Wiki Tags Archives: International scope

The Journal of Community Informatics

By Lisa Lowdermilk on May 11, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The Journal of Community Informatics

ISSN: 1712-4441¹

Website: http://ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Community Informatics (CI) is the study and the practice of enabling communities with Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). CI seeks to work with communities towards the effective use of ICTs to improve their processes, achieve their objectives, overcome the “digital divides” that exist both within and between communities, and empower communities and citizens in the range of areas of ICT application including for health, cultural production, civic management, and e-governance, among others.”²

“CI is concerned with how ICT can be useful to the range of traditionally excluded populations and communities, and how it can support local economic development, social justice and political empowerment using the Internet.”³

Target audience: Readership spans a wide variety of disciplines: “community activists, nonprofit groups, policymakers, users/citizens, and the range of academics working across (and integrating) disciplines as diverse as Information Studies, Management, Computer Science, Social Work, Planning, and Development Studies.”⁴

Publisher: The Journal of Community Informatics⁵

Peer reviewed? Yes⁶

Type: LIS scholarly⁷

Medium: Online⁸

Content: The journal includes a variety of “emerging issues within the CI field, includ(ing) community access to the internet, community information, online civic participation and community service delivery, community and local economic development, training networks, telework, social cohesion, learning, e-health and e-governance.”⁹

Frequency of publication: Quarterly¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions

Types of contributions accepted: As per the journal website: “The Journal of Community Informatics accepts the submission of articles on any topic within the field of CI and from any geographic location and including Internet-enabled multimedia. Submitted articles are evaluated on the basis of their contribution to the knowledge and practice CI and on methodology, theoretical and empirical contribution, and style.”¹¹

As this is an open access journal that is available globally, “editors will seek to ensure that the content of the journal is also global in scope, encouraging the submission of articles from the developing world. Articles incorporating the use of the diverse range of Internet accessible media are also encouraged.”¹² This journal publishes articles in multiple languages.¹³

Submission and review process: “The submission should be in a Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Rich Text Format (RTF), WordPerfect, or equivalent open source document file format. All identifying author information should be removed from the submission file. This includes any author names, affiliations, and/or other identifying information.”¹⁴

“For each article, the author must provide a 100-word abstract in English. As well, since the Journal is of interest to a multilingual community of scholars, we ask that the English abstract be followed where possible and depending on its subject matter, by additional abstracts in French, Spanish and/or Russian.”¹⁵

“Submitted articles will in general be reviewed by two external reviewers chosen for their knowledge in specific sub-areas of CI. . . . Our intention is to publish research as quickly as possible. Our electronic submission process is designed to facilitate rapid publication. Articles may at this time be submitted and will be peer reviewed in English, French, Spanish, and Russian. Abstracts in English must be provided for all articles.”¹⁶

Editorial tone: Academic¹⁷

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edition¹⁸

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Journal of Community Informatics provides an excellent forum for LIS authors interested in publishing scholarly articles related to the field of community informatics. Because of the global reach of this journal, and the specific policy of encouraging global and first-time authors,¹⁹, LIS graduate students and established professionals alike could potentially find a voice in this publication.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As this is an open-access journal, circulation statistics are not available. However, The Journal of Community Informatics does keep statistics of abstract and article views. Readers are encouraged to register for the journal’s publishing notification service, which “allows the journal to claim a certain level of support or readership.”²⁰

Journal total views since August 27, 2006:

Abstract views: 1,696,513
Article views: 3,308,269²¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: As this journal serves a global audience, authors should avoid regional or culture-specific references. Articles are published in English, French, Spanish and Russian. Authors should be aware that readers may not be fluent in the language of submission, so should avoid LIS jargon. Since The Journal of Community Informatics is a scholarly journal, it is expected that the reader has knowledge and interest in the topic, and is most likely a professional.²²

Reader characteristics: As per their site: “The Journal of Community Informatics speaks to a network of academics, CI practitioners and national and multi-lateral policy makers.”²³ This is also a global readership that spans a multitude of cultures and languages.

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will have a general knowledge and interest in the issues surrounding the field of community informatics, but because this is journal reaches such a diverse cross-section of cultures, languages, and professions, their knowledge of LIS subject matter may be specialized or limited.

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

Readers of the Journal of Community Informatics span a wide variety of cultures, languages and professions. What they have in common is an interest in the field of community informatics. From “academics, CI practioners and . . . policy makers”²⁴, this is a passionate audience that is interested in serving local communities.²⁵ The impact of an author on such a diverse audience is potentially great. As The Journal of Community Informatics is a free online publication, authors also benefit from a large global readership.

