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Technical Services Quarterly

By on March 21, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Technical Services Quarterly

ISSN: 0731-7131 (print), 1555-3337 (online)

Website: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wtsq20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: Technical Services Quarterly is “dedicated to providing a forum for the presentation of current developments and future trends concerning the technical operations of libraries and information centers.” Its purpose is to keep readers informed of developments and research and “practical implementation of systems and applications of traditional and non-traditional technical services and the public operations they influence and sustain.”1

Target audience: LIS professionals, particularly those who are involved with the technical operations of libraries and information centers.

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.2

Peer reviewed? Yes.3

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.4

Content: Technical Services Quarterly publishes original articles on research, theory, and implementation of all aspects of technical services in library and information centers. Regular columns include Technical Services Report, Tech Services on the Web, Reviews (of software and books), and Trending Tech Services.5

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.6

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for Authors.

Types of contributions accepted: Technical Services Quarterly “accepts original research, theoretical, and implementation articles pertaining to technical services, automation, networking, document delivery, information technology, library instruction and information literacy, reference and bibliography, case studies, cost analysis, staffing, space, organizational behavior and leadership, and collection development and management.”7 The journal advises authors to include a literature review and provides a link to guidelines.8

Submission and review process: Technical Services Quarterly uses Routledge’s Submission Portal to manage manuscripts. Manuscripts “undergo editorial screening and peer review by anonymous reviewers.”9 Taylor & Francis provides an Author Services website that gives a helpful overview of the publishing process.10

Editorial tone: This is a scholarly journal dealing with technical aspects of LIS geared toward professional technical operations of a library. As such, articles are technical and scholarly in tone. LIS-specific terms are used with the underlying assumption that the reader is familiar with them. While the language and tone are technical and scholarly, articles must also be interesting and readable.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition.11

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Technical Services Quarterly is geared towards LIS professionals, especially those whose interests lie in the technical operations of libraries. For authors and researchers whose manuscripts are geared toward current and future trends in collection methods, technical services, OCLC, metadata, document delivery, among other subjects, this journal is ideal for submission. Articles have addressed interlibrary loan, ebook cataloging and management, low-cost textbooks, and technology-specific studies and reviews; there is a wide variety of librarian roles represented.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This is a print and online journal published in the United States. Although it does have appeal for international librarians due to its technical nature, Technical Services Quarterly is geared toward American libraries and uses American English. Editorial board members are from U.S. universities and libraries.12

Reader characteristics: This journal is geared toward LIS professionals in the technical field who are interested in the latest trends.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are most likely to be LIS professionals and, given the technical nature of this journal, will be highly knowledgeable of LIS terminology and practice.

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

Readers of Technical Services Quarterly are LIS professionals who are highly interested in the latest technical information and research. Readers are interested in cutting-edge technology and how it is being implemented in libraries and information centers. Writers who follow trends and understand how the technology of libraries is evolving would be the best bet for this journal.

Last updated: March 21, 2018

References

Show 12 footnotes

  1. “Aims and Scope,” Technical Services Quarterly, accessed March 21, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wtsq20. ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  3. “Instructions for Authors,” Technical Services Quarterly, accessed March 21, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=wtsq20&page=instructions. ↩
  4. “Journal Information,” Technical Services Quarterly, accessed March 21, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wtsq20. ↩
  5. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  6. “Journal Information.” ↩
  7. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  8. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  9. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  10. “Author Services,” taylorandfrancis.com, accessed March 21, 2018, https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/. ↩
  11. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  12. “Editorial Board,” Technical Services Quarterly, accessed March 21, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=wtsq20. ↩
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Teacher Librarian

By on March 19, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals

ISSN: 1481-1782

Website: http://www.teacherlibrarian.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Teacher Librarian “is one of the leading journals designed specifically for librarians working with K-12 students” as well as classroom teachers and administrators. “The name Teacher Librarian reflects the journal’s focus on the essential role of the school librarian, or ‘teacher-librarian,’ as educator, a partner and collaborator with classroom teachers, school administrators, and others.”1

Target audience: Librarians and other information professionals, classroom teachers, and administrators working in K-12 schools.2

Publisher: E L Kurdyla Publishing.3

Peer reviewed? Yes, as appropriate to the article.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: Teacher Librarian “publishes several major articles in each issue which deal with major topics of current interest as well as articles addressing the very foundation of teacher-librarianship.”6 Articles address a broad spectrum of topics, including Future Ready Libraries, inquiry, equity, leadership, open educational resources, cultural responsiveness, project-based learning, advocacy, digital citizenship, STEM and STEAM, and school library design.7 Regular sections include app and website reviews; advocacy; technology and PC issues; education and library product reviews; library resources management; reviews of new books, videos, and software for children and young adults; and Internet resources.8

Frequency of publication: Five times per year: February, April, June, October, and December.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Author Guidelines.

