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Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information

By on February 28, 2020 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information (Title changed from Archives and Museum Informatics in 2001.)1

ISSN: 1389-01662

Purpose, objective, or mission: Promotes the development of archival science as a scientific discipline. Per their website “…this journal is the only independent, international, peer-reviewed journal on archival science, covering all aspects of theory, methodology and practice, with appropriate attention to the non-anglophone world…”3

Website: https://www.springer.com/journal/10502

Target audience: The primary audience is researchers and educators in the field of archival science; a secondary audience is other professionals interested in recorded information.4

Publisher: Springer Netherlands5

Peer reviewed? Yes6 However, the journal website provides no information on the review process.

Type: LIS scholarly7

Medium: Print and online, selected articles available open access8

Content: Articles cover all aspects of archival science theory, methodology, and practice; investigations of different cultures; comparisons of perspectives and practices worldwide; and the field of process-related information. The journal especially focuses on the comparison of procedures and techniques throughout the world, especially in non-English-speaking countries.9

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: See “Submission Guidelines” at https://www.springer.com/journal/10502/submission-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: The publication focuses on the scientific aspects of the archival field. Articles deal with the creation, preservation and retrieval of archival information; the social, cultural and historical facets of archived information; and the theory and methodology of information generation and use.11

Submission and review process: Entire manuscripts are accepted through an online submission process.12 The site offers detailed information regarding submission guidelines and also provides a series of online tutorials to help an author prepare a manuscript for publication.13

Editorial tone: Scholarly14

Style guide used: Publication has an in-house style guide, provided in the “Instructions for Authors” tab.15

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

A review of previously published articles indicates that the majority of authors are from the LIS academic community. Archival Science is an international publication, and the authors are international as well. Faculty at U.S. institutions such as Simmons College, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Pittsburgh were represented with recent articles. There was no indication of graduate students’ work in the publication, suggesting this journal may only be an option for experienced authors from the academic community; however, the journal does offer mentoring through their online course tutorials.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 82,140 Downloads (2018)

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This is an English-language journal published in the Netherlands. Due to its international audience, prospective authors should avoid regionalisms and ensure that any references, such as cultural and geographic terms, are clear to the reader.16

Reader characteristics: Readers are academics, well-educated within their field, and interested in promoting archival science as an autonomous scientific discipline. Interests span all aspects of archival science theory, methodology, and practice. While readers work in a variety of environments, including universities, governments, and museums, the journal is aimed at academics. Readers would likely not have an interest in LIS issues beyond those related to their work as archivists. Also, writing that focuses on local issues not applicable to another location would hold little interest for the average reader.17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Archivists will most likely have a general understanding of how their work is related to the LIS field, but not all archivists will have an LIS degree. For example, archivists working for the United States federal government are not required to have an LIS degree.18

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Authors interested in writing for this publication need to be secure in their knowledge and reputation in the archival profession, as the readers expect articles that are thought provoking and will add to their knowledge of the field.

Last updated: February 28, 2020

References

Show 18 footnotes

  1. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  2.  Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1523412328038/275476 ↩
  3. “Archival Science,” Springer, accessed October 31, 2016, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502 ↩
  4. “Archival Science,” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020,  https://www.springer.com/journal/10502 ↩
  5. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  6. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  7. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  8. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  9. “Archival Science,” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502 ↩
  10. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  11. “Aims and Scope,” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020 https://www.springer.com/journal/10502/aims-and-scope ↩
  12. “Submission Guidelines,” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502/submission-guidelines ↩
  13. “Author and Reviewer Tutorials,” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/gp/authors-editors/authorandreviewertutorials ↩
  14. Archival Science: International Journal on Recorded Information, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1402342686499/275476 ↩
  15. “Submission Guidelines,” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502/submission-guidelines ↩
  16. “Submission Guidelines” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502/submission-guidelines ↩
  17. “Archival Science” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502 ↩
  18. “Archival Science” Springer, accessed February 28, 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/10502 ↩
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Advances in Library Administration and Organization

By on February 27, 2020 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Advances in Library Administration and Organization (book series)

ISSN: 0732-0671

Website: http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/books/series.htm?id=0732-0671

Purpose, objective, or mission: The series was started in order to publish “longer, quality research studies, of interest both to working library managers and scholars.1 Major interest lies in how libraries have been and should be managed.

The series:

  • “Publishes thought-provoking articles relating to both innovative and time-tested methods that can be used to organize our work.
  • Provides a publication venue for those manuscripts that are typically longer than most journal articles but shorter than most books.
  • Encourages the presentation of thoughtful pieces that integrate theory and practice.
  • Brings to light excellent scholarship that strengthens and reinforces the base of knowledge library administrators have on hand.
  • Seeks to develop a body of research literature that contributes to the base of organizational theory on which library administrators rely.
  • Seeks out people who think about how libraries and library administrators work and to bring their ideas to the public.”2

Target audience: Practitioners, library and information science graduate students, and those working in associated fields of information management.3

Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited.

Peer reviewed? Yes.4

Type: LIS Professional book series.

Medium: Print and online.

Content: “The series offers an eclectic mix of timely, thought-provoking articles, bringing together national and global studies and conveying the kind of research which current library managers and researchers need, mixing theory with a good dose of pragmatism.”5

Frequency of publication: Irregular.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/authors/index.htm

Types of contributions accepted: The editors are interested in longer, quality research studies that may be too lengthy to publish in journals.

Submission and review process: Send any questions you have regarding publication and review times to the series editor. The publisher can answer questions regarding impact factor, where the journal is abstracted and indexed, and scope and objectives of the journal.

Feel free to send the abstract to an editor to make sure your article is of a suitable topic for the book series.

Finally, be sure to check the Author Guidelines for formatting.

Editorial tone: Professional, scholarly.

Style guide used: APA 6th edition.6

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Advances in Library Administration and Organization is a unique publisher of research in that they welcome submissions that may be too long to qualify for journal publication. If you have conducted extensive research in the fields of library administration and management, this may be an appropriate book series to consider. Topics covered are broad, ranging from mindfulness in managing emotions to how to avoid burnout.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Global, considering that the journal is readily available in ebook format.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Emerald Group is a U.K.-based company, and all articles are published in English. The ‘Key Audiences’ section of the series’ information page does not mention reader locations, but instead notes that the series is “widely read by practitioners, library and information science graduate students, and those working in associated fields of information management.” Also note that the ‘Topicality’ section of the information page states that they are interested in “national and global studies.”7

Reader characteristics: Readers of this particular series are professionals working in the field with a desire to learn the latest research pertaining to library administration, organization and management.

