Wiki Tags Archives: Archives

Society of American Archivists (SAA)

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Society of American Archivists

Website: https://saa.archivists.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Founded in 1936, the Society of American Archivists is North America’s oldest and largest national professional association dedicated to the needs and interests of archives and archivists.” 1

Their Mission Statement is “SAA is a vital community that promotes the value and diversity of archives and archivists and serves as the preeminent resource for the profession.” 2

Their Vision Statement is “The Society of American Archivists empowers archivists to achieve professional excellence and foster innovation to ensure the identification, preservation, understanding, and use of records of enduring value.” 3

“The goal of the SAA book publishing program is to provide print and digital resources that serve the needs of members and the archives profession, are of consistently high quality, fill gaps in the professional literature (rather than duplicate existing resources), and
nurture new and veteran voices.”4

Target audience: Students and professional archivists in North America.

Owner: Society of American Archivists. 5

Are published books peer reviewed? Yes. 6

Types of books published: Guides and guidelines, reference books, book series, essay collections.

Medium: Print and digital.

Topics covered: Trends in archiving practices, ethics, case studies, contemporary issues pertaining to archives, archivists, and allied professions.

Number of titles published per year: An exact number is unknown, but SAA has published over 150 books since the 1970s.7

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www2.archivists.org/publications/book-publishing/guidelinesforbookproposals

Types of submissions accepted: Book prospectus

Submission and review process: “To begin the process of producing a new publication, author(s) submit a prospectus to the Publications Editor, addressing the following:

  • the theme, purpose and scope of the publication;
  • the estimated format and length of the publication;
  • whether the topic and approach are better suited to print or online format
  • an annotated outline or table of contents;
  • the intended audience and the potential market;
  • the prospective value to the archival profession;
  • the relationship of the proposed publication to the literature in the field;
  • the possibility of co-sponsorship with another organization;
  • the possibility of outside financial support;
  • graphics and illustrations the publication might use;
  • co-authors or contributors in the case of an edited work; and
  • the anticipated schedule for preparation of the publication.” 8

“Proposers should be advised that they will be asked to submit a writing sample of 10–15 pages, in a style reflecting the audience and tone of the proposed publication. The editor can provide more specific advice as proposals are developed.” 9

“The Publications Editor reviews the prospectus and sends it to the Publications Board, Director of Publishing and, if necessary, subject specialists. Depending on the author’s writing experience, two or more sample chapters and a detailed table of contents may be requested.” 10

Editorial tone: Professional.

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style.11

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

This publisher states in it’s goals that they wish to “nurture new and veteran voices” 12 so there is potential for LIS authors across a broad spectrum of experience to be selected for publishing. This publisher is interested in works that speak to the needs of the archival profession, that align with strategic goals and core organizational values of SAA, and that are not already heavily represented in their current publications catalogs (unless new perspective is found).

Publishing with SAA focuses primarily on the archiving field, so it may not be an appropriate avenue for all LIS authors. However, there is some crossover in resources and initiatives with allied professions (libraries, museums, and historians). For example, SAA publishes a few books that have broader audiences (i.e. Exhibits in Archives and Special Collections Libraries and Archives in Libraries: What Librarians and Archivists Need to Know to Work Together). They occasionally partner with other allied professional associations to develop resources, such as the American Library Association.

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s audience

Size: SAA has 6,200 members.13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: SAA primarily serves archivists and students within North America.

Reader characteristics: Readers of SAA publications are archivist students or professionals with a working knowledge in the field. Currently featured titles on their online store, including A Matter of Facts: The Value of Evidence in an Information Age, and Engagement in the Digital Era,  indicate that many newly published SAA releases discuss contemporary issues in the field. 14

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will have spectrum of experience and knowledge primarily in the field of archives. Readers may have less knowledge on other general LIS subject matter than readers of other LIS book publishers in the field.

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

SAA’s website states that their publications are “largely driven by members. Members write articles, chapters and books which are then vetted by members on the Editorial Board and Publications Board, who strive to maintain SAA’s commitment to furthering best practices in the field.” 15 Potential authors can expect their publications to be read by professionals, and experts, in the field.

Last updated: April 25, 2021


References

Show 15 footnotes

  1. “Who We Are,” SAA.org, accessed April 25, 2021, https://www2.archivists.org/aboutsaa
  2. “Who We Are.”
  3. “Who We Are.”
  4. “Guidelines for Book Proposals,” SAA.org, accessed April 25, 2021, https://www2.archivists.org/publications/book-publishing/guidelinesforbookproposals
  5. “Who We Are.”
  6. “Book Publishing,” SAA.org, accessed April 25, 2021, https://www2.archivists.org/publications/book-publishing
  7. “Book Publishing.”
  8. “Guidelines for Book Proposals.”
  9. “Guidelines for Book Proposals.”
  10. “Guidelines for Book Proposals.”
  11. “Guidelines for Manuscript Submissions,” www.SAA.org, accessed March 2, 2018, https://www2.archivists.org/publications/book-publishing/guidelinesformanuscriptsubmissions
  12. “Guidelines for Book Proposals.”
  13. “Who We Are.”
  14. “Online Store,” SAA.org, accessed April 25, 2021, https://mysaa.archivists.org/nc__store?filter=All
  15. “Publications,” SAA.org, accessed February 27, 2018, https://www2.archivists.org/node/20534
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Rowman & Littlefield

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Rowman & Littlefield

Website: https://rowman.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Rowman & Littlefield is a leading independent publisher, with strengths in: Academic Publishing in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Publishing Government and Official Data, and Educational Publishing.” 1

Its range of subject areas include library and information services, linguistics, communication, education, psychology, sociology, among others. 2.

Target audience: Scholars, Instructors, and Professionals

Owner: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an independent publishing group. 3 which also owns one of the largest book distributors in the United States, National Book Network (NBN). 4  The publishing group encompasses several imprints, including Lexington Books (specialized and scholarly research), and trade imprints such as Rowman & Littlefield Trade, AltaMira Press, Scarecrow Press and Sheed & Ward.