Types of contributions accepted: Teacher Librarian accepts articles on a broad range of topics; among the most popular are “learning commons, digital and multiple literacies, reading, professional collaboration, professional development, teaching and curriculum ideas, and makerspaces” in the context of the K-12 school library. Authors may submit proposals for articles to the editors.10 The journal accepts manuscripts that are based on research, personal experience, and practice; the column Tips & Tactics features “information that can be easily transferred to practice on a daily basis.”11

Submission and review process: Submit manuscripts as an email attachment, preferably in Word, to the editors. As appropriate, proposed articles are blind reviewed “by at least two members of the Teacher Librarian peer review board, all of whom are either scholars or recognized professionals.” The editors make the final decisions on manuscripts and reserve the right “to edit for brevity, clarity and consistency of style.”12

Editorial tone: The tone of the articles ranges from scholarly, but not overly formal, to casual and informative, depending on the article type.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This is an especially good journal for LIS students interested in K-12 school librarianship and the current topics that affect the field. The journal publishes both research- and practice-based articles, under a wide range of topics that are of interest to those working in the schools, so LIS writers have a choice on the type of articles they would like to submit, as long as the guidelines are followed. Potential writers can also submit proposals to the editors to make sure the topic falls within the journal’s scope.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Teacher Librarian has about 2,750 subscribers.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The readers of Teacher Librarian are mostly located in the United States and Canada, and the journal focuses on North American school libraries, although many of the issues discussed can apply to school libraries in other regions. The advisory board is made up of professionals from a range of school types from the United States, Canada, and Australia.15 Authors should not have any problems using cultural references or jargon common in schools, although regional terms and usages may need explanation.

Reader characteristics: This journal is designed specifically for library professionals, school administrators, and classroom teachers working with children and young adults in the K-12 schools. Readers expect both research-based articles and articles that have clear guidelines for immediate, practical implementation in school libraries. Readers also expect helpful reviews on new materials and articles that explore up-and-coming trends in the field of school librarianship. Teacher Librarian does not look like a “typical” scholarly journal in that it is colorful and features photos and graphics.

Readers’ knowledge of LIS subject matter: The readers of this journal range from librarians with MLIS degrees, to library professionals without a master’s, to school administrators and classroom teachers.16 Some readers may be less familiar with library jargon, and so explanations may be warranted. Most readers will be familiar with the terminology and concepts of K-12 education.

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

Readers of Teacher Librarian are library professionals who are working with K-12 students. These professionals are looking for articles that present strategies to better manage library resources for students, or articles that review education- and library-related materials. The readers need to be kept up to date on the latest happenings in information technology, as well as resources that can be found on the Internet. Collection development is a large part of the duties of the teacher librarian, so reliable reviews of new books and other media is of great interest. Articles on collaboration, leadership, advocacy, management, or any aspect of information technology in the K-12 schools would also appeal to this group.

Last updated: March 19, 2018

References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “About,” teacherlibrarian.com, accessed March 19, 2018, http://teacherlibrarian.com/about-2/. ↩
  2. “About.” ↩
  3. Frontpiece, Teacher Librarian 45, no. 3 (February 2018): 6. ↩
  4. “Author Guidelines,” teacherlibrarian.com, accessed March 19, 2018, http://teacherlibrarian.com/submissions/author-guidelines/. ↩
  5. “Subscribe,” teacherlibrarian.com, accessed March 19, 2018, http://teacherlibrarian.com/subscribe/. ↩
  6. “About.” ↩
  7. “2018 Media Kit,” teacherlibrarian.com, accessed March 19, 2018, http://teacherlibrarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TELI2018-mediakit_web.pdf. ↩
  8. “About.” ↩
  9. “Subscribe.” ↩
  10. “Submissions,” teacherlibrarian.com, accessed March 19, 2018, http://teacherlibrarian.com/submissions/. ↩
  11. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  12. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  13. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  14.  “2018 Media Kit.” ↩
  15. “Advisory Board,” teacherlibrarian.com, accessed March 19, 2018, http://teacherlibrarian.com/about-2/advisory-board/. ↩
  16. “About.” ↩
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The Serials Librarian

By on March 14, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Serials Librarian: From the Printed Page to the Digital Age

ISSN: 0361-526X (print), 1541-1095 (online)

Website: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wser20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: The Serials Librarian “is an international journal focusing on the management of electronic and print serials and other subscription resources (ebooks, monographic series, databases).”1

Target audience: Librarians, library staff members, LIS students, and non-LIS professionals  involved in the “serials/scholarly resources information chain.”2

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.3

Peer reviewed? Yes.

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.4

Content: The Serials Librarian publishes theoretical and practical articles and case studies addressing “the full life cycle of scholarly resources, ranging from publishing and purchase to usage analysis and deselection.” Articles can range from fundamental to tertiary topics, such as “peer review, cataloging, resource discovery or consortial developments.”5 Besides Articles and Case Studies, regular sections include Spotlight on Serials Standards, Uncommon Conversations, The Business of Serials, and Gleanings from the Whirl. The Voices of the Future section features articles by LIS graduate students or recent graduates. North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) conference proceedings are published every other year as a single volume.6

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for Authors.

Types of contributions accepted: The Serials Librarian provides “a forum for discussion and innovation throughout the serials/scholarly resources information chain, and accepts contributions from librarians, publishers, database creators, subscription agents, technology providers and others who provide content to library users.” It publishes practical and theoretical research and scholarship on a wide range of topics that focus on the “management of electronic and print serials and other subscription resources (ebooks, monographic series, databases).”7 As indicated by the regular sections, the journal publishes a wide range of types of articles on all aspects of serials management.

Submission and review process: The Serials Librarian uses ScholarOne Manuscripts to manage submissions and the peer review process.8 Taylor & Francis provides an Author Services website with instructions for submitting manuscripts and an overview of the process.9

Editorial tone: Scholarly, but sometimes less formal depending on the section.