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Feel free to include your LIS jargon: readers of this book series are professionals and graduate students with a broad working knowledge of librarianship. Considering how wide ranging the published topics can be (see evaluation above), authors can be sure that readers of this book series have a variety of interests and are passionate about the latest research in LIS administration.

Last updated: February 27, 2020

References

Show 7 footnotes

  1. “Advances in Library Administration and Organization Information Page,” EmeraldGroupPublishing.com, accessed February 27, 2020, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/books/series.htm?id=0732-0671#New_titles ↩
  2. “Advances in Library Administration and Organization Information Page.” ↩
  3. “Advances in Library Administration and Organization Information Page.” ↩
  4. “For reviewers: The peer review process,” EmeraldGroupPublishing.com, accessed February 27, 2020, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/reviewers/peer_review_process.htm ↩
  5. “Advances in Library Administration and Organization Information Page.” ↩
  6. “Author Guidelines,” EmeraldGroupPublishing.com, accessed February 27, 2020, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/ebooks/author_guidelines.htm ↩
  7. “Advances in Library Administration and Organization Information Page.” ↩
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Academic Exchange Quarterly

By on February 27, 2020 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Academic Exchange Quarterly

ISSN: 1096-14531

Purpose, objective, or mission: The website of Academic Exchange Quarterly states it “is dedicated to the presentation of ideas, research, methods, and pedagogical theories leading to effective instruction and learning regardless of level or subject.”2

Website: http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/

Target audience: Primarily targeting professors, instructors, and students interested in scholarly research associated with practical examples of effective teaching and learning in higher education.3

Publisher: Rapid Intellect Group4

Peer reviewed? Yes5

Type: Academic scholarly6

Medium: Print, with selected articles published open access online7

Content: Academic Exchange Quarterly provides highly effective practical examples of college teaching and learning.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm

Types of contributions accepted: As indicated by their website, Academic Exchange Quarterly “welcomes submissions that contribute to effective instruction and learning regardless of level or subject,” including “papers derived from doctoral study, practicum, or a larger underwritten research.”10 LIS topics of particular interest are information literacy and library instruction at all grade levels.11 Graduate student papers must be coauthored with a professor, and adhere to particular guidelines for scholarly publication.12 Articles should observe a 2,000 to 3,000 word limit. Submissions cannot be previously published and cannot be simultaneously submitted to another publication.13

Submission and review process: Editors use an independent, double-blind peer review process. Authors should strictly adhere to the submission process outlined in the guidelines. Manuscript evaluation is expected to take between one and three months, and may be tracked on the publication’s website.14

Editorial tone: Scholarly15

Style guide used: APA, CBE, MLA, or Chicago, Turabian16

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Academic Exchange Quarterly provides an excellent forum for LIS authors interested in publishing scholarly articles related to higher education instruction. Graduate students who are conducting research with professors should consider this avenue for peer reviewed publication as Academic Exchange Quarterly seeks to support the work of emerging scholars.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Academic Exchange Quarterly reports that since its inception in 1997, over 3,000 authors from over fifty different countries have subscribed to and written for the journal.17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: United States and forty-four foreign countries.18 Academic Exchange Quarterly is published in English worldwide, with its primary audience in North America.19

Reader characteristics: Readers are primarily professors with an interest in effective instruction in higher education.20 The editors advance this shared interest through an objective peer review process that results in an equal-opportunity publication with a content-neutral bias.21

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Academic Exchange Quarterly publishes a wide cross section of higher education subjects.22 Because of the reader’s presumed limited knowledge of LIS subjects, authors should avoid technical jargon and basic LIS principles should be explained when included in an article.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Academic Exchange Quarterly has a subscriber base of college professors and instructors interested in effective instruction. As such, LIS authors in pursuing a career in academia might consider Academic Exchange Quarterly as a possible target for publication. This publication might also serve as an avenue to broaden interest in information science topics among higher education professionals.

Last updated: February 27, 2020

References

Show 22 footnotes

  1.  Academic Exchange Quarterly, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 27, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1523410831967/259937 ↩
  2. “From the Editor,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/welcome-j.htm ↩
  3. “From the Editor,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/welcome-j.htm ↩
  4. Academic Exchange Quarterly, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 27, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1399425482781/259937 ↩
  5. Academic Exchange Quarterly, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 27, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1399425482781/259937 ↩
  6. Academic Exchange Quarterly, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, February 27, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1399425482781/259937 ↩
  7. “Is Academic Exchange Quarterly (AEQ) an Open Access Publication?,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://www.rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/redfee.htm ↩
  8. “From the Editor,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/welcome-j.htm ↩
  9. Academic Exchange Quarterly, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 27, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1399425482781/259937 ↩
  10. “Call for Manuscripts,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm ↩
  11. See especially LIS topics requested under “Calls for Papers.” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/ ↩
  12.  “Academic Exchange Quarterly Encourages Graduate Students to Position Themselves as Emerging Scholars,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufengs.htm ↩
  13. “Call for Manuscripts,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm ↩
  14. “Call for Manuscripts,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm ↩
  15. “Call for Manuscripts,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm ↩
  16. “Call for Manuscripts,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm ↩
  17. “Academic Exchange Quarterly (AEQ): A Historical Sketch,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/aeqhis.htm ↩
  18. “From the Editor,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/welcome-j.htm ↩
  19. Academic Exchange Quarterly, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 27, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1399425482781/259937 ↩
  20. “Who Reads Academic Exchange Quarterly?,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/log100.htm ↩
  21. “Call for Manuscripts,” Rapid Intellect Group, accessed February 27, 2020, http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/rufen1.htm ↩
  22. Academic Exchange Quarterly. (2007). Academic Exchange Quarterly (AEQ): A historical sketch. Retrieved from http://rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/aeqhis.htm ↩
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American Libraries

By on June 30, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: American Libraries

ISSN: 0002-9769 (Print) and 2163-5129 (Online)1

Website: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: American Libraries is “the flagship publication of the American Library Association,” dedicated to publishing news “about all matters of import to libraries and librarians.”2 Per the Editorial Policy, part of the ALA Policy Manual section 10.2: the editor is charged with “a particular responsibility to convey to the membership and other readers full and accurate information about the activities, purposes, and goals of the Association.”3

