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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 Trends

By on March 12, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Trends

ISSN: 0024-2594 (Print) and 1559-0682 (Online)1

Website: http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library_trends/index.html

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their site, “Library Trends is an essential tool for professional librarians and educators alike. Every issue explores critical trends in professional librarianship, and includes practical applications, thorough analyses, and literature reviews.”2

Target audience: College and research libraries, public libraries, library systems and networks, special libraries, and international college and research libraries.3

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press.4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS scholarly; provides resources for the professional development of librarians and educators, with its research-oriented analysis of current library trends, literature reviews, and coverage of practical applications.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: Articles on library trends, practical applications, special libraries, emerging technologies, and more.8 Recent article topics include empowerment as it pertains to connectivity (specifically, Native Americans affiliated with Standing Rock, as well as parents living in rural parts of the Congo), informed asset-based pedagogy, and LIS services through WeChat in Chinese university libraries.9

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library_trends/guidelines.html

Types of contributions accepted: Library Trends does not accept single-article submissions; rather, each issue covers a specific topic, and manuscript submissions are invited and organized by guest editor(s). “Articles published in Library Trends are typically in the range of 4,000-10,000 words, not including references and supplementary material. Longer or shorter submissions can be accommodated, but this is dependent on the significance of the content and subject to consultations with the guest and general editors.”11

Submission and review process: “Articles must be submitted in Microsoft Word, typically via e-mail or an electronic file sharing service, to the guest editor, who will then shepherd it through for review.”12

Editorial tone: “The style and tone of the journal is formal rather than journalistic or popular.”13

Style guide used: The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition.14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Library Trends is an excellent choice for LIS authors who work well with specific writing prompts. “A guest editor proposes the theme and scope of a new issue, draws up a list of prospective authors and article topics, calls for submissions to the issue, arranges for review of the manuscripts, provides short annotations of each article’s scope, and prepares a statement of philosophy guiding issue development.”15 Working closely with a guest editor in such a structured manner allows LIS authors to hone desirable skills such as discipline and teamwork. It also provides valuable networking opportunities. All in all, this journal is a prestigious choice for both new and seasoned LIS authors.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “Print circulation: 459.”16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is published in English in the U.S.17, so it’s safe to say that a substantial portion of its readers live in the U.S. However, as mentioned above, many articles cover issues pertaining to libraries around the world, so authors should limit colloquialisms, specific cultural references, etc. to ensure their pieces appeal to readers worldwide.

Reader characteristics: No readership information is provided, although the journal allows advertisers to rent lists of subscribers who belong to a variety of scholarly associations, including the American Studies Association (ASA).18 Most readers will be interested in scholarly topics and will likely have advanced degrees. The publication notes, “Issue topics for Library Trends are developed in many ways. We value recommendations from professional librarians, archivists, and other information personnel, from members of the faculties of schools of library and information science, and from others whose concern is with issues of the management of cultural heritage,”19 suggesting that many readers value the preservation of cultural heritage as it pertains to libraries.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are likely to have a solid understanding of LIS issues and terminology pertaining to public libraries, international libraries, research libraries, special libraries, etc.20

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

Readers expect authors to provide well-researched articles on new and emerging LIS trends.21Additionally, readers will expect a thoughtful analysis of the theme in question (e.g., empowerment for the volume 66, no. 2 issue).22 Finally, due to the journal’s international focus, readers will expect authors to be well-informed on the ways specific cultures and LIS trends intersect.

Last updated: March 12, 2018

References

Show 22 footnotes

  1.  Library Trends, Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends ↩
  2.  Library Trends, Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends ↩
  3. “Advertising Info,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/advertising-info ↩
  4.  Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  5.  Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  6. Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  7.  Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  8.  Library Trends, Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends ↩
  9. Antony Bryant, ed., “Table of Contents.” Entire issue, Library Trends 66, no. 2 (2017). ↩
  10. Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  11. “Author Instructions,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/author-instructions ↩
  12.  “Author Instructions,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/author-instructions ↩
  13. “Guest Editing an Issue,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/guest-editing-issue ↩
  14.  “Author Instructions,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/author-instructions ↩
  15. “Guest Editing an Issue,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/guest-editing-issue ↩
  16. “Advertising Info,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/advertising-info ↩
  17. Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  18. “Mailing List Rental,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 12, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/advertising-mail-lists/mailing-list-rental ↩
  19.  “Guest Editing an Issue,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/guest-editing-issue ↩
  20. “Advertising Info,” Johns Hopkins University Press, accessed March 11, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/library-trends/advertising-info ↩
  21. Library Trends, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520795935546/48848 ↩
  22. Antony Bryant, ed., “Table of Contents.” Entire issue, Library Trends 66, no. 2 (2017). ↩
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School Library Research (SLR)