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style.10

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Serials Librarian is an international journal with strong academic content — research, case studies, and reports from all types of libraries from all over the world.  The journal welcomes LIS authors and librarians but also non-LIS contributors who provide expertise on serials and subscription resources from a different perspective.11 This journal is for LIS authors who have conducted research or scholarship in serials management and who can communicate both the particulars of their work and its broader impact on serials management worldwide, from the library to the producer. Of note, this is a high-level journal that offers LIS graduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to publish their work in the Voices of the Future section.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No data available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Serials Librarian is an English-language journal published in the United States. It is international in scope and reach. Editorial board members are from libraries, universities, and serials-related businesses from around the world.12

Reader characteristics: Readers of The Serials Librarian will likely have advanced degrees and an active interest in all matters related to serials management. Subscribers are often members of NASIG or other special interest groups focusing on the promotion and effective management of serials. Subscribers value well-researched and well-written articles that will help them in their work.13

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Given the specific nature and focus of The Serials Librarian, readers will probably have a general knowledge of LIS subject matter with extensive, in-depth knowledge of serials collection and management.

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

As well-educated librarians and other professionals with specific interest in serials, readers will expect writing from authors with solid experience and knowledgeable in this field. Readers are also interested in the future of serials and subscriptions and in novel perspectives, as evidenced by the regular Voices of the Future section.

Last updated: March 14, 2018

References

Show 13 footnotes

  1. “Aims and Scope,” The Serials Librarian, accessed March 12, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wser20. ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  3. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  4. “Journal Information,” The Serials Librarian, accessed March 12, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wser20. ↩
  5. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  6. See the tables of contents, “List of Issues,” The Serials Librarian, accessed March 12, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wser20. ↩
  7. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  8. “Instructions for Authors,” The Serials Librarian, accessed March 12, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=wser20. ↩
  9. “Author Services,” taylorandfrancis.com, accessed March 12, 2018, https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/. ↩
  10. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  11. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  12. “Editorial Board,” The Serials Librarian, accessed March 12, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=wser20. ↩
  13. Homepage, nasig.org, accessed March 12, 2018, http://www.nasig.org/. ↩
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Library Resources & Technical Services

By on March 8, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Resources & Technical Services (LRTS)

ISSN: 2159-96101

Website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/resources/lrts/index.cfm

Purpose, objective, or mission: LRTS “is the official journal of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services. Its purpose is to communicate thoughtful reflection on practice as well as research.”2 Also, LRTS‘s website states it is a “peer-reviewed journal that takes a critical approach to the questions and challenges facing librarians and libraries.”3

Target audience: All LIS professionals and those involved with cataloging, continuing resources, collection management, and preservation in particular.4

Publisher: American Library Association.5

Peer reviewed? Yes.6

Type: LIS scholarly journal.7

Medium: LRTS was available in print until 2014. As of 2012, it became available online.8

Content: LRTS offers scholarly articles on “collections, scholarly communication, preservation (including digitization), acquisitions (including licensing and economic aspects of acquisitions), continuing resources, cataloging (including descriptive metadata, authority control, subject analysis, and classification).”9

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authinst

Types of contributions accepted: “Editorials, book reviews, letters to the editor, and the annual report of the president of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services” are regularly published.11

Submission and review process: Authors are asked to submit original, unpublished manuscripts (between 5,000 and 10,000 words) which aren’t currently under consideration elsewhere.12 LRTS asks authors to submit their manuscripts through the site’s Editorial Manager.13 All manuscripts are subject to a double-blind peer review. “The editor and members of the editorial board will work with authors whose work is promising in order to improve methodology, analysis, or presentation.”14

Editorial tone: Per the journal guidelines, “Write the paper in a grammatically correct, simple, readable style. Use active voice to the extent possible. Avoid jargon, anthropomorphism, and informal vocabulary. The first use of acronyms must be accompanied by their full spelled-out form.”15 Additional manuscript requirements can be found on the For LRTS Authors page.

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style.16

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Library Resources & Technical Services is an excellent publication for LIS authors interested in analyzing how behind-the-scenes library work (e.g., collection management, acquisitions, etc.) impacts the profession as a whole. Of particular note, LRTS welcomes contributions from new and seasoned authors alike, noting that “For the profession to thrive, beginning professionals, as well as experienced librarians, should address the most pressing issues we face.”17 Additionally, as mentioned above, LRTS is published by the prestigious American Library Association, “the oldest and largest library association in the world.”18

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 5,800. This number includes 4,600 ALA members, 860 other paying subscribers, and 340 complimentary subscriptions.19

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Most subscribers and ALA members live in the United States, though approximately 150 live outside the U.S.20 The journal is published in English (with technical services jargon added where necessary).21

Reader characteristics: Sixty percent of LRTS readers work in academic libraries; the other 40% work in public, school, and special libraries. In addition, approximately 75% of LRTS readers are also members of ALCTS. ALA members who subscribe to LRTS share similar interests in cataloging information, collection development, archival materials, etc. They read LRTS for information on their area of expertise, as well as strategies for managing their respective libraries. (Each journal includes a section entitled “notes on operations” that serves the latter purpose.)22

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Because most subscribers are members of ALCTS, they will have general knowledge of LIS topics and understand technical terms and practices related to cataloging and classification (FRBR, RDA), archival studies (digitization, OCR), etc. It is vital that prospective authors be familiar with specialized practices and responsibilities relevant to this publication.23