Target audience: ALA members, the majority of whom are professional librarians in the United States.4

Publisher: American Library Association (ALA)5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: LIS professional news magazine.7

Medium: American Libraries is a print publication, with occasional digital supplements. American Libraries Online is the online edition.8

Content: American Libraries “features articles on professional concerns and developments, along with news of the Association, library-related legislation, and libraries around the country and the world. Expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues make the magazine the premier forum for the exchange of ideas.” 9

Frequency of publication: The print edition is published 6 times per year, with a digital-only July/August issue and occasional digital supplements.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: American Libraries solicits contributions of 600-1,500-word articles, including book reviews, features and opinion pieces on topics of general interest to members of the American Library Association. Letters to the editor are also accepted.11

Submission and review process: Manuscripts should be submitted via email to americanlibraries@ala.org. Hard copies may be mailed to American Libraries, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. After submission, there may be “editorial revisions, deletions, or additions that in their opinion support the article’s focus. Editors will make every possible effort to review copy with the author prior to publication, especially regarding any proposed substantive changes.” Authors should hear back about their manuscripts within 4-8 weeks.12

Editorial tone: “Informal, but informative. Factual articles must be inviting and readable, with all statements backed by responsible research and interviews with several expert sources.” The editor encourages the “expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues.”13

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.).14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This 100+-year-old magazine is a well-respected publication with a wide audience. It would not be scholarly enough in tone to carry much weight for someone building up publications for tenure, but it is a credible, professional publication that provides a forum for practical information sharing among members of the LIS community. American Libraries publishes feature stories and opinion pieces as well as letters to the editor, and occasionally opportunities for columnists arise. Strong writers with appropriate story ideas should be encouraged to submit work here, whether they are LIS practitioners, educators, or students.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Over 62,000 member organizations, individual members, and paid subscribers.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: A geographic breakdown could not be found, though American Libraries does offer rates for the US, Canada, and International subscriptions.16 It is probably safe to assume that the majority of ALA members reside and work in the United States. American Libraries is published in English, and readers are likely to be completely comfortable communicating in English. However, overuse of regionalisms should be avoided to appeal to the diverse and widespread American audience.17

Reader characteristics: Because readers are usually members of the ALA, the vast majority work in a variety of libraries and have a high level of education.18 As librarians, these readers are likely to be interested in library topics and sympathetic to library issues. However, it is not safe to assume that readers are homogeneous in terms of how they believe problems should be solved. Letters to the editor and point-of-view pieces indicate that readers can be highly opinionated. The editorial policy states that the “expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues make the magazine the premier forum for the exchange of ideas.”19

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are likely to know a lot about general library topics and issues. Still, the audience includes all types of librarians, so authors would want to avoid highly specialized topics and language. For example, public librarians may not be familiar with (or interested in) the particular jargon and issues of military librarians, and technology specialists may not be familiar with the jargon of catalogers.[19. American Libraries, “About.”

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Because this is a professional rather than a scholarly publication, appropriate submissions would be practical rather than theoretical. Possibilities might include current topics in librarianship, or unique twists on topics of general interest to the broad LIS community such as management, advocacy, and general-interest technologies. American Libraries readers have in common a professional or personal interest in libraries, but the audience is large, and readers’ specialized interests will be quite diverse. For this magazine, general library topics would be appropriate — articles on things like library technology, marketing, or management, the kinds of topics that would be relevant to all librarians, no matter what kinds of libraries they worked in.

Authors could assume that American Libraries readers would understand general library language and that basic terms would not need to be explained (the editors of American Libraries, for example, assume that readers will understand ALA’s common acronyms, such as ACRL). However, authors should try to avoid the kinds of topics or jargon that might be related to a specific library environment or aspect of librarianship, such as academic libraries or cataloging. Articles on highly specific topics or for particular ALA subgroups would be better directed toward the publications of the related ALA divisions, such as College and Research Libraries News or Children and Libraries.

Last updated: June 30, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “American Libraries,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 30, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1561931025099/41722 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “About,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/about/ ↩
  3. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  4. American Libraries, “Advertising,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/advertising-2/ ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  9. American Libraries, “Submissions,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/submissions/  ↩
  10. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  11. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  12. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  13. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  14. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  15. American Libraries, “Advertising.” ↩
  16. American Libraries, “Subscriptions,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/subscriptions/ ↩
  17. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  18. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  19. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
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Marketing Library Services

By on June 29, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Marketing Library Services

ISSN: 0896-39081

Website: www.MarketingLibraryServices.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Marketing Library Services (MLS) emerged in 1987 and is the longest-running publication that regularly delivers how-to articles and case studies for marketers in all types of libraries. They’re written by practitioners from around the world and curated by a respected expert who has 25+ years in the field. These detailed, vetted articles deliver more value than the brief ideas and advice offered via social media.2

Target audience: Information professionals in any type of library who need to learn to do better marketing, promotion, and advocacy.3

Publisher: Information Today, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS trade.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: MLS covers strategies and tactics for all marketing-related topics: advocacy, outreach, branding, segmentation, social media, funding initiatives, long-term campaigns, assessment, ROI, partnerships, promotional materials, program publicity, communications, PR, advertising, etc. Subscribers will also benefit from interviews with marketing masters, conference coverage, book reviews, and news.8

Frequency of publication: Six times a year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December).9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: The editor of Marketing Library Services, Kathy Dempsey, does not accept blind submissions; instead, it is preferable to email her first (see Editor below) with an article idea, so that she can see if it fits in with upcoming issues, or whether or not something similar has already been published. In a personal correspondence she asserts that if the topic is something useful to Marketing Library Services readership, she will send the author a desired length and deadline. Writers will be sent guidelines, and all graphics (photos, charts, etc.) must be in color and high resolution.10

The site itself says very little about submissions. Editorial communications should be directed to the editor, Kathy Dempsey, at kdempsey@infotoday.com.11

Types of contributions accepted: From a correspondence with the editor: “Marketing Library Services covers a wide range of marketing-related topics, including these: advocacy, outreach, programming, fundraising, event planning, dealing with the media, getting votes for library issues, proving your value, making good promotional materials, community promotion, online promotion, winning related awards, studying demographics for target marketing, innovations, surveys and focus groups, strategic communication, etc. And, of course, true marketing (plans for full campaigns).” Also, “in addition to the case studies, Marketing Library Services carries news, reviews of books and videos, conference coverage, and links to library articles and culture.” 12