Last updated: May 14, 2017

References

Show 25 footnotes

Australian Library Journal (ALJ)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on May 10, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Australian Library Journal (ALJ)

ISSN: 0004-9670 (Print) and 2201-4276 (Online)¹

Website: http://www.alia.org.au/publications-and-news/australian-library-journal-alj

Purpose, objective, or mission: The Australian Library Journal (ALJ) is the “flagship publication of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), supporting the Association’s Objects by documenting progress in research and professional practice and stimulating discussion on issues relevant to libraries and librarianship.”² This internationally recognized journal “showcases the best of Australian library and information research and practice.”³

Target audience: Australian LIS community⁴

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group⁵

Peer reviewed? Yes⁶

Type: LIS scholarly⁷

Medium: Print and online; open access after four years⁸

Content: The Australian Library Journal “contains a wide coverage of Australian library issues ranging from ongoing research to day-to-day articles from practitioners in the workplace.”⁹ The content includes theory- and practice-based writing, as well as book reviews.¹⁰ As a supplement to each issue of the journal, the ALIA publishes a series of themed, online-only book reviews.¹¹

Frequency of publication: Quarterly¹²

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=ualj20&page=instructions#.VN0EDS4YFZJ

Types of contributions accepted: ALJ welcomes submissions on a variety of library and information topics, ranging from ongoing research to practical articles directly relevant to the workplace.¹³ The use of Australian English and spelling is preferred. Manuscripts should include a title page with acknowledgements of any funding an abstract of up to 300 words, up to six keywords, implications for best practice, the main text of up to 5,000 words, references, appendices, any tables with captions on separate pages, and a list of any figure captions.¹⁴

Of special note is the journal’s “Librarianship-in-Practice” section, for shorter case studies of projects and programs that have already been implemented.¹⁵ Articles for this section should observe a 2,000 to 2,500 word limit, and adhere to an organizational structure outlined on the publication website.¹⁶

ALJ also features an extensive book review section, in both its print and online versions, and an in an online-only version.¹⁷ Those wishing to review books should first consult the online instructions.¹⁸

Submission and review process: Detailed submission guidelines can be found on the publisher’s website.¹⁹

Editorial tone: Scholarly²⁰

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition²¹

Conclusion: Evaluation of the publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Australian Library Journal offers a variety of publishing opportunities for LIS authors. Whether it’s original research, advancements in professional practice, or book reviews, there are many different writing avenues to explore. As this journal focuses on Australian library and information research, potential authors should tailor their writing to this geographical area. For North American authors, the potential for publication seems to be greatest as a book reviewer, as the book review section features publications by the wider global community.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation statistics are not readily available for this journal. However, as the flagship publication for the ALIA, the journal is received by 800 institutional members of the professional organization.²²

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The majority of readers are Australian and the content reflects this. Authors should be aware of the language and cultural differences between the United States and Australia. As per the submission guidelines, “Australian English spelling and punctuation are preferred.”²³ Colloquialisms and cultural references unique to the United States should be avoided.

Reader characteristics: ALJ does not provide demographic information of its readers. As it is the flagship publication of the ALIA, however, it is likely that the majority of readers hold memberships in ALIA, which serves 4,200 individual members and 800 institutional members.²⁴ Readers of the ALJ hold a wide variety of professional and research interests within the LIS field.

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Although some readers may not be information science professionals, the majority work in LIS fields and would therefore be very knowledgeable about LIS subjects.

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

Australian Library Journal is an internationally recognized publication that holds high standards for its published works. This journal reaches a wide audience of library and information professionals who are interested in current research in the field as well as relevant issues in their workplaces. For current Australian residents, or even North Americans who have lived or travelled in Australia, this journal provides the potential author a large and knowledgeable audience. Although the majority of readers are Australian,²⁵ authors outside of Australia will find a publishing opportunity in the book review section.

Last updated: November 14, 2016

References

Show 25 footnotes

Australian Academic and Research Libraries (AARL)

By Lisa Lowdermilk on May 10, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Australian Academic and Research Libraries (AARL)

ISSN: 0004-8623 (Print) and 1839-471X (Online)¹

Purpose, objective, or mission: Australian Academic and Research Libraries is the research journal of the Australian Library and Information Association. According to the ALIA, the publication “aims to showcase theoretical and practice-based research undertaken in, about, and relevant to, Australia and our broader region.”²

Website: https://www.alia.org.au/publications-and-news/australian-academic-and-research-libraries-aarl

Target audience: International LIS community³

Publisher: Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Print and online; open access after four years⁷

Content: AARL publishes articles of interest to librarians and information professionals throughout the world, including those working in research libraries and academia.⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.tandfonline.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=uarl20&page=instructions

Types of contributions accepted: AARL invites submissions of practical and theoretical research of 5,000 to 8,000 words, as well as book reviews of 500 to 600 words on all LIS topics. Manuscripts are accepted in English only, with Australian spelling and punctuation preferred. Article submissions should include abstracts of 200 words and a biography of each author of 100 words.¹⁰ Authors are encouraged to supplement their articles with related online materials, such as animations, movie clips, or sound files. Instructions for including this material with an online submission are available on the publisher’s website.¹¹

Editorial tone: Scholarly¹²

Style guide used: Reference style follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition.¹³ For all other style questions, authors should consult the publisher’s in-house style guide¹⁴ and the guide to using mathematical scripts and equations¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Australian Academic and Research Libraries provides an excellent opportunity for LIS authors looking to publish scholarly, career advancing work. Although this is an Australian journal that publishes research relevant to the Australian LIS community, it also explicitly invites contributions from around the world. For the North American LIS researcher and author, this journal provides an opportunity to showcase original research to a global community.