Are published books peer reviewed? Yes. Authors are asked to provide a list of four to seven potential peer reviewers when submitting a book proposal. 5

Types of books published: LIS-specific books run the gamut from primers and practical guides to both introductory and advanced textbooks.6

Medium: Titles are published simultaneously in print and e-book editions.7 Many books are supplemented with multimedia content.8

Topics covered: A range of disciplines across humanities and social sciences, government data, and education.9 LIS-specific topics cover management, archival studies, cataloging and classification, collection development, information technology, literacy instruction, and school librarianship. LIS series include The Practical Guides for Librarians, Library Technology Essentials, and Innovative Practices for Archives and Special Collections.10

Number of titles published per year: Approximately 1,500 academic, reference, professional, and trade books annually (all subjects).11

In 2020, Under the subject of Library and Information Services, Rowman & Littlefield published approximately 37 titles. 12

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://rowman.com/Page/RLAuthRes

Types of submissions accepted: Proposals. They must include a prospectus (book description), Annotated Table of Contents (including a paragraph describing each chapter), Curriculum Vitae/Resume, 1-2 sample chapters, list of 4-7 potential peer reviewers, and marketing platform. For complete proposal details, please see the Submission Guidelines.

Submission and review process: Proposals for publication should be submitted via email to the appropriate acquisitions editor. 13 “The publisher will acknowledge receipt of a proposal within two weeks, and aims to render a decision on acceptance within three months.” 14

Editorial tone: Professional and scholarly.

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., as style and spelling guides.  15

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Authors include leading academics and respected practitioners. The publisher is well established in its subject areas, and maintains a presence at academic conferences. Rowman & Littlefield is a highly reputable publisher for LIS authors with a proposal for an academic or professional development topic.  “Our books for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals help them in their professional environment as they work to collect, organize, preserve, and make accessible information in all formats. Our books help practitioners and LIS students preparing to work in many types of organizations, including public, academic, special, and school libraries; archives; database providers; and other information centers.” 16

 

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s audience

Size (as measured by average number of copies per title published)A 2021 New Books in LIS catalog listed approximately 77 LIS titles geared toward students, professionals, and academics. 17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Rowman & Littlefield is based in the United States, and titles are published in English. Authors are experts and scholars based mostly in the U.S., UK, and Canada, and this may be reflected in the content of material. However, as Rowman & Littlefield is an international publisher, books are available to a worldwide audience.18

Reader characteristics: Readers have varying backgrounds within LIS, from management to technology, to instruction and research. Rowman & Littlefield texts are typically used in graduate and professional development courses, though many titles may be of interest to non-LIS readers.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are students, academics, and professionals with a strong knowledge of or strong interest in LIS subject matter.

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

With diverse backgrounds, skills, professional duties, and interests, readers are likely seeking specialized LIS knowledge or best practices. Material is theoretical and practical, and provides professional learning for the LIS community.

Last updated: March 24, 2021


References

Show 18 footnotes

  1. “About,” Rowman.com, accessed March 24, 2021, https://rowman.com/Page/About
  2. “Subjects,” Rowman.com, accessed February 2, 2018, https://rowman.com/SubjectsMain
  3. “Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, PublishersGlobal.com, accessed February 2, 2018, http://www.publishersglobal.com/directory/publisher-profile/6304/
  4. “About.”
  5. “Submission Guidelines,” Rowman.com, accessed February 2, 2018, https://rowman.com/Page/RLAuthRes
  6. “Library Services,” Rowman.com, accessed February 2, 2018, http://rowman.com/Page/Library-Services
  7. “About.”
  8. “Library Services.”
  9. “About.”
  10. “Library Services.”
  11. “Publisher Details,” NetGalley.com, accessed February 2, 2018, https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/publisher/29645
  12. “LIS Catalog,” Rowman.com, accessed March 24, 2021, https://rowman.com/Subjects?L1=Library-and-Information-Services&L1ID=25
  13. “Editors,” Rowman.com, accessed February 2, 2018, http://rowman.com/Page/RLPGAE
  14. “Submission Guidelines.”
  15. “Manuscript Preparation Guide,” Rowman.com, accessed March 24, 2021, https://rowman.com/WebDocs/R&L%20Manuscript%20Prep%20Guide.pdf
  16. “Library Services.”
  17. “eCatalogs,” Rowman.com, accessed March 24, 2021, https://rowman.com/Page/eCatalogs
  18. “About.”
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Routledge

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Routledge

*Note that Haworth Press was acquired by Taylor & Francis Group in 2007, and former Haworth books are now published by Routledge, a Taylor & Francis Group imprint.

Website: http://www.routledge.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “With reference-led content in specialist subject areas, we are advancing research and enabling knowledge to be discovered and shared.  Together Routledge and CRC Press are the world’s leading academic publisher in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM.”1

“Routledge is a global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources in the humanities and social sciences.” 2

Mission Statement: “We reach around the globe with authoritative coverage of traditional and emerging fields, publishing the pioneering achievements of science and technology to provide professionals and students with the resources they need to make further advances.” 3

Target audience: scholars, instructors, and professional communities worldwide 4

Routledge has a specific Resources for Librarians page detailing catalogs, e-products and online references specifically for libraries, research series, and out of print titles.5

Owner: Taylor & Francis Group.6

Are published books peer reviewed? “All of our books are peer-reviewed at proposal and/or manuscript stage by respected academic specialists who provide independent advice on the content, quality, and potential market for a finished book, and our textbooks are widely researched and reviewed by active teachers in the field.” 7

Types of books published: “Research monographs, textbooks, handbooks/companion books, short form publications.”8

Medium: Print and online.9

“Nearly all our content is published in both print and electronic formats. We generally produce multi-use library books in hardback and books primarily designed for use and purchase by individuals in paperback.” 10

Topics covered: Education, Engineering, Humanities & Media Arts, Medicine, Mental Health, Psychology, Science, and Social Science. 11

Number of titles published per year: “We publish thousands of books and journals each year, serving scholars, instructors, and professional communities worldwide.” 12

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.routledge.com/our-customers/authors/publishing-guidelines

Types of submissions accepted: Proposals for Research monographs, textbooks, handbooks/companion books, short form publications

Submission and review process: First, contact by email the appropriate editorial contact. 13. They will then request a proposal with specific information.

Here is a list of common or probable components of a proposal form to help you start
considering your proposal 14:
• Author/Editor names and affiliations
• Suggested book title (see also Making your work discoverable)
• Book description
• Keywords
• Table of contents
• Chapter abstracts and keywords
• Information about contributors (edited collections)
• Length and schedule
• Illustrations
• Advanced features (e.g. equations, special characters, etc.)
• Status of manuscript (e.g. “idea only” or “complete draft”)
• (CRC Press STEM authors only) Intention to use LaTex
• Breadth of market
• International appeal
• Primary audience
• Secondary audience(s)
• Relevant courses/organizations that may use your book
• Competing and related titles (including pros and cons vs your book)
• Third-party material
• Potential reviewers/referees
• Information on current or potential funding (e.g. for Open Access publication)
• Supporting material (e.g. CV)
• Online resources (textbooks for student audiences only)

“Please email your proposal as a Word document or compatible format) to your Commissioning Editor along with any supporting material (such as your CV). Please only submit your proposal to one editor at a time. If, upon receipt, the editor you have contacted feels it would sit better elsewhere, they will pass it on. Note that draft or sample material is only helpful in support of, but not as a substitute to, a comprehensive proposal form.”  15

Editorial tone: Professional and scholarly, but readable. The books potentially cover a wide audience including a variety of readers.