By on March 9, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: School Library Research (SLR)

ISSN: 2165-1019

Website: http://www.ala.org/aasl/slr

Purpose, objective, or mission: School Library Research (SLR) is the research journal of the American Association of School Librarians, which is a division of the American Library Association. The purpose of the journal “is to promote and publish high quality original research concerning the management, implementation, and evaluation of school library programs.” The journal also emphasizes “research on instructional theory, teaching methods, and critical issues relevant to school libraries and school librarians.” SLR succeeds School Library Media Research and School Library Media Quarterly Online.“1

Target audience: SLR’s target audience is “academic scholars, school librarians, instructional specialists and other educators who strive to provide a constructive learning environment for all students and teachers.”2

Publisher: American Library Association.

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.3

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online, open access.4

Content: SLR publishes original research reports, conceptual essays, and literature review and proposal papers.5 The journal also distributes “major research findings worldwide through both electronic publication and linkages to substantive documents on the Internet.”6

Frequency of publication: Each volume is published annually, but articles are added to the electronic journal after peer review and acceptance by the editorial board.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submit a Manuscript.

Types of contributions accepted: SLR accepts high-quality, original research on the the management, implementation, and evaluation of school library programs and on instructional theory, teaching methods, and critical issues relevant to school libraries and librarians. “Manuscripts may be based on original research, an innovative conceptual framework, or a substantial literature review that opens new areas of inquiry and investigation.”8

Submission and review process: Manuscripts, preferably in Microsoft Word, can be submitted via an online submission form or by email to the editors. Manuscripts undergo double-blind review, which usually takes eight to twelve weeks. If a manuscript is not accepted, the editor may forward reviewers’ recommendations to the author, and the manuscript can be revised and reviewed until accepted. Manuscripts are placed online only after full board review and majority acceptance; they remain open to critical review by readers.9

Editorial tone: The tone is scholarly and academic. The work submitted must follow all guidelines and present original scholarly material that adds something new to the field; published manuscripts must meet “the extensive review criteria.”10

Style guide used: €Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition) and an additional journal-specific guide.11

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This is a high-profile, standard-setting research journal. SLR is appropriate for LIS authors who have experience in conducting original school library research and in writing articles that following standard research reporting guidelines: discussion of research questions, application of appropriate research methodology, review of and reference to relevant literature, and clear conclusions. Conceptual essays and literature review and proposal papers must follow the journal’s structural guidelines as well. LIS authors should carefully read the journal’s submission guidelines and see the Definitions of Acceptable Manuscript Content section for particulars.12

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations:  SLR is a U.S.-based journal written in English. The journal is a publication of the American Association of School Librarians, so readers are concerned with issues related to school libraries in America, but they are aware of and seek out more global perspectives on these issues. SLR is an open-access journal, so it does have an international reach.

Reader characteristics: The journal reaches a broad range of readers: school librarians in a variety of K-12 settings, LIS graduate students, academic scholars and researchers, and other educators. Readers will share a belief in the importance of high-quality services for students in K-12 schools and a desire “provide a constructive learning environment for all students and teachers.”13

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: It is likely that readers have a strong understanding of LIS subject matter.

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

Readers will expect articles, especially original research, that inform their own practices in school libraries and that will further their understanding of the present and future of school librarianship. They will also look to the journal for interpretations of policies, guidelines, and best practices published by the American Association of School Librarians and to keep up to date on the association’s standards and recommendations.14

Last updated: March 9, 2018

References

Show 14 footnotes

  1. Homepage, School Library Research, accessed March 9, 2018, http://www.ala.org/aasl/pubs/slr. ↩
  2. Homepage. ↩
  3.  “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide,” School Library Research, accessed March 9, 2018, http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/SLR%20Submission%20Guide_UPDATE.pdf. ↩
  4. “Publications & Journals,” American Association of School Librarians, accessed March 9, 2018, http://www.ala.org/aasl/pubs. ↩
  5. “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  6. Homepage. ↩
  7. “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  8.  “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  9.  “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  10.  “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  11.  “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  12.  “School Library Research (SLR) Submission Guide.” ↩
  13. “Homepage.” ↩
  14. See, for example, “School Library Research (SLR) Editor’s Choice,” School Library Research, accessed March 9, 2018, http://www.ala.org/aasl/pubs/slr/editors. ↩
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Reference Services Review (RSR)