Submission and review process: Authors first should send correspondence to Kathy Dempsey stating their idea. Because Marketing Library Services is published often, timely articles are strongly recommended. Also, authors must have been directly involved in the projects they are writing about, and must write in the first person. Ms. Dempsey states that authors’ specific titles do not matter.13

Editorial tone: Marketing Library Services should not be written in third-person or academic tones. The newsletter’s tone is conversational, professional, and should inspire readers. According to the editor, “Articles should be written as if you’€™re sitting down with a colleague and explaining your project over lunch.”14

The editor will correspond with the author about this after the author’s idea has been accepted.15

Style guide used: Associated Press.16

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Marketing Library Services is a very good resource for LIS authors interested in writing on community outreach and marketing of library services. Many topics can fall under this umbrella, so it is important for potential authors to be creative and open in how they frame their content.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Marketing Library Services has 700 subscribers. Most of these are in North America, but some are in Europe and in other English-speaking countries.17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Because the content of the newsletter is in English and about a broad topic (marketing), the geographic location of the newsletter’s readership is assumed to reside across the United States. There are some readers from outside the United States, but because marketing can be culturally specific, those readers are likely already doing the work of cultural translation. English is used entirely throughout Marketing Library Services and, for the most part, readers are American or from Europe.18 Because of this spread, colloquialisms should be avoided (as in most professional writing).

Reader characteristics: According to Kathy Dempsey, the editor, most of the readership is comprised of librarians who market for their organization, while others are managers and directors. She also states that some are professors specializing in marketing. Because Marketing Library Services readership is comprised of professionals directly involved in marketing, it may be safely assumed that jargon specific to marketing is fine. As well, because this is a trade journal, readers will be interested in practical information. Kathy Dempsey states from a personal correspondence that, “MLS is written for a wide horizontal market that covers all types of libraries: public, academic, special (medical, gov’€™t, etc.), corporate, and to a lesser extent, K-12 school. It welcomes article queries from all of these librarians. What they all have in common is the need to promote their services. Many case studies about how one lib accomplished a goal can be used as models to doing similar things in other types of libraries. Articles on projects that have this ability to be widely replicated are especially valuable.”19

Readers of Marketing Library Services work in many types of libraries, so it may be safely assumed that they all value libraries’ continuing prosperity. That said, this does not mean that their values are identical. However, the newsletter’s tone is conversational, not argumentative. Articles written arguing strongly for one thing or another probably will not fit in Marketing Library Services.20

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Marketing Library Services is a newsletter informing LIS professionals the best practices and valuable ideas regarding LIS marketing. Professionals reading this newsletter are looking for good ideas and solidly practical plans and instances of good marketing. Marketing Library Services is not a dry tome of theoretical research written in an hermetic tone. Nonetheless, most of the readers are deeply engaged with marketing their organization, and are working professionals whose time and attention is valuable. Writers should consider their readers as interested colleagues who are deeply interested in successful programs and campaigns, and how they may learn from writers’ experiences and implement similar strategies in their own organizations.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1. Proquest, “MLS: Marketing Library Services,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521418800307/153039 ↩
  2. Information Today, Inc., 2019, “Marketing Library Services,” http://www.infotoday.com/mls/ ↩
  3. Information Today, Inc., “Marketing Library Services.” ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. Information Today, Inc., “Marketing Library Services.” ↩
  8. Information Today, Inc., “Marketing Library Services.” ↩
  9. Information Today, Inc., “Marketing Library Services.” ↩
  10. Dempsey, K., 27 June 2019, personal communication. ↩
  11. Information Today, Inc., 2019, “Subscription & Editorial Info,” http://www.infotoday.com/mls/mls-subs.shtml ↩
  12. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  13. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  14. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  15. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  16. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  17. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  18. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  19. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩
  20. Dempsey, personal communication.

    Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of this newsletter have a high degree of LIS subject matter. Marketing Library Services caters to the LIS profession, so references to library specific trends, ideas, and concepts will be well received and will not require a high degree of explanation. However, because the readership is broadly based across the LIS professional spectrum some terms and knowledge specific to one group may not be appropriate for all readers.[21. Dempsey, personal communication. ↩

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Library Journal

By on June 29, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Journal (LJ)

ISSN: 0363-02771

Website: http://www.libraryjournal.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: This journal is produced as a trade publication with the intent to provide library news and related information. Although the emphasis of the journal is on public libraries, the journal contains information pertinent to a wide variety of professionals in the library world. Library Journal also provides reviews of books, ebooks, audiobooks, DVDs/videos, and other media annual to assist library professionals in purchasing for their institution. The mission of the journal is to provide feature articles and news stories which inform library professionals about current issues in a readable style.2

Target audience: The target audience is composed of librarians in public, academic, and special libraries, as well as library administrators, staff, and directors.3

Publisher:  Media Source, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional news. Library Journal is a non-research-oriented LIS professional news journal that includes advertising, bibliographies, illustrations, and book reviews.6

Medium: Library Journal is a print publication with free online content. Online archives are free, though they do not necessarily contain everything that is in the print edition.7 You can also subscribe to LJ’s RSS feeds and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.8 The online version of Library Journal also includes blogs, podcasts and message boards, links to affiliated newsletters, and tools to assist in collection development and other areas of library administration.9

Content: Library Journal content includes news, reviews, LJ bestsellers, commentary, departments, info-tech, special reports, letters to the editor, upcoming events, classified ads, and photos.10 Library Journal evaluates over 8,000 books annually and also provides reviews of library-related equipment and materials.11

Frequency of publication: The print publication is issued 12 times a year.12 Online content is updated continuously.13 Reviews are also welcomed, though review contributors are expected to regularly write, rather than simply submitting one review.14

Submission and review process: Submissions to the Features and Columns sections should be 2 to 4 pages in a magazine, or 1800 to 2700 words. Finalized drafts can be sent as an attachment along with a query describing the coverage and approach of the article as well as the writer’€™s connection to the subject and his or her expertise. The query can be a paragraph or several paragraphs in length. Response to queries may take between 4 to 6 weeks. LJ also accepts opinion pieces and rants about topics and concerns in the library profession for its “BackTalk” . Pieces should be in the range of 900 words. Be sure to email the appropriate editor for the type of content being submitted.15

Book reviewer guidelines for contracted and unpaid review writers can be found here.16

Editorial tone: As this publication is aimed at the general librarian population, the tone of articles should be objective as well as thought-provoking while providing topical and useful information. Articles should be written in an “accessible and readable style.”17

Style guide used: No particular style guide is indicated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

A trusted and respected publication for the library community, Library Journal certainly has the potential for an LIS author to reach a wide audience. Since the journal reaches out to public, academic, and special libraries, there are a multitude of articles that could possibly be written for this publication.