Style guide used: None specified. The Publication Guidelines lists a word document entitled “Notes for the Copyeditor”, listed under Essential Forms. Within this word document, the author is asked to specify a number of styling choices made in the manuscript. These include specifying punctuation, spelling, reference style, and use of acronyms.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Routledge is now owned by Taylor & Francis, which has a huge LIS audience and is where you can find a lot of print and online reference materials and publications targeted to students, LIS professionals, and academics. This is a prestigious publishing house that puts writers through a rigorous process just to get to publication; and once you’re there, there is the support of editors and the brand behind your finished book.  This is an excellent group to consider proposing for an LIS specific book idea, as ideas can range from the very scholarly studies to more everyday topics that librarians or information professionals should be aware of.

 

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s audience

Size: Routledge is a global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources in the humanities and social sciences. 16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Routledge is operated by Taylor & Francis Group. “As one of the world’s largest publishers, Taylor & Francis maintains offices throughout the world including London, Brighton, and Abingdon in the U.K.; New York, Philadelphia, Florence, Kentucky, and Boca Raton, Florida in the U.S.A.; and Singapore, Australia, China, and India.” 17

“Your book (whether print and/or open access) will be marketed and sold worldwide. We have sales representatives spanning the globe who work with libraries, bookstores, academics, professionals, and third-party retailers to get the word out about your book and a global marketing team who specialise in reaching specific markets.” 18

Reader characteristics: “We are providers of quality information and knowledge that enable our customers to perform their jobs efficiently, enhance their education, and help contribute to the advancement of their chosen market sectors.” 19

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Varying. Most people seeking out Routledge books will most likely be academics, but whether in the LIS field specifically is not a given. However, Routledge readers are knowledgeable and educated, so assume a degree of understanding, and a quick learning curve, when referencing LIS subject matter.

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

The primary readership of Routledge materials includes academics, librarians, and educators interested in new titles pertaining to LIS. This is a group that eagerly awaits new publications, and is notified through a variety of resources when new topics are published. Routledge is dedicated to the promotion of your publications to a wide, eager audience.

Last updated: March 24, 2021


References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. “About,” Routledge.com, accessed March 24, 2021, http://www.routledge.com/info/about
  2. “About.”
  3. “About.”
  4. “About.”
  5. “Librarians,” Routledge.com, accessed January 30, 2018, https://www.routledge.com/our-customers/librarians/resources-and-guides
  6. “About.”
  7. “Authors,” Routledge.com, accessed March 24, 2021,  https://www.routledge.com/our-customers/authors/why-publish-with-us
  8. “Authors.”
  9. “About.”
  10. “Products,” Taylor & Francis Group, accessed March 24, 2021, https://tandfbis.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rt-files/AUTHOR/Guidelines/Products+customers+and+readers.pdf
  11. “Home,” Routledge.com, accessed March 24, 2021, https://www.routledge.com/
  12. “About.”
  13. “Contacts,” Routledge.com, accessed January 30, 2018, http://www.routledge.com/contacts/editorial
  14. “Proposal Guidelines,” Taylor & Francis Group, accessed March 24, 2021, https://tandfbis.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rt-files/AUTHOR/Guidelines/Proposal+guidelines.pdf
  15. “Proposal Guidelines.”
  16. “About.”
  17. “About.”
  18. “Promoting Your Book,” Routledge.com, accessed March 24, 2021, https://www.routledge.com/our-customers/authors/promoting-your-book
  19. “About Taylor & Francis,” Taylor & Francis Group, accessed March 24, 2021, https://taylorandfrancis.com/about/
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Library Juice Press

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Library Juice Press

Website: http://libraryjuicepress.com

Purpose, objective, or mission: Library Juice Press is an imprint of Litwin Books, “specializing in theoretical and practical issues in librarianship from a critical perspective, for an audience of professional librarians and students of library science.” They publish topics such as “library philosophy, information policy, library activism, and in general anything that can be placed under the rubric of ‘critical studies in librarianship.'”1

Target audience: Professional librarians and students of library science. 2

Owner: Litwin Books, LLC. 3

Are published books peer reviewed? “Our book publishing does not currently have a peer review process in place.” 4

Types of books published: LIS-specific books and manuscripts. 

Medium: Print.

Topics covered: Library philosophy, information policy, library activism, and any topics under the rubric of “critical studies in librarianship.” 5

Number of titles published per year: In 2020, Library Juice Press published four titles. 6

Location of submission guidelines: https://litwinbooks.com/authors/

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Types of submissions accepted: The publisher accepts book proposals and full manuscripts on topics that are within its editorial scope.7 

Submission and review process:

If you would like to submit a manuscript, email it as an attached MS Word or RTF file using the appropriate email address below. Please follow the Litwin Books Submission Guidelines in formatting your manuscript. Please also attach 1) your CV, and 2) a separate document stating the intended audience and purpose of the book.

Book proposals should include the following:

  • The title of the proposed book
  • An outline
  • A list of already-published materials that you plan to include
  • Proposed deadline for submission of the final manuscript
  • A description of the book of between 100 and 500 words, stating the book’s subject matter, intended audience, intended purpose, and approach to the topic
  • A description of other works already published on the same topic that yours will be competing with.
  • A list of your prior publications
  • A relevant writing sample
  • Your CV8

Please send general book proposal submissions to inquiries@litwinbooks.com.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies, contact series editor Emily Drabinski, at edrabinski@gc.cuny.edu.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Critical Book, Publishing, and Literacy Studies, contact series editor Robert Montoya, at montoya@gseis.ucla.edu

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Archives, Archivists and Society, contact series editor Richard J. Cox, at rjcox111@comcast.net.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Critical Race Studies and Multiculturalism in LIS, contact series editors Rose L. Chou, at roselovechou@gmail.com or Annie Pho, at anniepho@gmail.com.