By on March 6, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Reference Services Review: Reference and Instructional Services for Libraries in the Digital Age (RSR)

ISSN: 0090-7324

Website: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=RSR

Purpose, objective, or mission: Reference Services Review (RSR) “is a leading journal dedicated to the enrichment and advancement of reference knowledge and the improvement of professional practice.” Further, the journal “raises questions, explores new frameworks for user services, advances fresh analyses and research and proposes solutions to diverse operational issues facing librarians and information professionals.”1

Target audience: Librarians, information professionals, and LIS students, especially those interested in reference, instruction, and public services.

Publisher: Emerald Publishing.2

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.3

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online.

Content: RSR articles “draw upon traditional areas of inquiry within the fields of information studies and education, as well as from newer interdisciplinary perspectives such as critical pedagogy” and relate to “all aspects of reference and library user services in a digital age.”4 RSR regularly publishes special issues, such as 2017’s two-part Transfer Students and Students in Transition.5

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Author Guidelines.

Types of contributions accepted:  RSR publishes research papers, viewpoints, technical papers, conceptual papers, case studies, literature reviews, and general reviews. The author guidelines provide a description of each article type in the Article Classification section.6 Topics are wide ranging, including user research, instruction, digital services and software, assessment, management, and any topic relevant to improving and innovating reference services.

Submission and review process: Articles are submitted to RSR using ScholarOne Manuscripts. The editor reviews the manuscripts and sends those that are appropriate for the journal to at least one independent referee for double-blind peer review.7  Reviewers are “distinguished practitioners, managers, administrators, educators, and scholars from library and information studies and higher education, as well as other fields.”8 Additional manuscript requirements and a production cycle with approximate dates and deadlines for the current volume are available on the Author Guidelines page.9

Editorial tone: Professional and academic.

Style guide used: Harvard style in-text citations and reference list. Examples are provided in the Author Guidelines.10

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

RSR is a strong choice for librarians and information professionals looking to publish scholarship and research on topics relating to reference and readers’ advisory, instruction, information literacy, and public services. It is interdisciplinary in nature, so LIS authors who write from other disciplines or perspectives (for example, critical pedagogy) will find an outlet here. Furthermore, RSR is a leading journal that “provides a quick and efficient service to first-time authors.”11

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: RSR “is available as part of an online subscription to the Emerald Library Studies eJournals Collection.”12

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: RSR is a North American English-language journal. It is widely abstracted and indexed.13 The editorial board consists of LIS professionals from North America, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada, so although the articles have an overall North American focus, the reach of the journal is international.

Reader characteristics: Readers include LIS practitioners, managers, administrators, educators, scholars, and students, with a wide range of professional interests in the area of reference services. RSR “is valued reading by the majority of North American library schools with its ‘au courant’ focus.”14

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will have a high familiarity with terminology, trends, and best practices relating to reference services; they will also be LIS graduate students familiar with but learning about these topics.

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

A typical reader of this journal will be an LIS professional or graduate student looking for innovative approaches and thoughtful analysis that is written in an accessible style.

Last updated: March 6, 2018

References

Show 14 footnotes

  1. “Aims & Scope,” Reference Services Review, accessed March 6, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=RSR. ↩
  2. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
  3.  “Author Guidelines,” Reference Services Review, accessed March 6, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=rsr. ↩
  4. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
  5. See Reference Services Review 45, no. 2 (2017), http://www.emeraldinsight.com/toc/rsr/45/2,  and 45, no. 3 (2017), http://www.emeraldinsight.com/toc/rsr/45/3. ↩
  6. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  7. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  8. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
  9. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  10. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  11. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
  12. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
  13. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
  14. “Aims & Scope.” ↩
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Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSQ)

By on March 6, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSQ)

ISSN: 1094-9054

Website: https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq

Purpose, objective, or mission: Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSQ) “is the official journal of the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association. Its purpose is to disseminate information of interest to reference librarians, information specialists, and other professionals involved in user-oriented library services.”1

Target audience: Reference librarians, information specialists, students, and information professionals worldwide, as well as members of the Reference and User Services Association.