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

Readers of this publication are familiar with technical terms used in behind-the-scenes LIS operations. Additionally, studies indicate that LRTS is ranked twelfth among the seventy LIS “refereed journals in supporting promotion and tenure decisions.”24 To effectively reach this audience, articles must be well-written and thoroughly researched. The editor of LRTS suggests browsing through recent issues “to get a sense of style, length, and tone.”25

Last updated: March 8, 2018

References

Show 25 footnotes

  1.  Library Resources & Technical Services, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 7, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520461833714/340494 ↩
  2. “What Is the Focus of LRTS?” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authfaq#1 ↩
  3.  Library Resources & Technical Services, American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts ↩
  4. “What Is the Focus of LRTS?” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authfaq#1 ↩
  5. Library Resources & Technical Services, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 7, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520461833714/340494 ↩
  6.  Library Resources & Technical Services, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 7, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520461833714/340494 ↩
  7.  Library Resources & Technical Services, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 7, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520461833714/340494 ↩
  8.  Library Resources & Technical Services, American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts ↩
  9.  Library Resources & Technical Services, American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts ↩
  10. Library Resources & Technical Services, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 7, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520461833714/340494 ↩
  11.  Library Resources & Technical Services, American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts ↩
  12. “For LRTS Authors,” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authinst ↩
  13. “How Do I Submit a Paper?” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authfaq#4 ↩
  14. “What Is the Focus of LRTS?” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authfaq#1 ↩
  15. “For LRTS Authors,” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authinst ↩
  16. “For LRTS Authors,” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authinst ↩
  17. “For LRTS Authors,” American Library Association, accessed March 7, 2018, http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts/authinst ↩
  18. “About ALA,” American Library Association, accessed March 8, 2018, http://www.ala.org/aboutala/ ↩
  19. Mary Beth Weber, email message to author, September 15, 2008. ↩
  20. Mary Beth Weber, email message to author, September 15, 2008. ↩
  21.  Library Resources & Technical Services, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 7, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520461833714/340494 ↩
  22. Mary Beth Weber, email message to author, September 15, 2008. ↩
  23. Mary Beth Weber, email message to author, September 15, 2008. ↩
  24. Mary Beth Weber, email message to author, September 15, 2008. ↩
  25. Mary Beth Weber, email message to author, September 15, 2008. ↩
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Practical Academic Librarianship (PAL)

By on February 26, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division (PAL)

ISSN: 1947-0037

Website: http://journals.tdl.org/pal/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Practical Academic Librarianship (PAL) is a journal “for all academic librarians and information professionals serving academic departments or affiliated institutions including centers, institutes, specialized collections, and special units within or related to academic units.”1 It is “focused on the practical side of academic librarianship.”2

Target audience: As the “International Journal” of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Academic Division, PAL is directed to “librarians serving academic departments or affiliated institutions” in the United States and internationally,3 but as an open-access journal, it is not limited to SLA members.

Publisher: Academic Division of the Special Libraries Association.4

Peer reviewed? Yes, blind peer review.5

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online.

Content: PAL primarily publishes research articles; however, the journal also encourages and provides guidelines for think pieces and for interactive online exhibits and demonstrations. The content of the journal is broad and includes “implementation of new initiatives and best practices; original and significant research findings with practical applications; analysis of issues and trends; descriptive narratives of successful and unsuccessful ventures; [and] examination of the role of libraries in meeting specialized client needs.6

Frequency of publication: PAL publishes two issues per year; however, the journal “publishes items as soon as they are ready by adding articles to the ‘current’ volume’s Table of Contents….The first issue runs January 1 – June 30 and the second issue runs July 1 – December 31.”7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: PAL accepts research papers; think pieces (not peer reviewed but screened by an editor) intended to “€spur discussion amongst scholars on message boards for each piece€”; and interactive online exhibits and demonstrations, whose form and content should be proposed to the editors, as with a written piece. The journal’s special interests include a broad list of topics: information technology, library administration and management, the library in the university mission, collections management, teaching and learning, information literacy, space planning, higher education policy, marketing, user studies, resource sharing, institutional repositories, electronic serials.8

Submission and review process: Authors must have an account on the journal’s website that enables them to be in the author role; all manuscripts are submitted online. Manuscripts must comply with the seven items on the Submission Preparation Checklist.9 The editor screens manuscripts and sends appropriate ones for “rigorous blind peer review by two reviewers.” The review process is approximately six weeks for manuscripts of 25 pages or less.10 The website provides a flowchart of the Open Journal Systems software, which is a helpful overview of the publishing process.11

Editorial tone: Scholarly tone, but very readable.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

PAL was developed specifically to present a top-tier, peer-reviewed journal “€that would provide some gravitas for [the journal’s] authors, many of whom are at tenure-granting institutions€.” The journal aims to attract well-known reviewers and publish high-quality research papers to help build its reputation, as it is a fairly new journal (established in 2011), and to provide information to the LIS academic sector.13  This is a good place for LIS authors to submit scholarly and research articles with practical application in academic libraries and related academic environments.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation data are not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: PAL is an open-access journal written in English for an international audience of academic librarians and information professionals in all manner of library, special library, and institutional settings.14 The editors are primarily from U.S. universities, but there are editors from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.15

Reader characteristics: Readers are primarily academic librarians and information professionals. The journal is part of the SLA Academic Division, which welcomes anyone “€working in or with an interest in college, university, or other higher education-affiliated libraries and information centers.”16

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: These academic librarians and LIS professionals will be well versed in LIS subject matter and jargon, both theoretical and practical. However, articles are still written to be read and understood by a broader population.