For book proposal submissions for the Series on Critical Information Organization in LIS, contact series editors Violet Fox and Kelsey George at CritCat.InclusiveMetadata@gmail.com.

Editorial tone: Academic and professional.

Style guide used: “We do not require the use of a specific style guide. We do require that your chosen style is consistently and correctly applied throughout the work, whether a single authored work or an edited volume.” 9

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Library Juice Press titles focus on theoretical investigations into library activism, social justice, feminist pedagogy, as well as practically oriented books like So You Want to Be a Librarian. The publisher produces serious, in-depth works with alternative perspectives. “Our independence from larger institutions gives us the freedom to offer critical perspectives that cut against the grain, as well as occasionally to give a scholar free rein with a work that is outside their usual publishing stream.” 10

A related and worthwhile opportunity to submit writing that is not book-length is Library Juice’s annual paper contest (2,000 to 10,000 words), which is designed “to encourage and reward good work in the field of library and information studies, humanistically understood, through a monetary award and public recognition.”11 The contest is open to librarians, library students, academics, and others. “Acceptable paper topics cover the full range of topics in the field of library and information studies, loosely defined. Any type of paper may be entered as long as it is not a report of an empirical study. Examples of accepted forms would be literature review essays, analytical essays, historical papers, and personal essays. The work may include some informal primary research, but may not essentially be the report of a study.”12

 

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s audience

Size (as measured by average number of copies per title published): Publishing since 2006, Library Juice Press has approximately 60 published titles. 13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: While the publisher is based in California and books are published in English, recent Library Juice Press titles focus on international perspectives—i.e., academic librarian labor activism in Canada, and librarianship in the context of the Cuban revolution.

Reader characteristics: Readers are interested in content that addresses: social responsibility; information as a public good; intellectual freedom and civil liberties; print culture, web culture, visual culture, and the meaning of literacy; information policy and ethics; and the state of the library profession (issues of identity, work life, and de-professionalization).

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are professional librarians and students of library science who likely have a very strong knowledge of or strong interest in specific LIS subject areas.

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

Library Juice Press originated as a webzine and blog, covering “topics of interest to passionate librarians from a political left perspective that is linked to the fundamental values of the profession.” LIS authors seeking to publish works that are politically oriented or rooted outside the cultural mainstream may potentially find an audience through Library Juice Press.

Last updated: March 1, 2021


References

Show 13 footnotes

  1. “About Us,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, http://litwinbooks.com/about.php.
  2. “About Us.”
  3. “About Us.”
  4. “Policies,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021,  https://litwinbooks.com/our-policies/
  5. “About Us.”
  6. “Books,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, https://litwinbooks.com/publisher/ljp/
  7. “Authors,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, https://litwinbooks.com/authors/
  8. “Authors.”
  9. “Submission Guidelines,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed March 1, 2021, https://litwinbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Litwin-Books-Submission-Guidelines-version-2.0.pdf
  10. “About Us.”
  11. “Library Juice Annual Paper Contest,” Litwin Books, LLC, accessed September 15, 2015, https://litwinbooks.com/grants-and-awards/paper-contest/
  12. “Library Juice Annual Paper Contest.”
  13. “Books.”
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Libraries Unlimited

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Libraries Unlimited

Website: https://products.abc-clio.com/LibrariesUnlimited.aspx

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Libraries Unlimited is committed to supporting the life-long professional development of educators and librarians through every phase of their careers. By librarians, for librarians, Libraries Unlimited believes in cultivating a community where professionals can explore emerging directions and acquire new skills to make your library’s potential truly unlimited.” 1

Target audience: LIS students and professionals.

Owner: ABC-CLIO, LLC. 2

Are published books peer reviewed?  Yes. Libraries Unlimited features an editorial team of ten award winning industry professionals.3

Types of books published: Textbooks, reference works, practical handbooks and professional guides. 4

Medium:  Print and electronic.

Topics covered: Topics are wide ranging—from librarianship philosophy and values to informatics to folklore.

Number of titles published per year: 150 titles were published in 2020, and there are more than 2,000 currently available in both print and electronic formats. 5

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines:  https://www.abc-clio.com/lu-authors/

Types of submissions accepted: Textbooks, reference works, practical handbooks and professional guides.

Submission and review process: 

Before sending your proposal, please email our acquisitions editors to review your ideas. Please provide the following information:

  • Working title
  • Purpose statement: explain the intent of the work, who it is for, and why it is needed
  • Scope statement: describe the work’s specific areas of coverage
  • Objectives: identify the benefits readers will derive from the work
  • Methodology: explain how you will research or compose the work
  • Tentative outline: show how the work will be organized
  • Competition or related works: identify similar titles and how your work will differ
  • Approximate length (in pages or words)
  • Résumé or bio statement: describe why you are qualified to write this book


NOTE:
 Our sample proposal template may help you prepare your materials. Click here to download the Libraries Unlimited proposal memo template.6

Please do not send your proposal to more than one editor. You may send a proposal by email to any of the editors below:

School Library Books
Sharon Coatney, scoatney@abc-clio.com

Public and Academic Library Books
Jessica Gribble, jgribble@abc-clio.com

Digital Publishing and General Inquiries
David Paige, dpaige@abc-clio.com

Libraries Unlimited has a dedicated team of experienced editors with years in the publishing field. An exact review process is unknown, but if your proposal is approved, editors will be with you every step of the way as your proposal becomes a manuscript and, in turn, a book.7

Editorial tone: Professional.

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Libraries Unlimited may be a good fit for potential authors who have written extensively and have been published before. LU publishes longer works, such as reference books and textbooks, so they may be a good outlet for authors with heftier projects in the works.

 

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s audience

Size (as measured by average number of copies per title published)Libraries Unlimited is a larger publishing house, with over 2,000 titles currently available.8

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readers of Libraries Unlimited texts are English speakers, primarily in the United States.

Reader characteristics: Considering the company motto is “For librarians, by librarians”, it can be assumed that readers are LIS students and professionals with a working knowledge in the field. They will interested in any and all subject fields related to LIS.  “Libraries Unlimited’s standing as a publisher in library and information science is unmatched. From our preeminent LIS textbook line, to cutting-edge professional development books for practitioners and classic library reference tools, our books and authors are leaders in the field.” 9

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Strong.

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

Readers of Libraries Unlimited texts are looking to learn about cutting edge trends and acquire new skills, so potential authors with relevant new research and book ideas may find a good fit with this publisher.