Library Journal is open to ideas for articles and columns, and also encourages “opinion pieces and rants.”18 Library Journal prefers an approach that is widely accessible by its readers.19 There is therefore great potential for newer writers who are not necessarily comfortable with a more scholarly voice. There is also a market here for librarians to offer insight and advice on practical issues facing contemporary libraries. This is a wonderful opportunity for librarians (including those who may not consider themselves to be professional authors) to share their real-world experience with others.

Library Journal Reviews+ is a popular selection tool used in public and academic libraries, and an ongoing opportunity exists here to publish reviews in a wide range of disciplines. Reviewers are not required to have previously published reviews.20 This would be an excellent opportunity for library students with graduate degrees in other areas to review books in their specialty and begin to publish in the LIS field.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Library Journal is distributed to 43,000 print subscribers, and its online equivalent registers over 91,000 monthly visits. The publication is also popular on social media, with over half a million followers across various social media platforms, on which journal content is shared.21

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: LJ is printed in English, and most articles focus on topics affecting libraries in the United States. A scan of recent article titles reveals an editorial comfort with acronyms specific to the American context, such as CIA, ALA, and NYPL.22 However, authors should remain sensitive to the possibility of diverse readership, since cultural diversity and international issues are embraced by the publication, as demonstrated by recent articles on Indigenous Academic Libraries, Spanish-language collection development, and inclusion in scholarly publishing.23

Reader characteristics: Because the audience largely consists of librarians and library staff, readers are likely to be both interested in and sympathetic to library issues. They are also likely to share common values and beliefs about the role and importance of librarianship.24 The readership is large,25 however, and likely diverse in their particular perspectives on library issues.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter:  Library Journal is read by people all across the library profession, so a working knowledge of library terms can be assumed, but authors should be aware that members of their audience may not have MLIS degrees.26

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Readers of Library Journal include library directors, administrators, and staff in all types of libraries. An article written for this publication has the potential to reach and influence people across the library field, nationally and even internationally. Authors should remain aware that their readers are familiar with both the current highest standards of librarianship, yet also the practical difficulties that come with working in the field. It is recommended to aim for a broad reach, even when writing about an issue specific to one kind of library, so that readers from all types of libraries can gather ideas or inspiration from each article.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 26 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Library Journal,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521665093762/48829 ↩
  2. Library Journal, “About Us,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=About-Us. ↩
  3. Library Journals, “About Us.” ↩
  4. Media Source, Inc., “Media Source Inc.,” accessed June 29, 2019, http://mediasourceinc.com/ ↩
  5. Library Journal, “Submissions,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=submit-features-news. ↩
  6. Library Journal, “Library Journal,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com ↩
  7. Library Journal, “Reviews+,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?subpage=Reviews%2B ↩
  8. Library Journal, “Library Journal.” ↩
  9. Library Journal, “Library Journal.” ↩
  10. Library Journal, “Library Journal.” ↩
  11. Media Source, Inc., “Library Journal,” accessed June 29, 2019, http://media.libraryjournal.com/library-journal/. ↩
  12. Library Journal, “Subscribe to Library Journal, accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=subscribe. ↩
  13. Library Journal, “Library Journal.”

    About the publication’s submission guidelines

    Location of submission guidelines: For articles: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=submit-features-news. For reviews: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=Review-for-LJ

    Types of contributions accepted: Feature articles that are broad in scope and/or offer useful information and ideas. The journal also accepts news pieces, announcements, photos of library-related news and events, letters to the editor, and opinion pieces.[14. Library Journal, “Submissions.” ↩

  14. Library Journal, “Review for LJ,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=Review-for-LJ. ↩
  15. Library Journal, “Submissions.” ↩
  16. Library Journal, “Review for LJ.” ↩
  17. Library Journal, “Submissions.” ↩
  18. Library Journal, “Submissions.” ↩
  19. Library Journal, “Submissions.” ↩
  20. Library Journal, “Review for LJ.” ↩
  21. Media Source, Inc., “Library Journal.” ↩
  22. Library Journal, “News,” accessed June 29, 2019, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?subpage=News ↩
  23. Library Journal, “News.” ↩
  24. Library Journal, “About Us.” ↩
  25. Media Source, Inc., “Library Journal.” ↩
  26. Library Journal, “Submissions.” ↩
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College & Research Libraries News

By on June 29, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: College & Research Libraries News

ISSN: 0099-0086 (Print) and 2150-6698 (Online)1

Website: http://crln.acrl.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: C&RL News “provides articles on the latest trends and practices affecting academic and research libraries and serves as the official newsmagazine and publication of record of the Association of College and Research Libraries.”2

Target audience: Members of the ACRL.3

Publisher: Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional news magazine.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: Per their website, “College & Research Libraries News (C&RL News) publishes articles, reports, and essays written by practitioners addressing philosophy and techniques of day-to-day management of academic library services and collections. C&RL News provides current information relating to issues, activities, and personalities of the higher education and academic and research library field. Information literacy, scholarly communication, technology, professional education, preservation, government actions that affect libraries, acquisitions, grants to libraries, product updates, and the business of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) are covered in C&RL News.”8

Frequency of publication: 11 monthly issues.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Articles, essays, and reports.10

Submission and review process: Manuscripts must be submitted to the editor via email. Only original manuscripts that have not been published will be accepted, however, exception may be given to previous items published in other institutional newsletters. Submission length depends on type: “News notes may be 150-350 words; essays for “The Way I See It” should be 750-1,000 words; feature articles (Scholarly Communication, ACRL Techconnect, and Internet Resources) should be no more than 2,000 words.” Footnotes, charts and tables should be minimal; graphics should be included with submission. The author is responsible for obtaining permission for the use of any graphics. Please provide a brief caption and credit (if needed) for all images.11 Authors should consult past issues and the author guidelines for instructions on writing for specific columns.