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

Readers of PAL expect high-quality research that has a practical application in LIS academic settings. This is a good place to submit current research, or a more creative think piece, focusing on any aspect of the academic LIS community and its practices. It will be read and appreciated by a group of academic peers.

Last updated: February 26, 2018

References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “Editorial Policies,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/editorialPolicies. ↩
  2. Leslie J. Reynolds and Christian Miller, “Becoming the Change We Seek,” Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division 1(no. 1): ii, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/article/view/2064/1753. ↩
  3. Home, Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/. ↩
  4. “Journal Sponsorship,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/journalSponsorship. ↩
  5. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  6. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  7. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  8. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  9. “Submissions,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/submissions. ↩
  10. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  11. “About This Publishing System,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/aboutThisPublishingSystem. ↩
  12. “Submissions.” ↩
  13. Reynolds and Miller, “Becoming the Change,” ii. ↩
  14. “Home.” ↩
  15. “Editorial Team,” Practical Academic Librarianship, accessed February 26, 2018, https://journals.tdl.org/pal/index.php/pal/about/editorialTeam. ↩
  16. “About Us,” SLA Academic Division, accessed February 26, 2018, http://academic.sla.org/about-us. ↩
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Law Library Journal

By on February 23, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Law Library Journal

ISSN: 0023-92831

Website: https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Since 1908, LLJ has provided up-to-date information on law, legal materials, and law librarianship.2

Target audience: “Law librarians and others who work with legal materials.”3

Publisher: American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS scholarly.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: Sample article topics “include law library collections and their acquisition and organization; services to patrons and instruction in legal research; law library administration; the effects of developing technology on law libraries; law library design and construction; substantive law as it applies to libraries; and the history of law libraries and legal materials.”8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/

Types of contributions accepted: Information appropriate to law librarianship, case studies, descriptive or historical narratives, commentaries, reports on research projects, articles memorializing deceased members of the association.10

Submission and review process: As is standard practice for scholarly journals, LLJ only accepts unpublished manuscripts which are not being considered for publication elsewhere. The editor works closely with authors throughout the review process and keeps the latter informed of the expected production schedule. Additionally, the journal encourages potential authors to submit queries before submitting articles for consideration.11

Editorial tone: Scholarly, although many articles have adapted an engaging narrative style, which is as readable as it is informative.12

Style guide used: The Bluebook, which illustrates how to format footnotes and references is used in conjunction with The Chicago Manual of Style.13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Law Library Journal is an excellent choice for students working in law libraries, lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, as well as anyone interested in law libraries in general, including the history of these valuable institutions. Although the subject matter of this publication is relatively specialized, authors who combine research with engaging narrative to frame in-depth articles on law libraries will feel right at home with LLJ.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Circulates to nearly 4500 members and subscribers.” 15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Because Law Library Journal is published by the American Association of Law Libraries, the bulk of its audience is comprised of English-speakers, particularly those who live in the U.S. and/or are interested in U.S. law libraries.16 However, the journal also publishes research which describes the role of law in other countries, particularly European countries which have influenced the U.S.17

Reader characteristics: LLJ readers are primarily law librarians or others who work with legal materials and resources. They may work in law firms, law libraries, law schools, public libraries with law sections, etc.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will be familiar with both LIS and legal jargon.

Additionally, since the bulk of LLJ’s readers are AALL members, it’s worth examining the general knowledge base of the AALL. AALL members belong to a variety of committees, including the Citation Formats Committee,18 Fair Business Practices Implementation Task Force,19 and Recruitment to Law Librarianship Committee.20

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

Law Library Journal‘s readers are very familiar with legal procedure, courts, and librarianship. While the articles in this journal are written in an easy-to-understand style, readers expect authors to accurately portray the nuances of U.S. law, the history of libraries in general, etc. Thus, although the topics portrayed within the journal are broader than the title suggests, thorough knowledge of U.S. law and its history is suggested before submitting to this publication.

Last updated: February 23, 2018

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1.  Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  2.  Law Library Journal, American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/ ↩
  3.  James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  4. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  5. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  6. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  7.  Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  8.  James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  9. Law Library Journal, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 23, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1519398843811/48759 ↩
  10. “Editorial Policy,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/ ↩
  11. “Editorial Policy,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/ ↩
  12. James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  13. “Editorial Policy,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/resources-publications/publications/law-library-journal/llj-policy/ ↩
  14.  James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  15. James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries
    Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  16. James E. Duggan, ed. “American Association of Law Libraries Law Library Journal Author’s Guide,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  17.  James E. Duggan, ed. “Introduction,” Entire issue, Law Library Journal 109, no. 4 (2017). ↩
  18. “Citations Formats Committee,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/report/citation-formats-committee/ ↩
  19.  “Fair Business Practices Implementation Task Force,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/report/fair-business-practices-implementation-task-force/ ↩
  20. “Recruitment to Law Librarianship Committee,” American Association of Law Libraries, accessed February, 23, 2018, https://www.aallnet.org/report/recruitment-to-law-librarianship-committee/ ↩
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The Oral History Review

By on February 16, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Oral History Review

ISSN: 0094-0798 (print), 1533-8592 (online)