Publisher: American Library Association.2

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.3

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online, open access to all issues.4

Content: RUSQ disseminates information in areas of interest to librarians, including “reference services, collection development, reader’s advisory, resource sharing, technology for reference and user services, and other aspects of user services.”5 Further, “through its many columns, reports, and reviews the journal also publishes an array of useful professional information.”6 Regular columns include From the President of RUSA, For Your Enrichment, Information Literacy and Instruction, Management, Amplify Your Impact, Readers’ Advisory, The Alert Collector, and A Reference for That.

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: Potential authors need to read the article “Thoughts on Scholarly Writing: Suggestions for Authors Considering Publishing in RUSQ,”7 by Barry Trott, the journal’s editor. This article explains RUSQ‘s acceptance, review, and publication process. It is also a helpful resource for authors who want to publish in any scholarly journal.

RUSQ “publishes empirical (quantitative and qualitative), theoretical, and historical research and essays as peer-reviewed featured articles.”8 Manuscripts submitted to RUSQ need to be within the journal’s scope, which includes “all aspects of library services to adults in all types of libraries.”9

Submission and review process: Manuscripts are submitted in a digital format as an e-mail attachment to the editor.10 Manuscripts go through a double-blind peer-review process.11 The peer-review, acceptance, revision, and publication process is detailed in Trott’s article.12

Editorial tone: The overall tone is scholarly with clarity. Articles should be grammatically correct and written in a simple, readable style.13

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, and its companion website. The submission guidelines offer examples of the required endnote format. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, or the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary should be consulted for questions relating to spelling and word division.14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

RUSQ is the journal of the Reference and User Services Association, which is a division of the American Library Association. As such, it is a leading journal in the field of adult user services. RUSQ is an ideal place for librarians and LIS professionals in public, academic, and special libraries to publish research and scholarship that uniquely contributes to the theory and practice of reference services to adult library users and that moves the profession forward. It may be a better forum for advanced, rather than novice, LIS writers.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: RUSQ is a U.S.-based journal written in English. The journal is affiliated with the American Library Association, so readers are concerned with issues related to libraries in America, and they are aware of and seek out more global perspectives on these issues. RUSQ became an open-access journal in order to reach more readers worldwide and to benefit librarians everywhere, especially where subscription costs are prohibitive.15 

Reader characteristics:  RUSQ readers are librarians, information professionals, and students in academic, public, and special libraries who have a keen interest in developments in the field of adult reference and user services. With the open-access policy, RUSQ‘s readership is expanding outside of North America, and writers should assume a global audience of professionals and students. Trott addresses RUSQ editors’ and readers’ expectations: “Prospective authors will make their manuscripts more attractive to editors and to readers by looking for areas that have not already been widely explored. If you are examining a topic about which much has been written lately, you need to make clear what your work brings to the discussion and how it forwards that discussion in useful and perhaps provocative ways.”16

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: RUSQ readers are very familiar with LIS subject matter. However, the journal’s style emphasizes that articles be readable and clearly written. “The tone of feature articles in RUSQ should be scholarly, but scholarly writing does not need to be impenetrable and obscure. Active voice, declarative sentences, and attention to language are all important.”17

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

Readers of RUSQ are LIS professionals and students working in all types of libraries and information centers. Potential authors must take into consideration the fact that readers belong to a certain segment of the library and information science field, particularly on the service side of librarianship, and articles must be aimed at informing and advising this portion of the profession. Authors should keep in mind the journal’s international scope and its emphasis on scholarly but straightforward writing.

Last updated: March 6, 2018

References

Show 17 footnotes

  1. Home, Reference & User Services Quarterly, accessed March 5, 2018, https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq. ↩
  2. “Journal Sponsorship,” Reference & User Services Quarterly, accessed March 5, 2018, https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq/about/journalSponsorship. ↩
  3. “Editorial Policies,” Reference & User Services Quarterly, accessed March 5, 2018, https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq/about/editorialPolicies. ↩
  4. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  5. “Submissions,” Reference & User Services Quarterly, accessed March 5, 2018, https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions. ↩
  6. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  7. Barry Trott, “Thoughts on Scholarly Writing: Suggestions for Authors Considering Publishing in RUSQ,” Reference & User Services 53, no. 1(2013):2-4, http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/rusq.53n1.2. ↩
  8. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  9. “Submissions.” ↩
  10. “Submissions.” ↩
  11. “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  12. Trott, “Thoughts.” ↩
  13. “Submissions.” ↩
  14. “Submissions.” ↩
  15. Barry Trott, “RUSQ Moves to Full Open Access,”Reference & User Services Quarterly 57, no 1(2017):2-3, http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/rusq.57.1.6433. ↩
  16. Trott, “Thoughts.” ↩
  17. Trott, “Thoughts.” ↩
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Library Hi Tech (LHT)