Last updated: March 1, 2021


References

Show 9 footnotes

  1. “Home,” ABC-CLIO.com, accessed March 1, 2021, https://products.abc-clio.com/LibrariesUnlimited.aspx
  2. “About,” ABC-CLIO.com, accessed March 1, 2021, https://products.abc-clio.com/LibrariesUnlimited/About/AboutLU.aspx
  3. “About.”
  4. “About.”
  5. “Product Search,” ABC-CLIO.com, accessed March 1, 2021, https://products.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/SearchResults.aspx
  6. “Authors,” ABC-CLIO.com, accessed March 1, 2021, https://www.abc-clio.com/lu-authors/
  7. “Authors.”
  8. “Product Search.”
  9. “Authors.”
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Facet Publishing

 

Publisher analysis


About the publisher

Name: Facet Publishing

Website: http://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Facet Publishing is “Facet Publishing, the commercial publishing and bookselling arm of CILIP: the library and information association, is the leading publisher of books for library, information and heritage professionals worldwide.” 1

Target audience: “We publish a range of titles for practitioners, researchers and students with authorship from some of the leading minds in the field.” 2

Owner: CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. 3

Are published books peer reviewed?  “All new book proposals undergo a full single blind peer review process in order to fully evaluate and develop the content we commission.” 4

Types of books published: LIS professional books, textbooks, series and eBooks.

Medium: Print and electronic, though not all titles are available in both formats.

Topics covered: Over thirty LIS subjects are published by Facet, including subject headings such as Archives, e-Learning, Research Data Management, and Copyright, Information Law, and Ethics. 5

Number of titles published per year: According to Facet Publishing’s 2020-2021 Catalogue, they published almost 20 new products in 2020 and will be publishing another 11 in 2021, along with numerous new editions of older works. 6

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/page/authors/ 

Types of submissions accepted: “We welcome new book proposals for textbooks, professional books and monographs in LIS, knowledge management, data science, archives, cultural heritage and digital humanities.” 7

Submission and review process: Click HERE to go to the Authors Resources page, where you can download “Book Proposal Form”. You will need to complete the form as completely as possible, including details about the book, intended audience, subject areas, and a biography.  Send completed form to: info@facetpublishing.co.uk

Editorial tone: None listed, but consider that Facet publishes for students and professionals already well versed in the LIS field.

Style guide used: Use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), 16th edition, as your primary style guide. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html

Click this link to find style guide information: How to Supply your Book to Facet Publishing

Style tips

  • Abbreviations & Acronyms: spell out the full name at first use, followed by the
    acronym/abbreviation in parentheses. Thereafter, the acronym/abbreviation
    will suffice. Do not begin a sentence with an acronym/abbreviation.
    i.e. and e.g. should not be followed by a comma.
  • Apostrophes: Master’s not Masters.
  • Symbols: Ampersands (&) may be used in company names and are correct in
    some journals but should not be used in running text.
  • Percentages: use the % symbol.
  • Bulleted/Numbered lists: bulleted lists are used for short points and do not
    require punctuation at the end of each line. Ensure the list agrees grammatically
    with the preceding sentence. Consider numbered lists for longer points.
  • Capitalisation: use initial capitals for proper nouns only. It is not necessary to
    capitalise ‘library’ and ‘librarian’ unless a particular library or librarian is referred
    to, e.g. Bodley’s Librarian or The London Library.
  • Quotations: use single quotation marks, with double quotation marks for
    quotations within quotations. Quotations of more than 60 words should start
    on a new line and be indented. Do not alter quotations to house style.
    Reference to appear at the end of the quote in brackets: (Smith, 1998).
  • Numbers: use words for numbers one to ten and figures thereafter.
  • Dates: 9 March 2016; tenth century; 21st century; 1981–5 but 1914–18; 1990s.
  • Punctuation: no punctuation at the end of subheadings, figure captions or
    table captions. No oxford comma before final ‘and’ or ‘or’ in lists.
  • UK ‘s’ spellings: ‘ise’

Bibliographic references (for more information see our Guide to Referencing)

  • Chicago ‘Author Date’ style is preferred. We also accept Harvard style. If you
    wish to use any other style please discuss this with your commissioning editor.
  • Footnotes should not be used. Notes should be collated at book-end for
    monographs and chapter-end for contributed volumes.
  • In-text references: the author’s name, date of publication (and page reference
    if necessary) should be given in the text e.g. (Smith, 1998, 34–8).
  • List of references: references should be organised alphabetically by author’s
    surname at the end of a monograph before the index, or at the end of each
    chapter in a contributed volume. 8

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Facet publishes across a wide array of LIS topics, making them a publisher to strongly consider no matter what your subject field may be. Potential authors should keep in mind that Facet requests very detailed information from each book proposal, so authors should have a clear idea of their marketability and relevance. Authors should be sure to carefully read the book submission guidelines to ensure that all questions have been addressed.

 

Audience analysis


About the publisher’s readers

Publication circulation: Based in the United Kingdom, but Facet has agents and representatives around the world. “Our business has a long-standing global profile. We market and sell books all over the world and the Facet brand is recognised as the home of quality content for the information professions.” 9

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Facet is the bookseller for CILIP, a library and science information association in the U.K., though they emphasize that their publications extend into the international LIS world. They have representatives and agents in countries all over the world, making publications available to a world wide audience.

Reader characteristics: Readers of Facet publications are information professionals. Facet’s bestselling publications include titles such as Managing Records: A handbook of principles and practice and Practical Cataloging, so it can be assumed that their readers have more than a casual knowledge of LIS subject matter.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are students, academics and professionals with a strong knowledge or strong interest in LIS subject matter.

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

Facet publishes for an audience in and outside of the United Kingdom. Their works range from LIS textbooks to simple ‘No-nonsense’ guides about topics such as archives and legal issues in Web 2.0, showing that Facet’s readers vary in their knowledge on contemporary LIS topics. This span in readership could make Facet a viable publisher for potential authors across many different subjects.