Editorial tone: Practical, accurate, informative, and informal. Even humorous essays are welcomed.12

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed.13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Publishing with C&RL News provides a strong foundation for both an author’s portfolio, in addition to allowing the author to be involved in a LIS association. Authors are not required to become ACRL members to publish with C&RL News; however, ACRL offers a variety of publication tools and resources, including wikis and other forums for information sharing that is important to the professional development of librarians, and LIS authors. C&RL News provides new LIS authors the potential to build their writing portfolio within a supportive, field-specific environment.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The largest division of the ALA, the ACRL claims a membership of over 10,000.15 Since these members receive automatic subscriptions to the C&RL News, this would be a certain count towards the circulation. However, nonmembers can also subscribe to the publication, and the latest circulation total notes the total circulation count at 14,000. Aside from members and nonmember single subscriptions, there may also be subscriptions by other libraries or related groups (educators) that may have an interest in receiving this publication.16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: As the ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, the publication is geared towards academic and research libraries in America. However, the subscription information provides rates specific to subscriptions to Canada, Postal Union of the Americas and Spain (PUAS) countries, and all other countries.17 The publication is printed in English and serves as the official news outlet for a US-based organization, so cultural considerations do not seem to expand beyond the U.S. However, some columns may include international websites and stories on librarianship in other countries18 which demonstrate an awareness of how library trends and practices in other countries can affect U.S. librarianship.

Reader characteristics: The audience of C&RL News is comprised of members of the ACRL, who are professional librarians, staff, administrators, directors, educators in LIS, and students. Nearly all members report affiliation with universities or colleges, with almost half belonging to large research or doctoral-granting universities. The smallest reported group of subscribers is those affiliated with two-year or technical colleges, who comprise 11% of the current membership.19 Readers are used to the publication’s inclusion of more personal insights into individual experiences and humorous anecdotes, and are therefore likely to be open to new perspectives.20

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As the ACRL is a professional association of academic librarians and individuals with interest in academic librarianship, an advanced and specific knowledge of LIS subject matter can be assumed. Readers will not want definitions and descriptions of issues that they are familiar with; this audience expects to be informed on the current news, trends, and practices in academic and research libraries.

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

This publication’s readers are involved in their libraries, their institutions, the academic library community, and the academic community itself. Though not a scholarly publication, informal research exploring best practices and methods for improving services is a sure way to maintain readers’ attention. From archives to community college public services, any essay on a specific topic within the academic library field could offer readers the opportunity to apply the author’s findings to their own institutions. However, authors should keep in mind that readers have diverse experiences. Staff members at technical colleges may be more interested in new resources on serving local communities, whereas administrators at research universities may have a greater interest in international trends. Whatever the chosen topic, authors should be sure to write from experience and with the confidence of expertise.

Last updated: June 29, 2019.

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “College & Research Libraries News,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019. http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1561866753201/119300 ↩
  2. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/pages/view/about ↩
  3. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5.  Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  6. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  7. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0. ↩
  8. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  9. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  10. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  11. Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
  12. Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
  13. Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
  14. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  15. American Library Association, “About ACRL,” Association of College & Research Libraries, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl. ↩
  16. Association of College & Research Libraries, 2018-2019 Media Planning Guide, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/ACRL_MediaKit19.pdf. ↩
  17. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  18. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Past Issues,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/archive. ↩
  19. Association of College & Research Libraries, 2018-2019 Media Planning Guide. ↩
  20. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
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Library Leadership and Management

By on June 12, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Leadership and Management (formerly Library Administration and Management)

ISSN: 1945-8851 (Print) and 1945-886X (Online)1

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their site, “Library Leadership & Management (LL&M) is the official journal of the Library Leadership and Management Association. LL&M focuses on assisting library administrators and managers at all levels as they deal with day-to-day challenges. In-depth articles address a wide variety of management issues and highlight examples of successful management methods used in libraries. Features include interviews with prominent practitioners in libraries and related fields, and columns with practical advice on managing libraries.”2

Website: http://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm

Target audience: The publication is directed toward library administrators and managers in all sectors, including public, special and academic libraries.3

Publisher: American Library Association.4

Peer reviewed? Hybrid journal: “LL&M offers both formal peer review and editorial review options depending on the author’s preference.”5

Type: LIS professional news.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: Research-based articles, interviews, new developments and success stories related to managing libraries. Specific topics relate to management, leadership, and administration.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Per guidelines, “Recognizing the LLAMA is a diverse organization, Library Leadership & Management (LL&M) welcomes articles that correspond to the interests of the membership. This includes manuscripts that relate to leadership, management, and administration, as well as manuscripts that mirror the topical interests of the sections and discussion groups.”10

“The journal accepts both longer, in-depth manuscripts of 4,000 to 6,000 words and briefer practice-based articles of 1,000 to 2,500 words. Manuscripts longer than 6,000 words should be discussed with the Editor(s) prior to submission as there may be interest in converting it into a series of articles.”11

Submission and review process: Article submission is through their online portal. Review process depends on author’s preference: editorial or peer review.12

Editorial tone: Informative.13

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style and Random House Webster’s College Dictionary are listed as resources for writers.14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Authors able to write on the topics associated with library administration and management would be a good fit for this publication. Recent articles focused on job satisfaction and employee turnover, diversity, innovative space planning, award winners, and customer satisfaction.15 The editors will consider articles presented at conferences, making this publication a possibility for LIS graduate students.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: This is an online publication with Open Access Policy providing unrestricted access to published content indicating a larger audience beyond the LLAMA membership.16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although headquartered in Chicago as part of the American Library Association,17 LLAMA and its membership is national in scope. The articles are domestic in nature, and the LLAMA Board of Directors all are from U.S. institutions.18 The publication is printed in English.19 Despite the fact that many LLAMA members manage libraries in ethnically diverse communities, the articles in the journal focus on general management issues that all administrators face, such as strategic planning, fundraising, library boards, and internet ethics, not community-specific issues.20