By on March 3, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Library Hi Tech (LHT)

ISSN: 0737-88311

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Library Hi Tech (LHT) is concerned with technology-assisted information systems that support libraries & cultural memory, education & the academy, health & medicine, and government & citizenship. LHT covers the IT-enabled creation, curation, representation, communication, storage, retrieval, analysis, and use of records, documents, files, data, and learning objects.” 2

Website: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/lht

Target audience: Librarians and information professionals, LIS researchers and lecturers, library senior management, as well as LIS students and academics.3

Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited.4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS scholarly.6

Medium: Print and online,7 with access available as part of a paid subscription to Emerald Library Studies eJournals.8

Content: From their website, topics covered in the journal include articles about system quality and reliability, integrated library systems, networking, strategic planning, policy implementation, security, automation systems, the role of consortia, resource access initiatives, architecture and technology, electronic publishing, library tech in specific countries, user perspectives on technology, how technology can help disabled library users, and library-related websites.9

Frequency of publication: 14 times per year.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht

Types of contributions accepted: Original manuscripts/articles (research papers, viewpoints, technical papers, conceptual papers, case studies, literature reviews, and general reviews), 4000-8000 words, submitted in MS Word.11 See the Content details (above) for more info on Library Hi Tech topics.

Submission and review process: The Author Guidelines page has a very detailed list of requirements for submissions, including an Article Submission Checklist. As is standard, the journal only accepts unpublished articles and articles which aren’t currently under review elsewhere. Authors are asked to create an account through ScholarOne Manuscripts and submit their manuscripts there. As for the review process, manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review after passing the initial editorial screening.12

According to a 2013 editorial, a Library Hi Tech manuscript takes up to 30 days to go through peer review, though authors can speed up the process by following the guidelines detailed within the editorial.13

Editorial tone: Scholarly/technical.14

Style guide used: Harvard style guide.15

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Library Hi Tech is a wonderful resource for staying abreast of the latest tech developments in the LIS world (sometimes even before these technologies become mainstream). LHT also has the distinction of being a journal affiliated with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE),16 a respected organization which promotes “the integrity of the scholarly record through policies and practices that reflect the current best principles of transparency and integrity.”17 Additionally, the journal supports all of its findings with systematic research. For instance, a 2017 article on Apple and non-Apple smartwatches administered an online survey and found that “perceived product attributes” are an important factor in selecting one watch over the other.18

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Unavailable. Per the Library Hi Tech co-editor, the publication has “a worldwide audience with a strong focus in North America.”19

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although written in English,20 the journal is international in scope, with members of the Editorial Board hailing from Germany, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, South Korea, Spain, South Africa, and the USA.21 Submissions need to adhere to Worldwide English language rights.22

Reader characteristics: Subscribers, writers, and editorial staff are primarily LIS professional academics working in universities and are interested in LIS-based technology trends.23

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will likely be very knowledgeable about LIS subject matter in general, as well as LIS technologies specifically.24

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

Readers of this journal are passionate about technology in the LIS workplace. They expect articles to present all findings objectively and methodically, in keeping with the journal’s strong research focus. Readers are likely to welcome articles about emerging technologies from an LIS student point of view, as well as case studies/examples of how technologies are used in classrooms (virtual or not), and in library communities.