Last updated: March 1, 2021


References

Show 9 footnotes

  1. “About Us,” FacetPublishing.co.uk, accessed March 1, 2021, https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/page/about-us/
  2. “About Us.”
  3. “About Us.”
  4. “About Us.”
  5. “Home,” FacetPublishing.co.uk, accessed March 1, 2021, http://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/
  6. “2020-2021 Catalogue,” FacetPublishing.co.uk, accessed March 1, 2021, https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/resources/pdfs/catalogues/Facet%20Publishing%20catalogue%202021.pdf
  7. “2020-2021 Catalogue.”
  8. “Styling.”, FacetPublishing.co.uk, accessed March 1, 2021, https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/resources/Author%20Resources/How%20to%20Supply%20your%20Book%20to%20Facet%20Publishing.pdf
  9. “About Us.”
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McSweeney’s Internet Tendency

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: McSweeney’s Internet Tendency

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/

Purpose, objective, or mission: A daily humor website, “McSweeney’s exists to champion ambitious and inspired new writing, and to challenge conventional expectations about where it’s found, how it looks, and who participates. We’re here to discover things we love, help them find their most resplendent form, and imagine new ways to bring them to you, Dennis. (If you are not Dennis, kindly ignore the aforementioned.)” 1

“McSweeney’s, however, delivers its humor in a high-brow lit mag sort of way. It’s a place where you can simultaneously experience the comic satisfaction of watching a great sitcom and the glorious smugness of reading a New Yorker think piece.” 2

Target audience: Individuals who enjoy humor/satire  in writing.

Publisher: McSweeney’s Publishing. 3

Peer reviewed? No. 4

Type: Civilian publication

Medium: Website and e-newsletter.

Content: Content is intended to be humorous/satire.  “The thing we are most proud of is that for many of our contributors, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency is the only place they’ve ever published publicly. At some point, something funny or odd occurred to them – a list, a new food review, a short imagined monologue – and they had a place to put that funny and odd thing in order to share it with the world, a private joke made public.” 5

Frequency of publication: Daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/guidelines-for-web-submissions

Types of contributions accepted: All types of submissions are allowed. Lists, open letters to people who are unlikely to respond, monologues, food reviews, etc. “Submissions should be shortish. By shortish we mean an absolute maximum of 1,200 words, but in truth we veer toward pieces that are under 1,000 words, and snuggle closest to ones that are even shorter than that. Your subject line should contain some indicator of what is contained in your submission.” 6

Submission and review process: There are separate email addresses depending on the nature of your submission. The website notes DO NOT send the same submission to multiple addresses, it is unnecessary as it all goes to the same editor. Please paste the entire document into the email message. Please don’t share Google docs or links to your private blogs. Also, very important: do not send us attachments. 7

General website submissions should be sent to websubmissions@mcsweeneys.net.

Timely submissions should be sent to timelysubmissions@mcsweeneys.net. This inbox is for super topical pieces riffing on big news stories of the last 24-48 hours.

Lists submissions should be sent to lists@mcsweeneys.net.

Open Letters to People or Entities Who Are Unlikely to Respond submissions should be sent to openletters@mcsweeneys.net.

Reviews of New Food submissions should be sent to newfood@mcsweeneys.net.

“We get hundreds of submissions a week and, like we have mentioned, there’s just one editor reading them all. So, it’s only natural that this editor will be drawn to submissions with funny, eye-catching titles that cleverly reveal the premises of pieces.” 8

Editorial tone: Light and comedic/satirical

Style guide used: None Specified. “Please do not format your piece in an unusual way. Do not use colors or fun fonts.” 9

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LIS authors may have as good a chance as anyone for getting a submission accepted in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Their whole publication process seems to be highly informal, but the quality is certainly on par with journals that have higher subscription/circulation rates. An exploration of McSweeney’s multiple related websites is a must to see if your writing project is a match for their style. LIS authors might contribute a fiction or nonfiction piece inspired by their experience as library professionals, keeping in mind that the purpose of such pieces should ultimately be to entertain the reader, rather than function as straightforward articles on an LIS-related issue.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “The Tendency’s biggest hits have gotten millions of pageviews, and many stories do well, reaching tens of thousands.” 10 The website has a social media following of over 180,000 on Facebook, over 274,000 on Twitter, and over 48,000 followers on Instagram.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The publication first started in San Francisco, CA, but coverage geographically spans the globe. Content is published in English.

Reader characteristics: While no information regarding reader demographics is provided, a review of publication suggests readers are intelligent, open minded, literary, and comfortable thinking outside of the box, especially in a satirical way.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Limited, the same as the general public.

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

With this publications, LIS authors have an opportunity to engage with readers from a fun, satirical viewpoint, one not typically taken for LIS. While the readership may enjoy high brow humor, there is the potential to address LIS trends, barriers, ethics, and beyond as long as it comes with a comedic edge. The key is to be creative in approach. With shorter word limits, LIS authors can convey concepts in small, precise ways that do not need to meet  academic-level research and review standards.

Last updated: December 5, 2020


References

Show 10 footnotes

  1. “About Us,” McSweeneys.net, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/about-us
  2. “McSweeney’s,” ndsmcobserver.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://ndsmcobserver.com/2016/11/mcsweeneys-internet-tendency-dont-worry-not-bottomless-pit-procrastinatory-doom/
  3. “About Us.”
  4. “Submission Guidelines,” McSweeneys.net, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/guidelines-for-web-submissions
  5. “Patreon,” McSweeneys.net, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.patreon.com/mcsweeneysinternettendency
  6. “Submission Guidelines.”
  7. “Submission Guidelines.”
  8. “Submission Guidelines.”
  9. “Submission Guidelines.”
  10. “McSweeney’s Meets Internet,” NiemanLab.org, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.niemanlab.org/2016/07/mcsweeneys-meets-internet-a-little-publisher-survives-holding-tight-to-its-eclectic-literary-roots/
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Los Angeles Times

**Please Excuse the Mess, Profile Update in Progress**

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Los Angeles Times (LA Times)

ISSN: 0458-3035 1

Purpose, objective, or mission:The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 138 years.”2

“Bringing truth to power through creative storytelling, original reporting and accountability journalism that impacts lives and pushes change.” 3

Website: http://www.latimes.com/

Target audience: Residents of Southern California and beyond. “Millennials, Gen X, Multicultural Influencers, Affluent Consumers, Families and Parents, Boomers.” 4

Publisher: Los Angeles Times Media Group.5

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Print and online. Archives are available online from the founding of the paper in 1881.6

Content: News reports, investigative journalism, editorials, reviews, and various columns. The website’s sections include news at the Local, Nation, World level, as well as Business, Climate & Environment, Entertainment & Arts, Food, Housing & Homeless, Lifestyle, Opinion, Politics, Science, Sports, and Travel. Several more options can be found viewing the Site Map. 7 Of interest to LIS writers, there is a special Books sub-section under Entertainment, including fiction and nonfiction book reviews and features.