Website: https://academic.oup.com/ohr and http://www.oralhistory.org/publications/oral-history-review/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The mission of The Oral History Review “is to explore the nature and significance of oral history and advance understanding of the field among scholars, educators, practitioners, and the general public.” The journal reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the field of oral history. It is considered “the U.S. journal of record for the theory and practice of oral history and related fields.”1

Target audience: The Oral History Review is a publication of the Oral History Association, which has an international membership and “serves a broad and diverse audience including teachers, students, community historians, archivists, librarians, and filmmakers.” The journal is  international and cross-disciplinary, reaching “people committed to the value of oral history.”2

Publisher: Oxford University Press.3

Peer reviewed? Yes.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Available in print and online.5

Content: The Oral History Review “publishes narrative and analytical articles and reviews…that present and use oral history in unique and significant ways and that contribute to the understanding of the nature of oral history and memory.”6 A typical issue includes an editor’s introduction; original articles on research, method, practice, and theory; articles on pedagogy; and media and book reviews. Occasionally, the journal will publish a guest-edited special section, such as Looking Back, Looking Forward: Fifty Years of Oral History.7

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Guidelines appear on the Oral History Association website (http://www.oralhistory.org/publications/oral-history-review/the-oral-history-review-submission/) and on the Oxford University Press website (https://academic.oup.com/ohr/pages/Instructions_To_Authors).

Types of contributions accepted:  The Oral History Review “publishes narrative and analytical articles and reviews, in print and multimedia formats, that present and use oral history in unique and significant ways and that contribute to the understanding of the nature of oral history and memory. It seeks previously unpublished works that demonstrate high-quality research and that offer new insight into oral history practice, methodology, theory, and pedagogy.”8

Submission and review process: Manuscripts for articles are submitted through ScholarOne Manuscripts for blinded peer review. Review manuscripts are submitted via email attachment to the appropriate editor.9

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition).10

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

There are many opportunities for LIS professionals to contribute to this publication. Guidance can be provided about cataloging and preservation methodologies for oral history collections. LIS professionals can also weigh in on the ethics of information, including collection, copyright, distribution, and access. LIS professionals should also be aware that the Oral History Association has published goals, guidelines, and standards for oral history interviews.11 Prospective authors should also explore the journal’s blog.12

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Oral History Association members receive a free subscription and online access to current and back issues. Other circulation data are not available.13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The Oral History Association is located in the United States but has an international membership. The Oral History Review is published in English but “reflects the international scope of the field and encourages work from international authors and about international topics.”14

Reader characteristics: Readers have a high knowledge of and interest in oral history, from both a local and an international perspective. Readers will expect articles that are well-written and original and that exemplify the best practices and principals in oral history research and practice, as established by the Oral History Association.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: This is not strictly an LIS publication, although librarians do read it and contribute to its content. Articles should avoid LIS jargon and be directed toward a broad, international readership.

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

The Oral History Review is written for an academic and international audience, so writers who contribute should be sure that their articles exhibit the knowledge and novelty that the experienced readership has come to expect. This could make it a difficult journal for oral history novices to write for. LIS professionals and students who have expert knowledge of the field of oral history and its preservation and archival techniques would find a good outlet in this journal.

Last updated: February 16, 2018

References

Show 14 footnotes

  1.  The Oral History Review, Oral History Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.oralhistory.org/publications/oral-history-review/. ↩
  2. “About OHA,” Oral History Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.oralhistory.org/about/. ↩
  3. The Oral History Review, Oxford Academic, accessed February 16, 2018, https://academic.oup.com/ohr. ↩
  4. “Information for Authors,” The Oral History Review, Oxford Academic, accessed February 16, 2018, https://academic.oup.com/ohr/pages/Instructions_To_Authors. ↩
  5.  The Oral History Review, Oral History Association. ↩
  6. “About the Journal,” The Oral History Review, Oxford Academic, accessed February 16, 2018, https://academic.oup.com/ohr/pages/About. ↩
  7. Teresa Barnett, “Guest Editor’s Introduction,” The Oral History Review 43, no. 2 (Summer/Fall 2016): 315-317, https://doi.org/10.1093/ohr/ohw079. ↩
  8. “Information for Authors.” ↩
  9. “Information for Authors.” ↩
  10. “Information for Authors.” ↩
  11. “Principles for Oral History and Best Practices for Oral History,” Oral History Association, accessed February 16, 2018, http://www.oralhistory.org/about/principles-and-practices/. ↩
  12. “About the Blog,” oralhistoryreview.org, accessed February 16, 2018, http://oralhistoryreview.org/about/. ↩
  13.  The Oral History Review, Oral History Association. ↩
  14. “Information for Authors.” ↩
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New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship

By on February 14, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship

ISSN: 1361-4541 (print), 1740-7885 (online)

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rcll20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship “is multidisciplinary in nature, providing opportunities for the ‘€˜pure’ discussion of children’s literature, and of issues relating to one of the key places in which to find such literature — €”libraries for young people.”1

Target audience: Those working in the field of children’s and adolescent literature around the world, including public and school librarians, scholars, critics, and teachers.2

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.3

Peer reviewed? Yes.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship is international in scope and publishes articles on a broad range of topics in the field of children’s and adolescent literature and library services, including “the management of library services to children and adolescents; education issues affecting library services; user education and the promotion of services; staff education and training; collection development and management; critical assessments of children’s and adolescent literature; book and media selection; and research in literature and library services for children and adolescents”6

Frequency of publication: Two issues per year.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for authors.