Last updated: March 3, 2018

References

Show 24 footnotes

  1.  Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  2. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lht ↩
  3. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lht ↩
  4.  Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  5. Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  6. Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  7. Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  8. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lht ↩
  9.  “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lht ↩
  10. Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  11. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
  12. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
  13. Elke Greifeneder, “30 Days to First Decision: Time Span in Library Hi Tech from Submission to First Decision,” Library Hi Tech 31, no. 1 (2013): 5-7, accessed March 2, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831311310338 ↩
  14.  Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  15.  “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
  16.  “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
  17. “Core Practices,” Committee on Publication Ethics, accessed March 2, 2018, https://publicationethics.org/core-practices ↩
  18.  Kuo-Lun Hsiao, “What Drives Smartwatch Adoption Intention? Comparing Apple and Non-Apple Watches,” Library Hi Tech 35, no. 1(2017): 186-206, accessed March 2, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-09-2016-0105 ↩
  19. Elke Greifeneder, email message to author, 2013. ↩
  20. Library Hi Tech, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 2, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520039985618/137737 ↩
  21. “Editorial team,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/editorial_team.htm?id=lht& ↩
  22. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
  23.  “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
  24. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 2, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lht ↩
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portal: Libraries and the Academy

By on February 23, 2018 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: portal: Libraries and the Academy

ISSN:  1531-2542 (print), 1530-7131 (online)

Website: https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy

Purpose, objective, or mission: portal is an award-winning journal that focuses “on important research about the role of academic libraries and librarianship” and “features commentary on issues in technology and publishing.” 1 The journal “publishes articles that focus on all aspects of librarianship, knowledge management, and information services and studies within higher education.”2

Target audience: portal is “intended for an audience that is interested in the broad role and impact of libraries within the academy.”3

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press.4

Peer reviewed? Yes, double-blind peer review.5

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Print and online.6

Content: Each issue of portal “includes peer-reviewed articles on subjects such as library administration, information technology, new forms of support for research and teaching, and information policy. Other articles address technological issues, research, standards, and policy and strategic planning.”7

Frequency of publication: Quarterly.8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Author Guidelines.

Types of contributions accepted: portal accepts research and scholarship on libraries in the academy, especially work that explores the effects of technology on librarianship, the roles of libraries in meeting institutional missions, how the information revolution is challenging and changing library and information practices, and how libraries and librarians address the changing needs of the academy and academics. portal “welcomes submission of inquiries and proposals for topics that authors have under development and will provide guidance on the suitability for publication in portal.” The journal maintains a rigorous review policy, which requires scholarship to be unique in advancing knowledge in the field; needed and in demand, with intrinsic value and use; and used locally and of value to the field. For Features, authors may direct proposals to the appropriate editor.9

Submission and review process: The preferred method for submitting manuscripts to portal is via email with a Microsoft Word attachment. “All submissions to portal are subjected to the double-blind review process, and referees are explicitly asked to indicate when a manuscript is worthy but needs more detailed guidance to be fully acceptable for publication in portal.”10 Authors will usually receive the editor’s decision and the referees’ comments within four to eight weeks after submission.

Editorial tone: Scholarly.

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style.11

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

portal is a well-established, respected, award-winning journal.12 LIS authors who want to publish in it should read the 2004 article “Research and Scholarship Defined for portal: Libraries and the Academy.“13 The editors of portal encourage authors, especially new authors, to find experienced mentors to guide them through the research and publishing process. For manuscripts deemed “worthy” but in need of revision, authors are encouraged to work with an experienced mentor to incorporate the referees’ comments and to do further revision; revised manuscripts will be subject to double-blind review with different referees. Overall, portal maintains high standards of scholarship; however, the journal also values collaborative work between novice and experienced LIS writers in order to bring well-written, innovative articles to its pages.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data are not available; the journal is available through Project MUSE.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: portal is a U.S.-based journal that is published in English for an international LIS audience.16

Reader characteristics: The readers of this journal are interested in the role and impact of libraries within an academic environment. The journal’s readers are aware of the importance of a librarian’s work and of the need for careful and scholarly research in the LIS field. Readers work in academic libraries around the world and are researchers and scholars of librarianship in the academy.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are engaged academic librarians who will have considerable knowledge of LIS terms and subject matter.

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

The main audience for portal is academic librarians, faculty, library science students, information professionals, and anyone interested working in a library environment in higher education. Readers expected consistently high-quality, novel research and scholarship that helps librarians improve and innovate their practices and approaches in the academic library environment.

