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
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