Types of contributions accepted: The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship accepts “original papers of both an experimental and theoretical nature,” as well as those grounded in practical issues in children’s and adolescent literature and library services. The journal publishes original research and scholarship on a broad range of professional issues in children’s and adolescent library services as well as theoretical analyses and discussions of children’s and adolescent literature.8

Submission and review process: Manuscripts and all editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor9 for editorial screening and peer review.10 Taylor & Francis provides a general overview of the publication process.11

Editorial tone: The tone is academic and appropriate for an international audience.

Style guide used: MLA Handbook (8th ed.).12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship is an appropriate outlet for LIS scholars, practitioners, and researchers from around the world who are writing about children’s and adolescent literature and library services. The journal publishes high-level research and analyses, as well as theoretical articles and those with practical application.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation numbers are not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The New Review of Children’s Literature is international in scope and is published in English. The journal’s editor is based in the United Kingdom, as are many members of the editorial board. In addition, there are editorial board members from Ireland, France, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Thailand.13

Reader characteristics: Readers are most likely public and school librarians, as well as researchers in children’s library services and teachers and critics of children’s literature.14

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As an academic journal, it can be assumed that most readers have a solid professional knowledge of LIS subject matters.

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

Readers of the New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship have a high level of knowledge of the topic and expect to read articles that further their knowledge with well-reasoned analysis and research presented in a straightforward writing style. Readers are also practicing librarians who look to the journal for “informed comment and advice.”15 The journal’s readership is international, and so authors should provide some context for regional practices.

Last updated: February 14, 2018

References

Show 15 footnotes

  1. “Aims and Scope,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rcll20. ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  3. “Journal Information,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rcll20. ↩
  4. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  5. “Journal Information.” ↩
  6. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  7. “Journal Information.” ↩
  8. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  9. “Instructions for Authors,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=rcll20&page=instructions. ↩
  10. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  11. “Author Services,” TaylorandFrancis.com, accessed February 14, 2018, https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/. ↩
  12. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  13. “Editorial Board,” New Review of Children’s Literature and Librarianship, accessed February 14, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rcll20. ↩
  14. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  15. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
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New Review of Academic Librarianship

By on February 10, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: New Review of Academic Librarianship

ISSN: 1361-4533 (print), 1740-7834 (online)

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/racl20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: The New Review of Academic Librarianship is an international journal that works to establish “the relevance and applicability of theory and/or research for the academic library practitioner.” The journal’s intent is “disseminate developments and encourage discussion on the future role of academic libraries and their services.”1

Target audience: The target audience is academic librarians and information professionals from around the world.2

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.3

Peer reviewed? Yes.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: The New Review of Academic Librarianship publishes a comprehensive range of topics in the realm of academic libraries and their services, including scholarly communication and institutional repositories, learning and research support, information literacy, technological advances, physical space, monitoring and evaluation, collection management, conservation and preservation, collaboration, electronic content, and national and international higher education library policy.6 The journal regularly publishes special issues; past themes include Supporting Researchers: Sustainable Innovation in Strategy and Services7 and Librarian as Communicator.8

Frequency of publication: Four times per year.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for authors.

Types of contributions accepted: Original research articles, literature review articles,10 and scholarly perspectives “based on theory and research that advance the understanding of the development of high quality academic library and information management practices.”[1o. “Aims and Scope.”]

Submission and review process: New Review of Academic Librarianship uses ScholarOne Manuscripts for submissions.11 Manuscripts undergo editorial screening and anonymous peer review.12 Taylor & Francis provides a website for authors that gives an overview of the publishing process and help with submitting manuscripts.13

Editorial tone: The tone of the writing in the New Review of Academic Librarianship is academic yet less formal than one might expect in a scholarly journal. Since the journal is intended for an international readership, authors are instructed to adopt “a straightforward writing style…avoiding over-long or complex sentence structures.”14

Style guide used: APA (6th edition); Taylor & Francis provides a reference guide as well.15

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The New Review of Academic Librarianship is a prestigious LIS journal with an international scope and a focus on research and practice in academic libraries. Submissions reflect advanced and original research and high-level scholarship. LIS authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts that “significantly contribute to the knowledge base of academic librarians.” Futhermore, the journal welcomes perspectives “from academic library practitioners, educationalists involved with academic libraries and others with relevant knowledge and interest.”16

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although published in the United Kingdom, the New Review of Academic Librarianship is intended for an international readership, including both English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries, especially in Europe. The journal is published in English; however, given its intended international audience, the publishers stress the importance of using a straightforward writing style.17

Reader characteristics: The readers targeted are most likely librarians and information specialists associated with colleges and universities. While the specific practices at institutions of higher education may differ in the various nations where the journal is read, the librarians are most likely highly educated individuals providing educational and research support for faculty and students.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It is safe to assume that the readers of this journal are well versed in LIS issues. However, an author should remember that the readers are academic librarians and will not necessarily be familiar with the details or practices of other types of libraries. Furthermore, an author writing for the New Review of Academic Librarianship should consider that the experiences of academic librarians in other countries might differ significantly from those in their own countries, and so provide some context and explanation.