The publication is abstracted or indexed in Australian education index, Australian library and information science abstracts, APAIS: Australian public affairs information service, Information science abstracts, Library and information science abstracts, and Library literature.¹⁶

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation statistics are not readily available for this journal. However, as the premier research journal for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), with 4,200 individual memberships and 800 institutional memberships,¹⁷ the potential for reaching many readers is great.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The majority of readers are Australian and the content reflects this. Authors should be aware of the language and cultural differences between the U.S. and Australia. Colloquialisms and cultural references unique to the United States should be avoided.

Reader characteristics: AARL does not provide demographic information on its readers. As it is the premier research journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, it is likely that the majority of readers are members of the ALIA, which is “open to professionals, non-professionals and individuals and organizations alike.”¹⁸

Reader knowledge of LIS subject matter: Although some readers may not be information science professionals, the majority work in library and information fields and would therefore be very knowledgeable about LIS subjects.

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

Australian Academic & Research Libraries is an internationally recognized publication that holds high standards for its published works. This journal reaches a wide audience of library and information professionals who are interested in current research in the field as well as relevant issues in their workplaces. For current Australian residents, or even North Americans who have lived or travelled in Australia, this journal provides its authors with a large and knowledgeable audience. Although the majority of readers are most likely Australian, and the journal “aims to showcase theoretical and practice-based research undertaken in, about, and relevant to, Australia,”¹⁹ the editors specifically invite “authors worldwide, working across the full range of information professions, as well as those in the higher education sector and research libraries”²⁰ to contribute to the journal. The large audience of readers that this journal offers would provide an excellent forum for LIS authors worldwide.

Last updated: November 6, 2016

References

Show 20 footnotes

HuffPost

By Bethany Baker on April 28, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: HuffPost (formerly called Huffington Post)

ISSN: N/A

Website: https://www.huffpost.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “At HuffPost, we report with empathy and put people at the heart of every story. We take a people-first approach in everything we report—be it news and politics or lifestyle and entertainment—and we cover real stories about real life. Regardless of who you are, where you live or what you believe, you can count on HuffPost to help you navigate what’s happening in the world and how it affects you. We consider the needs, passions and curiosity of our readers in all of our journalism. If something matters to our readers, it matters to us.”¹

In 2012, HuffPost won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on wounded veterans”.²

Target audience: A politically-engaged audience seeking the latest news in entertainment, politics, and world affairs.

Publisher: Verizon Media.³

Peer reviewed? No. Most articles posted on the site are in the form of blog posts.

Type: Civilian publication; online news site.

Medium: Online.

Content: A roundup of political, entertainment, and news from around the globe.

Of special interest to LIS writers, there’s a Books section under Entertainment, featuring articles and reviews by various bloggers, and the Libraries section featuring library-related news and articles. In 2012 a section titled Libraries in Crisis was created to examine the role of libraries in today’s society. The section’s first series was titled The Death Of The Public Library?, and it has been somewhat controversial among LIS professionals, with a Hack Library School post noting, “I understand that stories of library closures are much sexier than the latest controversies with Overdrive, but if we want to see the libraries as a national tradition continue, we need to step away from the extremism and start proving what we are capable of. Let’s see some library success stories on this page, too.”

Frequency of publication: Updated daily.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost?section=us_opinion

Types of contributions accepted: “HuffPost is seeking to elevate writers from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who are BIPOC, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and writers from other underrepresented communities.”⁴

The categories for submissions are Enterprise pieces, which are “original, unique, reported stories,”⁵ Personal pieces, which are “original, authentic, compelling, and told from the first person,”⁶ and Life pieces which are pieces that serve as a “no-BS guide to modern parenting, wellness, food, money, work, relationships, and more.”⁷

Submission and review process: “Pitches should include a working headline, two or three paragraphs that outline why you think the story matters, with some indication of how you plan to report and tell the story (e.g. sources, key characters or narrative event). Also tell us a little about who you are and why you’re the right person to write this story, and please indicate whether your pitch is timely.”⁸

See “How to Pitch to HuffPost” for detailed descriptions, requirements, and tips.

Editorial tone: Informal and informational at the same time.

Style guide used: None referenced.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

HuffPost is an excellent resource for librarians to reach a wide-ranging global and local audience with news from the LIS world. The Libraries section would be a great place to discuss library efforts and updates, technological and otherwise, and news from the LIS sector, with a readership who is truly interested. HuffPost would also be a good place to suggest and write about books for review.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No circulation information provided.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Based out of the US, the site has local editions such as HuffPost San Francisco and Chicago; as well as international versions covering Canada, France, Italy, Spain and the UK.⁹ The US version is written in American English; culturally the site is considered a left-leaning publication, with special attention to U.S. political and entertainment news.