Last updated: February 23, 2018

References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “Overview,” portal: Libraries and the Academy, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy. ↩
  2. “Author Guidelines,” portal: Libraries and the Academy, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy/author-guidelines. ↩
  3. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  4. “Overview.” ↩
  5. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  6. “Overview.” ↩
  7. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  8. “Available Issues,” Project MUSE, accessed February 23, 2018, https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/159. ↩
  9. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  10. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  11. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  12. “Awards,” portal: Libraries and the Academy, accessed February 23, 2018, https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal-libraries-and-academy/awards. ↩
  13. Charles B. Lowry, “Research and Scholarship Defined for portal: Libraries and the Academy,” portal: Libraries and the Academy 4, no. 4 (October 2004): 449-453, https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2004.0068. ↩
  14. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
  15. “Available Issues.” ↩
  16. “Author Guidelines.” ↩
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Chandos Publishing

By on February 22, 2018 in

 

Publisher analysis

About the publisher

Name: Chandos Publishing

Website: https://www.elsevier.com/books-and-journals/chandos-publishing

Purpose, objective, or mission: Chandos is “an international leading publisher in contemporary library and information science, and social science. With a truly global perspective, Chandos produces high-value resource books combining theory and practice for researchers, academics, and practitioners. “1 They are an imprint of the publishing house Elsevier, founded in 1880.

Target audience: LIS professionals and those in the social sciences fields.

Owner: Elsevier

Are published books peer reviewed? Yes. Elsevier’s book proposal form asks potential authors to list three experts in the field who could provide input as part of the book’s review panel. All proposals are read by Elsevier editorial staff and selected external reviewers.2

Types of books published: Reference, textbooks, research books.

Medium: Print and digital.

Topics covered: Over 300 titles are incorporated  into the following key series:

    • Information Professional Series
    • Social Media Series
    • Learning and Teaching Series
    • Asian Studies Series3

Number of titles published per year: In 2020, Chandos published five books in the LIS field.4

About the publisher’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://www.elsevier.com/authors/book-authors

Types of submissions accepted: “We offer a range of digital and print products to suit different subject areas, information types and customer needs. These include: reference, textbooks, fast-turn content, Major Reference Works, Reference Modules, stories and serials, laboratory and practical manuals, and atlases.” 5

Information that needs to be included in your proposal:

  • Working Title
  • Key Words
  • Author(s) and/or editors(s)
  • Aims and scope/Background and purpose
  • Your intended audience and benefits
  • Competing resources
  • Table of contents
  • Publishing Timeline
  • Sample content/chapter
  • Qualified reviewers

To access the official Proposal form, see Submissions process section HERE

Submission and review process: Download and fill out the proposal and send the completed form to our proposal mailbox including the following details in the subject line of your email:  Proposal in (subject area) / (author name: working title)6

Editorial tone: Professional. The home page for Chandos Publishing states that they produce books for researchers, academics and practitioners.7

Style guide used: Unknown.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publisher’s potential for LIS authors

Though Elsevier is a large publishing house that is heavy on journals, LIS book authors could possibly find a good fit with Chandos. In 2020, some of their published book titles included Disaster Planning for Special Libraries, Future Directions in Digital Information, and Technology, Change, and the Academic Library. 8Elsevier is especially supportive of less experienced researchers and authors. Their website Researcher Academy offers in depth teaching modules to help authors learn about getting their works published and promoted.

 

Audience analysis

About the publisher’s audience

Size: Chandos is a sizable LIS publisher. Their online catalog shows 598 books currently in print.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Though Elsevier’s headquarters is in the Netherlands, Chandos states that they are an international publisher for the global LIS community. They feature a book series entitled the Asian Studies series, producing titles such as China’s Publishing Industry and Scholarly Communication in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Chandos also publishes international titles such as Succession Planning in Canadian Academic Libraries and Australian Library Supervision and Management.

Reader characteristics: Readers of works published by Chandos will likely be LIS academics and professionals seeking out books on specific subject matter.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: The home page for Chandos publishing states that they publish for “researchers, academics and practitioners,” so authors can assume that readers could potentially have an expert knowledge in the field.

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

Readers of works published by Chandos are LIS professionals located all over the world. With works such as Disaster Planning for Special Libraries and The Impact of Print-On-Demand on Academic Books, it’s clear that readers come to Chandos with well defined information needs that pertain to specific areas within the LIS field.

Last updated: February 22, 2018

References

Show 8 footnotes

  1. “About,” Elsevier.com, accessed February 20, 2018, https://www.elsevier.com/books-and-journals/chandos-publishing ↩
  2. “Book Authors,” Elsevier.com, accessed February 22, 2018, https://www.elsevier.com/authors/book-authors ↩
  3. “About.” ↩
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