Reader characteristics: The commonality of LLAMA members is that they are at a managerial level within a library organization. It can be assumed that the majority of LLAMA members have been in the library business for a number of years, however no demographics are available. Unless they are a one-person operation (which could be the case for a school librarian), they hold supervisory roles within their organizations. Their interests are based on financial, human resource, building, and legal and ethical issues as they affect the success of their particular organizations. They are concerned with strategic planning, disaster planning, and facility planning.21 In looking over the editorials from recent issues, the overall value that can be attached to this journal would be one of empowerment. The content seeks to provide library managers with the tools needed to develop successful organizations out of preparedness rather than reactionary responses to a crisis.22

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Despite the fact that these are library managers, they may or may not have MLIS degrees, as some library managers followed business, not library, career tracks.23 Recent articles did not contain overly technical topics or LIS jargon, veering more toward business concepts.24

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The audience is more specific than €™American Libraries€™, which is directed toward all library personnel. In contrast, LL&M is designed for library managers and administrators. This could be an opportunity or a challenge for a writer. Things such as negotiating with a vendor, ergonomic work stations, and staff development are matters of concern to nearly any organization manager. Topics such as working with a library board, dealing with book challenges, and internet filters are problems that are specific to library management. But both categories have a place in this publication and therefore open up a host of possibilities for articles. However, these readers, as organization managers, most likely have very limited time to pursue professional reading. Authors for the journal need to be on top of the issues at the forefront of the managers’€™ daily lives in order to offer something new to say that is of value.

Last updated: June 12, 2019

References

Show 24 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Library Leadership and Management,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 12, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1560362802779/67509 ↩
  2. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Library Leadership & Management,” accessed June 12, 2019, https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm ↩
  3. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Library Leadership & Management.” ↩
  4. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Library Leadership & Management.” ↩
  5. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Information for Authors,” accessed June 12, 2019, https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/information/authors ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Information for Authors.” ↩
  9. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  10. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions,” accessed June 12, 2019 https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  11. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  12. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  13. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  14. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Submissions.” ↩
  15. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives,” accessed June 12, 2019, https://journals.tdl.org/llm/index.php/llm/issue/archive ↩
  16. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives.” ↩
  17. Library Leadership and Management Association, Library Leadership & Management. ↩
  18. Library Leadership and Management Association, “About LLAMA,” accessed June 12, 2019, http://www.ala.org/llama/about ↩
  19. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  20. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives.” ↩
  21. Library Leadership and Management Association, “About LLAMA.” ↩
  22. American Library Association, “Archives.” ↩
  23. Library Leadership and Management Association, “About LLAMA.” ↩
  24. Library Leadership and Management Association, “Archives.” ↩
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CLS Newsletter

By on June 11, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: CLS Newsletter

ISSN: 0887-35501

Website: www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/cls/clswebsite/collpubs/clsnewsletter

Purpose, objective, or mission: This is a newsletter produced by the College Libraries Section (CLS) of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), which in turn is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Its purpose is to provide information concerning the affairs of the CLS and ACRL to its members as well as to promote a sense of community among its members by publishing light, short articles dealing with experiences of working in academic libraries.2

Target audience: The newsletter is aimed at the general college librarian and provides information on the everyday activities of the CLS and ACRL. As such, it probably would not be of interest to a lay audience.3

Publisher: Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), College Libraries Section (CLS).4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional. The newsletter is similar to other types of short, organizational communications meant for a general membership. It is unpretentious and full of very short pieces.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: The issues feature CLS and ACRL housekeeping pieces dealing with meetings, conferences, announcements, conventions, political issues, and promotions as well as human-interest pieces on librarians that work in academic libraries.8

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Articles and suggestions may be submitted to the editor directly via email.10

Types of contributions accepted: All types of submissions are considered with an emphasis on CLS related professional announcements and events.11

Submission and review process: All decisions are made by the editor who, from the content of past issues, is very flexible in what is accepted for publication as long as it is not too long and deals with CLS members or events.12

Editorial tone: Very informal with a simple prose style.13

Style guide used: There is no style guide specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

For a new author, these types of professional newsletters are gateway publications. These small publications are usually hungry for material and, though they do not usually pay, if the piece is not too long and is firmly down to earth it will probably be published.

The meat and potatoes of these types of newsletters are announcements of one sort or another along with scheduling and convention information pertaining to the organization itself. The short human-interest type pieces on librarians and the academic libraries where they work are usually used for filler and so the shorter and more concise they are the better.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As of August 2015, CLS had 2,533 members which is a fine indicator of circulation because the newsletter is sent to all members.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: CLS Newsletter does not focus on any particular region though it does concern itself with college-level librarianship within the United States. The majority of the newsletter deals with giving kudos to various hard-working librarians within the CLS community and so there is no regionalism present. All college libraries and college librarians from coast to coast are treated equally. Articles are to be written in clear English. As this is not a scholarly work and is really meant to be a house organ for the leadership of the CLS and, by extension, ACRL, the purpose is to communicate the internal housekeeping information of the College Libraries Section and recognize the accomplishments of its members. Because of this, the use of jargon is not detrimental though obscure, local usage might need to be clarified.16

Reader characteristics: Based on a reading of several sample copies, the general readership can be assumed to consist of professionally active, middle-aged, Caucasian, and female academic librarians who work in baccalaureate-level, four-year schools. Of course, males are represented, but females still dominate the profession. The newsletter tries very hard to steer a middle course promoting the efforts of college librarians at all times.17

The four-year college library experience is what binds the members of the CLS together. The experiences of end-of-term reserves, interlibrary loan problems and meeting the needs of demanding faculty are what flavors their relationships with each other and illustrate their successes. Most of the readers will be reference librarians or lower-level administrative librarians who are settled into their career paths; though the occasional library director of the smaller libraries might find something of interest in the newsletter.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers are all professionals who have a strong grasp of their profession. The readers are interested enough in their career to have joined these organizations and so are relatively well informed on the new trends emerging in the profession such as blogging, and patron-centered services that would directly affect their work.19

Conclusion: Reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The one thing that must be kept in mind concerning the readers of this newsletter is that they are all dedicated to the profession of academic librarianship and that they are reading the newsletter to keep up on the current events of the College Library Section and the Association of College and Research Libraries. A popular feature is the kudos of various librarians throughout the country who have been awarded some honor or achieved some success. Also the occasional tidbit of gossip or library anecdote is found in the newsletter.20