Reader characteristics: HuffPost was created in 2005 and became known as a liberal website for commentary/and alternative to more right-wing sites such as the Drudge Report & Fox News. Although founder/creator Arianna Huffington is careful to note that the site does not consciously lean in either party direction, the site has a more left-leaning feel.¹⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Although readers are educated and HuffPost has a special library section, this site is more informal information and entertainment, not really the place for LIS jargon. If submitting a query or blog for the Books/Library section, the focus is more on specific voice or activity, not the formal academic jargon commonly found in LIS publications.

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

Readers are interested in what’s going on with US libraries, and in discussing the most recent books and book news. While articles are not scholarly in tone, this site would most likely welcome posts written by LIS students as long as the topic is interesting and appealing to HuffPost readers.

Last updated: September 29, 2020

References

Show 10 footnotes

Faculty of Information Quarterly

By Lisa Lowdermilk on April 15, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Faculty of Information Quarterly (*Publication currently on hiatus.*)

ISSN: 1925-9107¹

Website: http://fiq.ischool.utoronto.ca/index.php/fiq/index

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Faculty of Information Quarterly (FIQ) is a student-led, peer reviewed journal and provides immediate open access to its content by publishing online, on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Edited by graduate students at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information, the journal seeks to provide an environment for the voices of emerging and established scholars and practitioners in diverse Information fields, including but not limited to the following: archival science, accessibility studies, book history and print culture, communication theory, critical theory, cultural informatics, health informatics, information studies, information systems and technology, knowledge theory, library science, management science, media theory, museum studies, semiotics, and technology studies.”²

Target audience: University of Toronto LIS students, faculty and global LIS community³

Publisher: University of Toronto, Faculty of Information⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Online⁷

Content: Research articles covering any topic relevant to LIS community. Recent article titles include Research as a Social Process: Considerations for Academic Libraries, Applying Concepts of Bug-Tracking Software to e-Resource Management in Academic Libraries, and The Rare e-Vent: Concepts of Rarity and Scarcity in e-Books.⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁹ *The last edition published was Volume 3, Number 4, in 2011.¹⁰

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://fiq.ischool.utoronto.ca/index.php/fiq/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Research articles from the LIS and related academic communities. Per the publication website, “While there is an emphasis on encouraging student work in FIQ we certainly support submissions from all members of the Information community. Masters and PhD students and faculty of all disciplines, practitioners and Information professionals with an interest in scholarly work, and interested members of the Information community in its broadest sense are all welcome to submit works to this publication.”¹¹ “We encourage students to submit articles they think are of an academic calibre, which can include conference papers, reworked course papers, personal research projects, reflections on the scholarly and practical elements of Information, or other communications of excellent quality.”¹²

Submission and review process: All work is submitted online through the publication website. Detailed instructions provided for authors including a checklist to ensure all requirements are met. FIQ is peer-reviewed and publication is subject to approval and review by the Editorial Staff.¹³

Editorial tone: Formal¹⁴

Style guide used: For Canadian English spelling, authors should consult the latest edition of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary; for citations and references authors should use the latest edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Although FIQ was founded in part to promote publication of student research and writing, all members of the information community are invited to submit manuscripts.¹⁶

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Not available. As an open access, online publication of a leading information school, FIQ is freely accessible to academic and professional members of the information community the world over.¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Toronto, Canada.¹⁸ While its target audience is the global information community, the publication requires its authors to use Canadian spellings and to ensure the relevance of articles to Canadian culture.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Though FIQ is an open-access publication with an international reach, it is likely, given its editorial bias,²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The majority of readers would have an LIS background or education; however, since FIQ strives for a global reach and LIS education varies around the global, writers should consider this when writing.²¹

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

As a publication run by graduate students and primarily for graduate students and academics in the the LIS community, fellow graduate student authors would seem to have a better chance of publication in FIQ.

Last updated: April 24, 2017

References

Show 21 footnotes

First Monday

By Kara Trella on April 15, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: First Monday

ISSN: 1396-0466 (Online) and 1396-0458 (CD-ROM)¹

Website: http://www.firstmonday.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: From the website: “First Monday is one of the first openly accessible, peer-reviewed journals on the Internet, solely devoted to research about the Internet.”² First Monday believes the impact of digitization on society is universal and ubiquitous, and seeks articles about how digitization is changing our understanding of society.³

Target audience: First Monday’s target audience includes intelligent, independent-thinking people located in more than 180 countries. Because readers’ cultures, educational backgrounds, and fields of study vary greatly, readership is diverse. The journal is not geared toward those in academia, and many readers do not speak English as a first language.⁴

Publisher: First Monday Editorial Group at the University of Illinois at Chicago University Library⁵ First Monday was originally designed in Copenhagen and published by Munksgard, a Danish publisher.⁶

Peer reviewed? Yes⁷

Type: Computers and Internet, scholarly⁸ (First Monday is published in conjunction with the university library at the University of Illinois-Chicago, which indicates that the LIS community has a vested interest in the publication and represents a large proportion of its readership. Due to its diverse readership, we have categorized First Monday as both a “scholarly” and a “civilian” publication.)⁹

Medium: Online¹⁰

Content: First Monday publishes original interdisciplinary research papers about the Internet and related technologies. Articles emphasize subjects that are particularly interesting or groundbreaking. This publication’s strength lies in its diversity of content centered around the influence of the Internet and related technologies.¹¹

