Publication analysis
About the publication
Title: Journal of Library Resource Sharing
ISSN: 2691-5979 (Print) and 2691-5995 (Online)1
Website: https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wild21
Purpose, objective, or mission: The Journal of Library Resource Sharing “provides an international forum for the presentation of pure and applied research results, discussion of best practices, and review of the literature regarding all aspects of library resource sharing. This journal aims to support the widespread and fast paced advancement of resource sharing by capturing the trials, research, and innovations of librarians and library professionals, both local and international, and delivering news of these endeavors to the benefit of others in the field.”2
In 2021, the name was changed from the Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Supply & Electronic Reserve to the current title to reflect the changing nature of the information world. The journal was previously known as the Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Information Supply (2002–2020) and Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services (1999-2017).3
Target audience: The journal is tailored towards librarians and staff who work in interlibrary loan and electronic reserve as well as administrators.4
Publisher: Taylor & Francis.
Peer reviewed? Yes.5
Type: This publication falls into a gray area. The content is peer reviewed, and although many articles are oriented toward practitioners, others are more research oriented. Overall, the publication could be categorized as an LIS scholarly publication. Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory categorizes it as scholarly and academic.6
Medium: Print and online.7
Content: The journal runs the gamut from practical to research articles. Sample subject matter includes the role of emerging technologies in interlibrary loan delivery, the use of inter-library loan statistics for acquisitions and collection development purposes, copyright issues, and interlibrary loan as a career specialization.8
Frequency of publication: 5 issues per year.9
About the publication’s submission guidelines
Location of submission guidelines: https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=wild21
Types of contributions accepted: Articles on innovations in interlibrary loan, document delivery, and resource sharing. Scholarly articles usually adhere to the same format and generally contain an abstract, keywords, and a literature review.
The journal is “designed to bring together many of the specializations within the broad areas of library collection management and technical services including, but by no means limited to:
- acquisition of materials in academic, public, school and special libraries
- cataloging and authority control
- outsourcing of technical services operations
- electronic publications; gifts and exchanges.”
It “encourages submission of scholarly papers on the history, obstacles, and innovations of all manner of library resource sharing, collection management, acquisitions, technical services, and cooperation including, but not limited to interlibrary loan, shared storage facilities, shared virtual services, cooperative training and collection development.” 10
Submission and review process: This publication receives all manuscript submissions electronically via its ScholarOne Manuscripts website. Previously published and simultaneous publications are not accepted.11
Editorial tone: Scholarly.12
Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).13
Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors
This journal is an excellent choice for LIS authors, especially those with a strong knowledge of interlibrary loan, electronic reserves, or access services in general. As Ulrich’s Global Serials Directory notes, “Interlibrary loan and document delivery is arguably the area of library service experiencing the most growth in the last several years. As libraries increasingly are unable to collect everything needed by their own users, the provision of materials through interlending or commercial document delivery has seen a phenomenal increase.”14 Consequently, LIS authors will find a wide audience when publishing with this journal, especially since it’s indexed in a number of prominent databases, including FRANCIS, LISA, ProQuest 5000, and many others.15
Audience analysis
About the publication’s readers
Publication circulation: Circulation numbers are not available.
Audience location: The primary audience for this publication is the United States, and–to a slightly lesser degree–other English-speaking countries such as Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Most of the articles are geared towards library applications in North America. English language speakers comprise the majority of the audience.16 Many of the articles are predicated on the principles espoused by the ALA Interlibrary Code for the United States, which would mean the laws and standard practices of North American libraries are often given space in the journal.17 However, there is evidence that the audience is becoming more international, as evidenced by the inclusion of case studies from countries outside of North America.18
Reader characteristics: Most readers have a vested interest in the success of an interlibrary loan office. Often, readers are veteran staff members, but just as often, readers may be learning the tricks of the trade, as interlibrary loan can be very specialized. Additionally, many readers are librarians or administrators who are responsible for making the overarching decisions in an interlibrary loan office. The vast majority of readers are from the interlibrary loan or access services worlds. Paraprofessional staff comprise a large portion of the readership, as well as interlibrary loan department supervisors (mostly librarians). Finally, administrators have a vested interest in the scholarship of this subject, as they are most often the decision makers.19
Two issues frequently permeate this journal: the worth of interlibrary loan services and the issue of position in the interlibrary loan office. Interlibrary loan is often unknown or forgotten in many libraries, despite its enormous value to communities. As for position, interlibrary loan offices must decide whether paraprofessionals or librarians should be in charge. There is a strong feeling that the position of ILL librarian is valuable and useful.20
Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of this publication are usually very knowledgeable about libraries, especially the specialized field of interlibrary loans. Civilians with little exposure to libraries, as well as staff outside of access service departments are, for the most part, outside this journal’s intended audience. Some of the articles meticulously detail the day-to-day work in interlibrary loan offices, even when the subject mater is more theoretical.21For example, in a past article, the issue of free document delivery is discussed. On the one hand, the article discussed the philosophical issues behind charging or not charging patrons, but on the other hand, the article goes into significant detail about the reality of providing articles for a large patron base.22
Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors
Because interlibrary loan and electronic reserves are very specialized fields within the library world, thorough knowledge of the subject is key. Additionally, the interlibrary loan community is very close-knit and collaborative by design. Potential authors need to be very aware of this community, and if they are not already part of it, become part of it.
Last updated: Last complete update made January 26, 2018. Journal name updated and minor related changes made September 13, 2022; full entry, including links and footnotes, still needs fresh reviewing and updating.
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