Last updated: June 11, 2019

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “CLS Newsletter,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 11, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1557276839438/480566 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “About CLS,” Association of College & Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/sections/cls/aboutcls ↩
  3. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  4. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter,” Association of College & Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/cls/clswebsite/collpubs/clsnewsletter ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  7. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  8. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  9. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  10. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  11. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  12. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  13. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  14. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  15. American Library Association, “Manual of the College Libraries Section of the ACRL,” Association of College & Research Libraries, College Libraries Section, accessed June 11, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/acrlsections/cls/CLS%20Manual%202017.pdf ↩
  16. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  17. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
  18. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  19. American Library Association, “About CLS.” ↩
  20. American Library Association, “CLS Newsletter.” ↩
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CCL Outlook: Newsletter of the Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges

By on June 11, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: CCL Outlook: Newsletter of the Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://cclibrarians.org/outlook/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The constitution of the Council of Chief Librarians (CCL) states that the organization’s purpose is “€œThe purpose of the Council of Chief Librarians is to represent, promote and advance libraries in public California community college education; to provide a vehicle for communication, discussion and collaboration among libraries; to provide opportunities for professional development, training and leadership development for library leaders and other librarians; and to support data collection, analysis and dissemination for the purpose of good public policy development.”1 The CCL Outlook supports that goal by serving as the primary means of communication between the organization and its members.

Target audience: CCL membership, which is limited to the chief librarians of each community college in California.2

Publisher: Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges.3

Peer reviewed? No. Content decisions are made by the editor.4

Type: LIS professional newsletter.5

Medium: Online.6

Content: The major portion of the material included in Outlook is news announcements from the organization itself. Each issue begins with “News from the President.” The items that follow frequently include discussions of the actions of the organization and its committees, announcements of relevant conferences and seminars, job postings, and administrative issues such as new officer elections. These items are almost always submitted by the officers or staff of the CCL.7

Additionally, some issues contain brief articles written by members or other librarians that discuss topics relevant to the membership; these have included a description of new information literacy training implemented at one college, a discussion of new teleconferencing techniques and a comparison of new OPAC software.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://cclibrarians.org/newsletter/editorial-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: News items about events and open positions should be less than 300 words. Most issues of Outlook include one or more brief articles (500-1,500 words) contributed by outside authors. These are brief summaries of topics that would be of interest to the administrators of community college libraries.10

Submission and review process: Articles may be submitted through the CCL website. The editorial team will revise for grammar, spelling, formatting, and style.11

Editorial tone: Per the website, “Succinct, inviting and informative style of writing is preferred.” The tone of the newsletter is, not surprisingly, very informal. Much of the communication content in Outlook is frequently conversational; the articles do tend towards a more professional tone, but are still very relaxed.12

Style guide used: There is no style guide listed, but the editorial guidelines state that endnote citations should be in accordance with the current edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

CCL Outlook has a very small audience, and its content is limited to very brief articles; therefore publishing in this newsletter would not generate widespread name recognition, nor would it aid significantly in a tenure or promotion cause. Nevertheless, an author who is working, or hopes to work, in the field of community college libraries could gain valuable exposure in a publication that is read by their potential mangers.13

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Although it is available on the Internet for anyone to read, the CCL Outlook is intended for a group of librarians, library managers, and library deans, to whom it is sent electronically.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The chief librarians for whom the newsletter is written are specifically located in California. The community colleges at which they work are located throughout the state. The newsletter is written in English, and it would be safe to assume that all of the library directors are fluent. However, authors should be aware of the cultural diversity of the colleges at which these librarians work. California is home to many diverse communities, and so the community colleges will reflect that diversity. Many of the colleges are in highly populated areas and may have large minority populations, while other colleges are in smaller urban centers located in sparsely populated rural communities.15

Reader characteristics: While no information is available concerning their ages, members are all supervising librarians and it is probably safe to assume that they have a high degree of professional experience. The readers all work at community colleges as head librarians, and as such share many common interests. However, their professional environments should not be seen as completely homogeneous. The interests of the chief librarians at Los Angeles City College or Grossmont College in San Diego, who each supervise large staffs and serve over 16,000 students in high-density urban settings, are very different from the interests of the sole librarian at Barstow College, who serves less than 3000 students in a low-density farming community.16

Although some of the community colleges in California are small, most are large enough that the chief librarian is primarily an administrator, rather than a practicing reference librarian. As such, they will tend to consider issues from an organizational, rather than an individual, point of view. They will be less interested in a new approach to the reference interview than in a new resource that will help their librarians to provide more efficient reference services. Also, the readers are all likely to have years of professional experience, and will possibly be wary of highly theoretical approaches that they feel lack practical grounding.17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers are all experienced LIS professionals who will be familiar with the operations of libraries, and the practices of librarianship. Their interests will be specific to community colleges, and so authors should be familiar with the specific needs of those institutions. While readers might not be fully current with cutting-edge research in information science, they will generally be familiar with emerging trends in librarianship.18

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

When writing for the CCL Outlook, there are three important factors that an author must consider: this is a professional rather than scholarly publication, the readers will be library leadership, and the audience will be concerned with community colleges. Regarding the first two issues, the author must remember that the readers will be looking for practical approaches, and hopefully, solutions; authors must address big-picture issues, and focus on the implementation of projects, rather than the theory behind them. The recent contents of Outlook also indicate that readers are very interested in legislative issues that will have an impact on community colleges.19

The third consideration -€“ the orientation towards community colleges -€“ is essential. Authors should recognize that this publication is very specific to that environment. While the chief librarians are almost certainly interested in developments outside of their area, they also know that there are many other publications to which they can turn for those developments, but that Outlook is where they go for community college news.

Last updated: June 11, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Organization,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/about-us/organization ↩
  2. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges. “Home,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org ↩
  3. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  4. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/newsletter/editorial-guidelines ↩
  5. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  6. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  7. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Outlook Archive,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/newsletter/outlook-archive ↩
  8. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Outlook Archive.” ↩
  9. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  10. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  11. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  12. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Editorial Guidelines.” ↩
  13. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Home.” ↩
  14. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Mailing List Information,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/about-us/mailing-list-information ↩
  15. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Directory,” accessed June 11, 2019, https://cclibrarians.org/directory ↩
  16. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Directory.” ↩
  17. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Organization.” ↩
  18. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Organization.” ↩
  19. Council of Chief Librarians, California Community Colleges, “Outlook Archive.” ↩
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