Frequency of publication: Monthly¹²

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions

Types of contributions accepted: First Monday publishes articles on interesting and novel ideas related to the history, present, and future of the Internet.¹³ Published topics of interest to LIS authors include: knowledge management, trends and standards, information-seeking behavior, emerging electronic classification frameworks, digital copyright, social networks, education, information society, the internet’s technological and commercial development, technical issues, and the political and social implications of the Internet. Research surveys, studies, exploratory and critical theory articles tied to the internet and related technologies would be welcome here.¹⁴ The publication also provides detailed Guidelines for Authors. These guidelines include writing tips; citation, reference, and abstract guidelines; submission format; formatting templates; and a final checklist for use in preparing manuscript submissions.¹⁵

Submission and review process: Registration and login are required to submit items online and to check the status of current submissions. Papers are subject to a double-blind peer review for originality and timeliness in the context of related research.¹⁶

Editorial tone: Articles published in First Monday are as diverse as its readership. All articles are written in an academic tone, though style varies in complexity. Many are written in an easy-to-read style, while others employ more sophisticated language. In either case, writers maintain the active voice and employ short sentences and paragraphs.¹⁷

Style guide used: First Monday provides its own style guide.¹⁸

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

First Monday publishes interdisciplinary research articles on all aspects of the internet, from highly-specialized technical issues to the internet’s social and political impact. Given the increasing digitization of information, this journal holds tremendous promise for LIS authors.

Because this audience is not academic, writing standards are not rigid, and an international distribution creates the potential to reach many readers. This publication’s diverse readership allows for writing from a variety of disciplines–LIS authors with backgrounds in engineering, literature, or history would be equally at home here. First Monday would be an excellent place to publish a thesis, or research on emerging Web technologies or trends. Additionally, the fact that the journal is peer reviewed makes it an attractive choice for those who wish to add a published article to their curriculum vitae.

Started in 1996, the journal has published 1,381 papers in 218 issues written by 1,888 authors. The journal is also abstracted in Communication Abstracts, Computer & Communication Security Abstracts, DoIS, eGranary Digital Library, INSPEC, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, LISA, PAIS.¹⁹

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: 314,559 per month.²⁰

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Readers are located in over 180 countries, concentrated in western Europe, North America, and the Pacific Rim. First Monday is published by the University of Illinois at Chicago University Library, where its server is also located.²¹ Due to the publication’s international scope, many readers’ first language is not English. Additionally, many readers are not academics. Authors should avoid using specific cultural references or idioms unless these are explained. Simple explanations, active voice, and less complex sentences will help this diverse audience better understand your message.²²

Reader characteristics: Because First Monday‘s focus is international and its scope is interdisciplinary, the cultures, educational backgrounds, and fields of study vary greatly among First Monday readers. Cultural, educational, and professional interests vary greatly among readers, and this publication’s interdisciplinary scope is larger than library information science alone. That said, the publication’ s focus is salient to the discipline. This, combined with the fact that it is published by a university library, makes it reasonable to presume that many readers are LIS professionals with shared professional interests and workplaces. The articles published in First Monday represent a wide variety of standpoints and approaches. The articles do not show overt bias or attitude toward any particular view, which seems indicative of the audience’s diversity.²³

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Many articles published in First Monday are not directly related to LIS, so it is reasonable to presume that many readers are involved in other aspects of Internet technology. In view of this, authors should cautiously employ LIS jargon and explain any specialized terms they use.²⁴

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

First Monday prides itself on its interdisciplinary scope, and publishes a wide variety of articles from multiple perspectives. Demographic information about readers’ professional affiliations could not be obtained, and nothing in this publication’s submission guidelines indicates a preference toward LIS authors or topics. However, First Monday‘s publisher indicates that librarians have a vested interest in this publication and may represent a large proportion of its readers. First Monday’s Audience Profile stresses that many readers are not academics, but one might conclude that many are librarians.²⁵

Library science is an interdisciplinary field, and LIS students and professionals possess specialized knowledge of digital information collection, organization, and dissemination. This uniquely positions them as potential authors for First Monday. When writing for this publication, explain any professional terminology that would be unfamiliar to those outside the LIS field. For example, a study of library cataloging standards and information-seeking behavior on the web should explain terms like MARC21 or RDA. To be well-suited for First Monday, such an article might focus on digitization’s broad affects on LIS cataloging and how these are shaping practices.

While First Monday’s readership is not primarily academic, the content of articles is often sophisticated and complex. This may be why the editors stress simplicity and brevity in style; readers from different backgrounds will better understand a complex message through simple explanations and short sentences.