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

Authors submitting to the New Review of Academic Librarianship should understand that the readership is international in scope and focused on theory and practice in academic libraries and information services targeted to faculty and students in colleges and universities. They should keep in mind regional and cultural considerations that may need to be explicated for readers from different regions. The readership expects high-level scholarship and research, as well as analyses that emphasize how LIS scholarship can be implemented in practices and services in academic libraries.

 

Last updated: February 10, 2018

References

Show 17 footnotes

  1. “Aims and Scope,” New Review of Academic Librarianship, accessed February 10, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=racl20. ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  3. “Journal Information,” New Review of Academic Librarianship, accessed February 10, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=racl20. ↩
  4. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  5. “Journal Information.” ↩
  6. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  7. Wendy White, “Libraries and Research: Five Key Themes for Sustainable Innovation in Strategy and Services,” New Review of Academic Librarianship 23, nos. 2-3: 85-88, https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2017.1355637. ↩
  8. Helen Fallon, “Librarian as Communicator: Case Studies and International Perspectives,” New Review of Academic Librarianship 22, nos. 2-3: 107-111, https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2016.1216216. ↩
  9. “Journal Information.” ↩
  10. Jo Alcock, “Literature Reviews and Academic Librarianship: The Review Editor’s Perspective,” New Review of Academic Librarianship 22, no. 4: 351-354, https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2016.1246291. ↩
  11. “Instructions for Authors,” New Review of Academic Librarianship, accessed February 10, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=racl20&page=instructions. ↩
  12. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  13. “Author Services,” taylorandfrancis.com, accessed February 10, 2018, https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/. ↩
  14. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
  15. “Taylor & Francis Standard Reference Style: APA,” Taylor & Francis Author Services, accessed February 10, 2018, http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/authors/style/reference/tf_APA.pdf. ↩
  16. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  17. “Instructions for Authors.” ↩
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Medical Reference Services Quarterly

By on February 7, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Medical Reference Services Quarterly

ISSN: 0276-3869 (print), 1540-9597 (online)

Website: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wmrs20/current

Purpose, objective, or mission: Medical Reference Services Quarterly “covers topics of current interest and practical value in the areas of reference in medicine and related specialties, the biomedical sciences, nursing, and allied health.” The journal publishes practice-oriented and research articles on medical reference services, with a focus on “user education, database searching, and electronic information.”1

Target audience: Medical Reference Services Quarterly is an “essential working tool for medical and health sciences librarians” aimed at “professionals who provide reference and public services to health sciences personnel in clinical, educational, or research settings” in the fields of medicine, biomedical science, nursing, allied health.2

Publisher: Taylor & Francis.3

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.5

Content: Medical Reference Services Quarterly publishes original practical and research articles on health sciences librarianship. Regular columns include Online Updates, Emerging Technologies, Hospital Information Services, Informatics Education, From the Literature, and Book Reviews.6 Recent topics include using the Internet for providing medical information, using biomedical databases, managing medical reference services, continuing education, marketing, user education, document delivery, patient education, ready reference, and collection management, all within the context of medical reference services.7

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Instructions for authors.

Types of contributions accepted: “Medical Reference Services Quarterly covers topics of current interest and practical value in public services librarianship in the areas of medicine and related specialties, including the biomedical sciences, nursing, and allied health. MRSQ has expanded its scope to cover most aspects of health sciences librarianship, including health informatics, information literacy, collection development, and management of health sciences libraries”9

Submission and review process: Submissions are submitted via email to the editor as Word file attachments. Manuscripts are screened for originality.10 Manuscripts are “are peer reviewed using a rigorous, double-blind process” by two reviewers assigned based on subject expertise.11

Editorial tone: Formal and scholarly.

Style guide used: Chicago Publication Manual, 16th ed.12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Medical Reference Services Quarterly is a journal for LIS professionals who specialize in medical and health science information services in clinical, educational, or research settings, and who produce articles of practical application and original research. Authors should be aware that this is a high-level, “highly acclaimed,” professional and research journal, with an emphasis on articles that analyze and evaluate practical application in all types of medical and health science library and information settings.13

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Not provided.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Medical Reference Services Quarterly is written in English for a U.S.-based audience. The editors and editorial board members are from U.S. institutions.14

Reader characteristics: Readers are likely to be well educated (often having a science or medical degree and an LIS degree) and to expect articles they can apply to improve the services they provide to their users. Readers have a shared interest in reference services, medical information, and technology. Subscribers to this journal seem to value well-researched and well-written articles that will help them in their work.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers, given the specific nature and focus of this journal, will probably have a general knowledge of LIS subject matter with extensive, in-depth knowledge of medical reference services and research.

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

Readers and authors will likely be professionals and researchers already in the field of medical reference services. Furthermore, faculty and librarians involved with developing programs on information literacy, embedded librarianship, and library instruction directed to medical and clinical students, for example, will find practical, in-depth articles to read and a high-profile journal in which to publish.

Last updated: February 7, 2018

References

Show 14 footnotes

  1. “Aims and Scope,” Medical Reference Services Quarterly, accessed February 5, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=wmrs20. ↩
  2. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  3. “Journal Information,” Medical Reference Services Quarterly, accessed February 5, 2018, http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wmrs20. ↩
  4. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  5. “Journal Information.” ↩
  6. Table of Contents, Medical Reference Services Quarterly 37, no. 1 (January 2018), http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wmrs20. ↩
  7. “Aims and Scope.” ↩
  8. “Journal Information.” ↩
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