be found here: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/adx/instruct
Types of contributions accepted: According to the contributor guidelines, “Feature articles may take the form of theoretical or scholarly submissions, revisions of conference presentations, papers emphasizing library practice, descriptions of specific libraries or collections, interviews, or articles of a historical nature. Articles must relate to art librarianship, visual resources curatorship, or the documentation of art, and the writing style should be formal.” Published articles are typically 2,500 to 5,000 words, with a maximum of 8,000 words.10
Submission and review process: Authors should contact the content editor via email to discuss topic and abstract before submitting a manuscript. Submission deadlines are March 1 for the Fall issue, and September 1 for the Spring issue.11
Editorial tone: Scholarly12
Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style13
Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors
Professionals, academics, and graduate students seeking to establish themselves in the field of art librarianship will find an opportunity in this peer-reviewed publication.
Audience analysis
About the publication’s readers
Publication circulation: 153 (Total circulation at the end of last published volume Fall 2019)14
Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This is an English-language journal published in the United States, with a North American focus.15
Reader characteristics: A subscription to Art Documentation is a benefit to membership in the Art Libraries Society of North America. It is assumed that readers have a shared interest in art, developing LIS skills, and supporting fellow art librarians. Workplaces would include art libraries with an interest in mentoring, networking, and developing best practices. Readers would have a professional interest in promoting access to art and art preservation.16
Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The majority of readers have an LIS degree. It is likely that many members of the ARLIS/NA also hold additional degrees in history or art.17
Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors
Writers need to consider the education level and very specific interest the readers share when writing for this publication. Authors are encouraged, as with any publication, to read past issues of the publication before querying the editor with a proposal.
Last updated: February 28, 2020
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