Last updated: October 17, 2018

References

Show 25 footnotes

IFLA Journal

By Lisa Lowdermilk on April 15, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: IFLA Journal [International Federation of Library Associations]

ISSN: 0340-0352 (Print) and 1745-2651 (Online)

Website: www.ifla.org/publications/ifla-journal (1992-2002 archived at http://www.ifla.org/V/iflaj/index.htm)

Purpose, objective, or mission: “IFLA Journal is an international journal publishing peer reviewed articles on library and information services and the social, political and economic issues that impact access to information through libraries. The Journal publishes research, case studies and essays that reflect the broad spectrum of the profession internationally.”¹

Target audience: Library professionals around the world, especially those interested in library services in developing areas²

Publisher: Sage Publications³

Peer reviewed? Yes⁴

Type: LIS scholarly⁵

Medium: Online open access⁶

Content: The journal publishes articles on “library and information services and the social, political and economic issues that impact access to information through libraries.”⁷

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁸

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/journal/ifla-journal#submission-guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: “The Journal publishes research, case studies and essays that reflect the broad spectrum of the profession internationally.”⁹ Though the journal publishes primarily original research, case studies on successful and unsuccessful projects and opinion pieces on library issues are also accepted.¹⁰ Articles should be between 3,000 to 8,000 words and accompanied by an abstract of no approximately 150 words. Authors whose primary language is not English should not be inhibited from submitting, as correction of minor errors and revision to standard English is considered standard editorial procedure.¹¹

Submission and review process: IFLA requests submissions be sent as an email attachment, preferably as MS Word document. Expect approximately six weeks for the editorial committee to review submissions.¹²

Editorial tone: The tone of IFLA Journal is academic,¹³ but attempts to use unbiased language to make examples and practices applicable to library staff from around the world.¹⁴

Style guide used: References should be written in Harvard style.¹⁵

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

For authors wishing to convey current and upcoming library innovations to developing areas, this journal is well regarded. It presents issues that smaller libraries and countries are dealing with as compared to the United States and Europe. Well-researched articles about procedures that have been tested at large libraries are highly valuable to librarians in developing countries. Some services may be beyond the technology of small countries, but writers should strive to keep the theories simple and useful.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No specific numbers provided, but the journal is promoted to IFLA members¹⁶ and is available online.¹⁷

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is published in the United Kingdom,¹⁸ but the editorial board is international.¹⁹ Although most articles are published in English, some are published in other major languages such as Spanish, Russian, French, or German, when appropriate.²⁰ Potential authors should take care to describe a specific system or local procedure, because the reader may be familiar with LIS terms in general but not with local practice.

Reader characteristics: While most librarians in the United States are women, the author should keep in mind that some restrictions are put on women in other countries so this demographic may be different among IFLA Journal readers. Librarians in most countries have college or graduate degrees, and are considered professionals. Though many readers of IFLA Journal work in libraries in developing countries, there is a genuine desire to learn about practices in major libraries throughout the world. In terms of education and professional skills, there may be emphasis placed on less technical aspects of librarianship.²¹

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It may be assumed that the readers of this journal understand LIS jargon and current issues. Despite the scholarly tone of the journal, library services are still developing in some countries, so discussion of current-generation digital technologies and digital information may have to be explained or simplified.²²

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

Potential authors for IFLA Journal should be prepared to do academic research into their topics, and to thoroughly study the region or country they are addressing. Readers might range from a librarian or teacher in a one-room school in Kenya with limited resources to a LIS professor in Germany with digital access.²³ An author from the United States should be careful not to “preach” about advanced services which may not be relevant to developing countries. The members of IFLA are likely to be curious about policies and practices that are successful in other regions, especially when discussed in factual, not proscriptive way.

Last updated: May 13, 2017

References

Show 23 footnotes

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice

By Lisa Lowdermilk on March 27, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Evidence Based Library and Information Practice

ISSN: 1715-720X¹

Website: http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/index

Purpose, objective, or mission: Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP), “is an open access, peer reviewed journal published quarterly by the University of Alberta Learning Services, and supported by an international team of editorial advisors. The purpose of the journal is to provide a forum for librarians and other information professionals to discover research that may contribute to decision making in professional practice. EBLIP publishes original research and commentary on the topic of evidence based library and information practice, as well as reviews of previously published research (evidence summaries) on a wide number of topics.”²

Target audience: The target audience is librarians and other information professionals.³

Publisher: University of Alberta Learning Services⁴

Peer reviewed? Yes⁵

Type: LIS scholarly⁶

Medium: Online⁷

Content: Evidence-based practice applications, qualitative and quantitative research, management and administration issues related to evidence-based practice, research tools (statistics, data collection methods, etc.), collaborative and inter-professional evidence-based practice, research education in library schools, evidence-based practices from other disciplines applicable to evidence-based librarianship and future prospects for the evidenced-based information profession; as well as workplace applications such as how to capture evidence to support new innovations, develop and apply evidence-based tools, and maximize the value and impact of our information services. A significant part of the journal consists of evidence summaries, a section of particular interest to practitioners.⁸

Frequency of publication: Quarterly⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions

Types of contributions accepted: Original submissions that are not under consideration with another publication. Besides research articles, EBLIP accepts review articles of up to 10,000 words on “topics of relevance to practitioners in library and information studies. We are particularly interested in reviews which contain information on the state of research on a particular topic.”¹⁰ Also accepted are evidence summaries, older but still-relevant research “classics,” and commentaries. Commentaries and evidence summaries are not peer reviewed.¹¹

