Publication analysis
About the publication
Title: Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (JCHLA) / Journal de l’Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (JABSC)
ISSN: 1708-68921
Website: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jchla/index.php/jchla (French language edition is at the same link; click on the drop-down menu under “Language”)
Purpose, objective, or mission: “The purpose of the journal is to provide a forum for librarians and other information professionals to share research and information related to health sciences librarianship.”2
Target audience: Canadian information professionals involved with health libraries.3
Publisher: Canadian Health Libraries Association4
Peer reviewed? Yes.5
Type: LIS scholarly.6
Medium: Online.7
Content: The journal covers a wide variety of topics relevant to Canadian health science libraries including, but not limited to, distance services, databases, electronic medical records, healthcare reform, health literacy, grants, and many more.8
Frequency of publication: Three times per year.9
About the publication’s submission guidelines
Location of submission guidelines: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jchla/index.php/jchla/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
Types of contributions accepted: Publishes research articles and program descriptions (peer-reviewed), as well as reviews, opinion pieces, and columns (non-peer-reviewed).10
Submission and review process: Authors must first create an account with the journal’s website before submitting a manuscript.11 The journal does not accept previously published submissions or simultaneous submissions. Additional, the journal asks that all manuscripts be submitted in Microsoft Word format with 12-point font and italics instead of underlining. Additionally, authors should provide URLs where available. Next, all tables, figures, and illustrations should be placed at the end of the manuscript. Lastly, if submitting a research article or program description, authors need to follow the instructions for ensuring a blind review.12
As for the review process, two peer reviewers are assigned to research articles and program descriptions. These reviewers provide feedback to the author within two to three weeks of the original submission date. Feedback focuses on originality, how up-to-date the topic is, writing quality, the suitability of the methods and analysis sections, and the accuracy of the article as a whole.13
Editorial tone: Formal and scholarly.14
Style guide used: National Library of Medicine’s Citing Medicine.15
Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors
Researchers interested in establishing themselves in the LIS field of Canadian health libraries should seriously consider submitting to this publication. Additionally, information professionals working for health libraries in general should give this publication a second look, as there is no mention of authors being exclusively Canadian or practicing in Canada. (The only exception is the JCHLA membership requirement for the Student Paper Prize, which is detailed below.) The publication accepts submissions in either English or French, but the editors will not provide translations.16
The journal offers an annual competition, the JCHLA/JABSC Student Paper Prize. Students must be “currently enrolled in accredited master’s programs in library science or library technician programs.”17 Additionally, the prize “is awarded annually to the library student who submits the best unpublished paper on health sciences librarianship to the competition. Research papers, program descriptions and review articles are eligible for the prize.”18 The winning paper is published in the journal, and the winner receives a certificate, free membership in the Canadian Health Libraries Association, and free registration to the CHLA/ABSC conference.19
Audience analysis
About the publication’s readers
Publication circulation: Circulation numbers are not available. However, it is safe to say that the journal is read by the 250 members of the Canadian Health Libraries Association / Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada.20 Additionally, the journal is also freely accessible online.21
Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Canada22 The publication is bilingual and accepts submissions in either English or French; however, authors outside of Canada need to write using Canadian English, being aware of spelling variations. Also, authors should take steps to ensure their submissions are relevant specifically to information professionals working in Canadian health libraries.23
Reader characteristics: It can safely be assumed that the majority of this publication’s readers are employed in health sciences libraries, interested in accurate health services information, and comfortable with the technology used to support health library services. Readers, given the specific focus of this publication, would have limited interest in general LIS topics or LIS issues relevant only to readers in the United States.
Knowledge of LIS subject matter:
Readers are likely familiar with the various library databases referenced throughout the journal (LISA, LISTA, PubMed, etc.), Web 2.0 concepts and how they pertain to health sciences libraries, etc. Furthermore, most readers likely possess a graduate or post-graduate degree in library science.
Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors
As professional librarians working in health libraries, readers of this journal will expect to find well-researched, informative articles on the latest trends in health libraries. As a Canadian publication, readers will expect authors to demonstrate understanding of the Canadian workplace culture and knowledge of the government’s role in their work. Non-Canadian authors interested in submitting articles to this publication should thoroughly read the author guidelines to ensure they understand the expectations of the journal’s editors and readers.
Last updated: February 8, 2018
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