Frequency of publication: Daily. 8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.latimes.com/oe-howtosubmitoped-story.html

Types of contributions accepted: Op-ed articles are welcome on any subject. Per the website, “Most articles are about 750 words in length, though some are shorter, and on Sundays we can sometimes run pieces as long as 1,200 words 9 For more information on op-ed pieces, see former editor Nicholas Goldberg’s explanation of op-ed processes and goals. 10

Letters to the Editor are another option if you wish to respond to anything already published. They are limited to 150 words. 11

Blowback, is another opportunity to publish within the Times. “Got a beef with the L.A. Times? Read something in the paper that really ticked you off, but haven’t got a place to make your opinion heard? Want to write an article about it and get it into The Times? Blowback is The Times’ forum for full-length responses to our articles, editorials and Op-Eds. It is the missing link between the 150-word letter to the editor and the Op-Ed piece, and you’re invited to participate. We’re willing to post Blowback items on both news and opinion pieces, but our focus is on opinion. The idea is to present countering opinions, not to provide a forum for pointing out errors or critiquing bias in the Times’ news coverage.12

Submission and review process:  Op-Ed articles: Email op-ed submissions to oped@latimes.com. We make every effort to read manuscripts promptly. If the article is accepted for publication, you will hear from a Times editor within five days. We regret that the volume of submissions we receive means that we cannot respond individually to each article, nor can we provide feedback to proposals or queries. 13

Letters to the Editor: Complete the form located here . “We generally do not publish more than one letter from a single person within any 60-day period. Letters become the property of The Times and may be republished in any format. They typically run 150 words or less and may be edited. You will be contacted if your letter is a candidate for publication.” 14

Blowback: Email Blowback submissions to blowback@latimes.com. 15

Editorial tone: Journalistic.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Los Angeles Times is read by a general audience (not necessarily confined to Southern California) who wants to be ahead of the local and world news. Op-ed pieces about new digital collections, expanded library services, or opening of a new library branch would benefit LIS authors. You might also consider submitting a press release or event listing regarding a library event.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The Los Angeles Times is “the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 1.3 million and 2 million on Sunday, more than 30 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly and a combined print and online local weekly audience of 4.6 million.” 16

According to their current media kit, The Times has 46 Million unique visitors, 90 Million page views, 7 Million+ social followers, 332,000 monthly shares on Apple News, 845,000 video views, 4.4 Million weekly print + digital readers in Los Angeles, 2.9 million weekly print readers, 1.8 million Sunday print readers, and 1.2 Million daily print readers. 17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Los Angeles Times is regional to Southern California, but it’s journalism and reporting covers content on a global scale. While printed in English, Los Angeles Times En Español is also available.

Reader characteristics: “We reach distinct, affluent and diverse audiences of multiple generations, demographics, preferences and interests.” 18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Being a lay publication, Los Angeles Times will require LIS jargon-free contributions. While readers may be familiar with library issues, like Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) and Dewey call numbers, generally authors should avoid writing on heavily specialized library topics such as OpenURL link resolver software technology or collection management.

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

The newspaper’s readers are spread all over the world. They are everyday patrons and potential donors, suggesting they may wish to keep their submissions LIS jargon free and stay away from highly specialized topics. There is potential for publishing on a myriad of topics through the Op-Ed avenue that may be of interest to readers.

Last updated: December 5, 2020


References

Show 18 footnotes

  1. Los Angeles Times, WorldCat.org, accessed March 24, 2018, https://www.worldcat.org/title/los-angeles-times/oclc/474112039
  2. “About,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, https://www.latimes.com/about
  3. “Media Kit,” LATimes.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://mediakit.latimes.com/
  4. “Media Kit.”
  5. “About.”
  6. “Archives,” LATimes.com, accessed October 23, 2018, https://latimes.newspapers.com/
  7. “Site Map,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/about/la-sitemap-htmlstory.html
  8. “About Us.”
  9. “Submitting an article to Op-Ed,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/oe-howtosubmitoped-story.html
  10. “Op-Ed, Explained,” LATimes.com, accessed October 3, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/news/la-oe-pages23oct23-story.html
  11. “Submitting an article to Op-Ed.”
  12. “About Blowback,” LATimes.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-op-blowback-about-story.html
  13. “Submitting an article to Op-Ed.”
  14. “Submit a letter to the Editor,” LATimes.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/submit-letter-to-the-editor
  15. “About Blowback.”
  16. “About.”
  17. “Media Kit.”
  18. “Media Kit.”
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Mental Floss

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Mental Floss

ISSN: Print: 1543-4702 (ceased), Online: N/A 1

Website: http://www.mentalfloss.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Whether we’re covering history, science, pop culture, language, music, true crime, or entertainment, we help our audience feel smarter. Our New York City-based team of editors and writers—as well as our worldwide network of contributors—answers life’s big questions, uncovers fascinating facts, and finds stories so interesting that our readers absolutely must share them.”2

Mental Floss delivers smart, fun and shareable content in an upbeat and witty environment. An encyclopedia of everything, we answer life’s big questions and uncover stories so interesting our readers absolutely must share them. We take all culture and make it pop culture.” 3

Target audience: “Curious People.” 4

Publisher: Minute Media. 5

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian publication.

Medium: Online. Print issues ceased in 2016. 6

Content: Fun and informative pieces on a wide variety of subjects with a focus on shareability.7

Frequency of publication: Daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625670/how-to-pitch-mental-floss

Types of contributions accepted: “We’re always looking for new voices to write about the diverse verticals we cover, whether that’s history, science, entertainment, language, pop culture, art, or beyond.” 8

PITCHES WE CAN USE 9
Lists

Lists are an overview of a topic in digestible-nugget form. Each list will cover the who, what, when, and where of the subject, plus its significance, and pay particular attention to quirky or little-known facts about the subject. Pitches may focus on the below topics:

Subjects that have a major anniversary coming up
Historical figures and events
Movies and TV series
Music
Literature and art
Language
Food and drink
Helpful tips and life hacks
Scientific discoveries, phenomena, and figures
Pop culture fads, events, and personalities

Features

Features are reported stories that delve into a topic from a particular angle and with strong characters and storytelling. Features can be short (500 words) or longer (800-1500 words). Areas ripe for features include:

Historical events that put current events into perspective
Exploring and/or answering a big question
Science stories that explain a new field of research or highlight a scientist’s ongoing work
A deep dive into a pop culture event or phenomenon in history
True crime and unsolved mysteries
Features about odd, unique, or little-known historical events and people

PITCHES WE CAN’T USE 10
Short, timely news stories: these pieces are covered by our staff writers
Science articles based on a single study: these are also covered by staff writers
First-person articles or personal essays
Fiction, memoir, or poetry
Current politics or political opinion
Stories based solely on PR pitches

Tips provided by Mental Floss: Keep your pitch short (1-2 paragraphs) and let them know if you have a particular expertise on the subject. Include a link to your portfolio/work samples. Do not pitch or send completed articles.  Take the time to brainstorm a possible headline for your story, and include that as part of the subject line, i.e. Freelance Pitch: 50 Amazing Facts About Animals. Having a headline can help us better understand the angle you plan to use with your story. 11

Submission and review process: “Expect a response to your pitch within two weeks. If you do not receive a response after two weeks, you can assume it’s a pass. Due to the number of pitches we receive each day, we are unfortunately not able to respond to every pitch we receive.” 12

Editorial tone: Informal and conversational. Witty, humorous, and informative.