Submission and review process: Registration at EBLIP‘s online system allows authors to submit work and monitor the progress of submissions. Articles of up to 5000 words are considered. The editors make final decisions with regard to whether a manuscript will be accepted. The editors also reserve the right to edit submissions for length, clarity, and style consistency. A final decision to publish or not is made by the editor after the double-blind peer-review is completed. The goal is to have submissions reviewed within 60 days of receipt.¹²

Editorial tone: The editorial tone is academic and scholarly.¹³

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, latest edition; authors should additionally consult the requirements in the publication Author Guidelines.¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice is a content-heavy publication intended for a real-life application. Librarians and other info pros should expect to find practical content that includes original research and reviews of previously published material that will help them make better decisions. Authors interested in publishing in this journal need to expect an audience with advanced knowledge in the field. The website allows for searching and retrieving archived articles. Also, readers can register for notification emails that will let them know when a new issue has been released, along with a table of contents.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: EBLIP is an open-access journal that encourages libraries to include it in its electronic journal collection of holdings. The publishing system used is designed to be hosted and operated by research libraries in support of the journal publishing work of its associated faculty. This journal provides open access to all of its content with the goal and intention of making research freely available to the public, in hopes of supporting a greater global exchange of knowledge, practice techniques, and ideas.¹⁵

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: EBLIP is published in English¹⁶ by the University of Alberta Learning Services in Canada and is supported by an international team of editorial advisors.¹⁷ The readership is international, and given its free online access, users are not restricted by geography or ability to pay.¹⁸ Authors should avoid using geographical, cultural, or other references that might not be recognized or understood by all.¹⁹

Reader characteristics: Readers of Evidence Based Library and Information Practice are librarians or information professionals seeking to improve their method of operations and the efficiency by which they do their jobs on a day-to-day basis. They are also people that want to advance their present level of understanding of best practices. Readers’ workplace environments are varied, encompassing all types of libraries and information systems. There is no evidence of bias. Values include the furthering of the profession of LIS and achieving better working methods in professional settings.²⁰

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers of this publication may be assumed to have an advanced understanding of library and information science and to have experience working in their field. They are interested in advancing their careers and are curious to learn more on the subject of library and information science.²¹

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

Readers of Evidence Based Library and Information Practice are professionals working in libraries or other information environments who endeavor to keep up with the latest innovations in research and practice. Authors must be mindful of the high level of expertise and experience of the anticipated reader, and of the worldwide distribution of this journal.

Last updated: April 23, 2017

References

Show 21 footnotes

Razorcake

By Bethany Baker on March 9, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Razorcake

ISSN: 1533-7464 (Print)¹

Website: http://www.razorcake.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Razorcake provides consistent coverage of do-it-yourself punk culture that you won’t find anywhere else. We believe in positive, progressive, community-friendly DIY punk. We do our part.”² Razorcake‘s philosophy is as simple as it is rare: cover, support, foster, and celebrate a vibrant independent artistic community that lives well below corporate media’s radar. Coverage includes some of the most in-depth interviews of the underground and features a staff of over 160 writers, photographers, graphic designers, and comic book artists.³

Target audience: Anyone interested in DIY punk culture. ⁴

Publisher: Razorcake/Gorksy Press, Inc.⁵

Peer reviewed? No.

Type: Civilian webzine and fanzine.⁶

Medium: Print and online.

Content: Music, book, and zine reviews; guest opinions; webcomics; and international “scene” reports, written by over 160 regular writers, graphic artists, and photographers.⁷

Frequency of publication: The zine is published bi-monthly⁸, and the website updated regularly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://razorcake.org/mission-statement/

Types of contributions accepted: Music, book, and zine reviews as well as opinion and reporting pieces.⁹

Submission and review process: Submissions via the form on the Contact page. Submissions are approved by editorial staff. Writers are not paid for articles, but they do retain full copyright of their work.¹⁰

Editorial tone: Casual but varies considerably. While some utilize brazen humor, as well as profanity, all articles are engaging, thought-provoking, and executed with a strong grasp of grammar and consistent, effective voice.

Style guide used: None specified.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Razorcake is a fine example of a nontraditional and groundbreaking opportunity that is commonly overlooked by the professional community. Razorcake‘s main focus is music, but there is potential for interviews, commentary, and intellectual freedom articles to name but a few. The creative, informative, and social benefits for information professionals is limited only by imagination and creativity.

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Our print run is 6,000 copies.”¹¹

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Based in Los Angeles, California¹² and distributed to over twenty countries.¹³ This publication has a strong multinational appeal, as it provides music coverage for bands worldwide. In addition, the scope and variance of political and social perspective provides accessibility to numerous cultures and communities desiring an alternative approach.

Reader characteristics: Reader demographics are not available, but as this is a punk zine, most readers will be interested in progressive politics, activism, and counter culture.

Readers are generally not going to tolerate racist, homophobic, or sexist attitudes, yet a vibrant lack of political correctness is prevalent in both readers and content. Based on an evaluation of the contributors, political leanings of the reader base spans from apolitical to the most extreme of philosophies. A healthy dose of humor, positivism, self-reliance, individuality, and “DIY” (do it yourself) spirit permeates both versions of the publication. Noteworthy is the fact that this publication, more than many in underground culture, has readers highly interested in the correlation between information access, privacy, laws such as the Patriot Act, and a specific form of entertainment, rather than general ethical or legal discussions of such topics.¹⁴

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The reader base, versed in music, writing, politics by default, demonstrates LIS proclivities and knowledge. A randomly reviewed interview revealed a discussion of technological obsolescence, archival, copyright concerns, and the reduction of creative ephemera and networking due to internet proliferation. While such discourse promotes at least an implicit understanding of core information issues, LIS jargon should be avoided.

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

This publication presents both opportunities, and some challenges, for those from the LIS community wishing to contribute. Writers with a lack of music knowledge, including music culture, history, and social dynamics are going to have difficulty presenting anything in a relevant, engaging manner. This readership suggests intelligence, and their continual deviation from mainstream society’s perception requires contributors from what some deem a rather dull profession to stretch their creativity in presentation. This readership, interested in history and ephemera, nostalgia, and the technological capacity for music enjoyment, affords contributors the capacity to educate, inform, and demonstrate the LIS world in a package of immense creative potential. Feminist issues regarding topics such as female artistic expression or emerging technology skills, incorporated into information science themes, increase the potential for LIS writers to express themselves in meaningful ways that potentially fine-tune their chosen area of expertise. In addition, authors wishing to prepare for peer-reviewed writing on issues of the aforementioned information privacy and library law will find a demanding yet non-academic opportunity for publication.

Last updated: September 28, 2020

References

Show 14 footnotes

Education Libraries

By iSchool Admin on March 6, 2013 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Education Libraries

ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

Website: http://educationlibraries.mcgill.ca/index

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Education Libraries is an electronic, refereed journal of the Special Libraries Association’s (SLA) Education Division. It offers a forum for new and challenging ideas in education, and library and information science. It also explores the effect of new technologies on the library profession and library and information curriculum.”¹

Target audience: The target audience is the membership of the Special Libraries Association, which includes those employed at “a variety of venues, including special libraries and information centers, academic libraries, public libraries, and school libraries.”²

Publisher: Special Libraries Association, Education Division³

Peer reviewed? Yes⁴

Type: LIS and Education; scholarly⁵

Medium: Online, open access since 2015⁶

Content: Education Libraries publishes scholarly articles, book reviews, member profiles, and case studies.⁷ Recent feature articles include faculty-librarian collaboration, 3-D printing in education libraries, collection development, and school library advocacy.⁸

Frequency of publication: Biannually⁹

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://educationlibraries.mcgill.ca/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Education Libraries accepts “research studies, descriptive narratives, or other thoughtful considerations of topics of interest to the education information professional. Manuscripts focusing on issues relevant to more general concerns either in the field of education or in the field of library and information science are also welcome provided they include a significant component specifically germane to education, libraries and librarianship.”¹⁰

Submission and review process: Authors submitting manuscripts are required to register using a link provided on the publication website.¹¹ All submissions will be considered for publication and are subject to the double-blind peer review process. Inquiries about particular manuscripts may be sent via email to the editor. See the publication website for details.¹²

Editorial tone: Scholarly¹³

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) style manual, most recent edition¹⁴

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Education Libraries presents an interesting opportunity for LIS writers from different types of libraries to discuss and share information that is related to education. This journal is well established, which means writers can be assured that they are submitting their work to a credible source and contributing to the scholarly conversation.

The journal is indexed in Education Libraries is indexed in ERIC, EBSCOhost’s Education Collection, and Library Literature.¹⁵

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: According to the SLA’s website there are more than 9,000 association members based in more than 75 countries.¹⁶ Information about exactly how many are a part of the Education Division is not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Just as members of the Special Libraries Association are located around the world, the readers of Education Libraries are also international.¹⁷ Because this is an international publication, differences in language and cultural practice should be considered.

Reader characteristics: It is safe to assume the readers of this publication are interested in academic libraries and their role in education. Due to the professional focus of this publication the readership is largely comprised of individuals already working in academic libraries with considerable experience in the field. The readers of this publication are likely to value education and research. They are likely to be interested in learning about new technologies as well as in innovative teaching methods. Recent articles demonstrate a general acceptance of new technologies and changes in librarianship.¹⁸

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It is likely that, as library employees, a majority of readers are very familiar with LIS subject matter. Additionally, we can assume that the readers are familiar with new information technologies issues as well as issues surrounding the growth of digital content in library collections.¹⁹

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

The most important characteristic of the Education Libraries audience is its interest in education and technology related to instruction and learning. Authors must keep in mind the fact that this journal is scholarly, and the widest audience is those who work in higher education libraries, therefore well researched studies are particularly important. Potential contributors writing book or technology reviews as well as opinion pieces may want to relate their subject back to its value to learning in order to appeal to the audience.

Last updated: April 13, 2017

References

Show 19 footnotes

← Previous 1 … 9 10 11 12 Next →