Style guide used: None stated.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This would be an excellent publication for LIS authors. Librarians are knowledge and information brokers and are often referred to as Renaissance people because of their vast array of knowledge. This type of website caters to that deep storehouse of information. And this website in particular might provide a nice respite from the regular scholarly articlesa way to showcase not only your knowledge but your sense of humor.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Since its founding in a Duke University dorm room in 2001, Mental Floss has reached more than 1 billion readers with smart, quirky content presented in a witty, upbeat voice. We reach more than 19 million users per month across our site, social media accounts, and popular YouTube channel.” 13

According to Visitor’s Worth website, Mental Floss has approximately 58,000 daily visitors, with 154,000 daily page views. 14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: According to Visitor’s Worth website, the most traffic for the publication comes from audiences in the United States, but the website also has a following in the UK, Canada, India, and Germany. 15 The website publishes in the English language.

Reader characteristics: In general, readers want to expand their knowledge in easily digested tidbits without having to read a whole book on a subject. For example, a past issue boiled down complex theories such as chaos theory, string theory, evolution, game theory, and artificial intelligence into one-to-two-page summaries that mix facts with wit and humor. There are no particular biases in the readership of this publication, except a propensity for trivia and Jeopardy-like knowledge.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers’ LIS knowledge would vary depending on their interest and work environment. It would be safe to assume a number of librarians read and enjoy this publication, but as the focus is on providing intelligent, humorous articles, use of LIS jargon should be avoided.

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

Potential authors should keep in mind that readers already have a vast amount of information and wish to add to that knowledge in an enjoyable way. When writing articles for this publication, try to mix education with entertainment. No topic is off limits if you can approach it with new or interesting information presented in a fun way.

Last updated: December 5, 2020


References

Show 15 footnotes

  1. Mental Floss, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed December 5, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521935574828/407043
  2. “About Us,” mentalfloss.com, accessed December 5, 2020, http://mentalfloss.com/about-us
  3. “Mental Floss,” MinuteMedia.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.minutemedia.com/mentalfloss
  4. “About Us.”
  5. “Mental Floss.”
  6. “Life After Print for Mental Floss,” FolioMag.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.foliomag.com/life-after-print-for-mental-floss/
  7. “About Us”
  8. “Pitch,” MentalFloss.com, accessed December 5, 2020, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625670/how-to-pitch-mental-floss
  9. “Pitch.”
  10. “Pitch.”
  11. “Pitch.”
  12. “Pitch.”
  13. “About Us.”
  14. “www.mentalfloss.com,” VisitorsWorth.com, accessed December 5, 2020,  http://visitorsworth.com/www.mentalfloss.com
  15. “www.mentalfloss.com.”
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BayNet Newsletter

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: BayNet Newsletter

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://baynetlibs.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The BayNet Newsletter gives members of the San Francisco Bay Area Library and Information Network (BayNet) a place to share their news with other members of the organization. BayNet is a multidisciplinary library association dedicated to bringing together librarians, archivists, and information professionals from all over the Bay Area so they can share and learn from each other.

Target audience: LIS professionals in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

Publisher: San Francisco Bay Area Library and Information Network.

Peer reviewed? No. “The editor reserves the right to make editorial revisions, deletions, or additions that, in their opinion, supports the author’s intent. When changes are substantial, every effort is made to work with the author.” This applies to both article blog posts and newsletter submissions.1

Type: LIS professional or trade publication.

Medium: Online newsletter + blog.

Content: BayNet’s site contains job notices, relevant news, events and more. See ‘Types of contributions accepted’ below for more information from the editor on what the newsletter contains.

Frequency of publication: New posts added multiple times a week; BayNet’s newsletter is published quarterly.2

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelineshttp://baynetlibs.org/news/submission-guidelines/

Types of contributions accepted: “Informal but informative blog posts relevant to the interests of BayNet Members with a focus on interdisciplinary communication. News articles should be factual and inviting, preferably concerning the institution with which the author is affiliated. Opinion pieces should be well researched, and professional with an emphasis on sharing knowledge with fellow professionals of related professions. Links to relevant information is encouraged.”3

Submission and review process: “Electronic submissions are preferred. Submissions should be sent to baynetlibs@gmail.com with the phrase “BayNet News Submission” in the subject line.”4

Editorial tone: Informal but informative.

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

BayNet may be a good outlet for LIS authors in the area who have recent news or information pertinent to the Bay Area and beyond–events are especially welcome. Articles are relevant to the area but not necessarily limited to Bay Area residents.

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Anyone can join BayNet’s mailing list. In addition to the website and newsletter, there is also a Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Listserv that readers can access.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readership is geared towards LIS professionals in the San Francisco Bay area of California. Articles are written in English.

Reader characteristics: BayNet is a place for networking, sharing information, and fostering connections, so it can be assumed that readers are professionals in the field interested in the latest LIS news for the Bay Area.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Feel free to include your LIS jargon–readers are professionals working in the field across all aspects of librarianship.

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

BayNet newsletter is read by professionals across all LIS fields. Readers are eager to hear about Bay Area events and the latest information that is relevant to their jobs.


References

Show 4 footnotes

  1. “Submission Guidelines,” BayNetLibs.org, accessed May 01, 2020, https://baynetlibs.org/news/submission-guidelines/
  2. “Submission Guidelines,” BayNetLibs.org, accessed May 01, 2020, https://baynetlibs.org/news/submission-guidelines/
  3. “Submission Guidelines,” BayNetLibs.org, accessed May 01, 2020, https://baynetlibs.org/news/submission-guidelines/
  4. “Submission Guidelines,” BayNetLibs.org, accessed May 01, 2020, https://baynetlibs.org/news/submission-guidelines/
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