Wiki Tags Archives: Open access

International Journal of Librarianship (IJoL)

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

TitleInternational Journal of Librarianship (IJoL)

ISSN: 2474-3542

Websitehttp://ojs.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol

Purpose, objective, or mission: The International Journal of Librarianship (IJoL) “is a peer­-reviewed open access journal dedicated to publishing articles on as broad an array of topics as possible from all aspects of librarianship in all types of libraries.”1

Target audience: IJoL‘s primary audience is members of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA) that provides a forum for discussion and development among Chinese American librarians and information professionals.2 However, as an international and open-access journal, IJoL‘s scope and reach is worldwide.

Publisher: IJoL is published by CALA, an affiliate of the ALA.3

Peer reviewed? Yes. Articles deemed suitable by the editors are double-blind peer reviewed.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online.

Content: “IJoL publishes original research papers, practical developments, reviews, and commentaries of value to professional practice in librarianship in general. It encourages communication on librarianship within and among relevant professional and academic communities.”5 Regular columns include Featured Articles, Reports from the Field, LIS Education around the World, Commentaries, Reviews, and News.

Frequency of publication: Twice each year.6

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: IJoL accepts Featured Articles, which are original research or comprehensive, in-depth analyses; Reports from the Field, which “describe the implementation and assessment of innovative practices in libraries of all types” and report on distinguished Chinese librarians; Reviews of books, articles, or conference papers; and Commentaries offering perspectives on current topics.7 The journal publishes on all topics related to libraries and librarianship, including “academic, research, public, school and special libraries” and other information institutions; it is focused on, but not limited to, “major development of Chinese librarianship throughout the world.”8

Submission and review process: IJoL uses the Open Journal Systems9 online portal for submissions and offers guidelines and a submission checklist, which authors should follow to ensure that processing and publishing is not delayed.10 Each section has its own policies, so authors should check that their submissions meet these requirements as well. The editor sends suitable articles to two referees for blind review, and articles may be accepted as is, with revisions, or declined.11

Editorial tone: The tone is overall scholarly but also appropriate to each column and topic.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, sixth edition.12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

IJoL‘s first issue was in 2016, so it is a very new scholarly journal. It is the official journal of CALA, which was established in the 1970s.13 In the first editorial, Editor-in-Chief Guoying Liu introduces the journal as “a forum for librarians and other researchers from Canada, China, the UK, the US and other countries to share their research, best practices and perspectives in international librarianship, international collaboration and academic exchange, library spaces and services, library technology and innovation, and other aspects of information science and studies.”14 This journal is a great fit for scholars, professionals, and students whose work or research focuses on Chinese librarianship, but the journal publishes on all topics of library and information science, including all types of libraries and information institutions.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: IJoL statistics show that there are 131 registered users and 113 registered readers in 2018.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: IJoL readership is most likely Chinese and Chinese American librarians and information professionals. However, this is an English-language international journal that publishes on all LIS topics, and its readership is similarly international. Authors should keep in mind this international readership and explain regionalisms and particular terms and practices accordingly.

Reader characteristics: Readers are librarians and information professionals, scholars, and students interested in Chinese librarianship and information communities, as well as broader topics and current trends affecting LIS professionals throughout the world. The editors of IJoL are from universities and libraries in the United States, China, and Canada.16

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers most likely have a strong understanding of LIS subject matter; however, writers should explain regional or particular terms, concepts, and practices for an international readership.

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

LIS authors should keep in mind that the readership for this journal is global but there is a particular interest in Chinese librarianship throughout the United States, Canada, and China. Readers of the journal are LIS scholars, professionals, and graduate students who are interested in developments particular to Chinese user populations and research and practices that can be extended to a similarly global population. As a new, open-access journal, LIS authors can peruse what types of articles are being published and editorials that explain the journal’s direction.17

Last updated: April 6, 2018


References

Show 17 footnotes

  1. “Editorial Policies,” International Journal of Librarianship, accessed April 3, 2018, http://ojs.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/about/editorialPolicies.
  2. “Membership,” cala-web.org, accessed April 3, 2018, http://www.cala-web.org/membership.
  3. “Editorial Policies.”
  4. “Editorial Policies.”
  5. “Editorial Policies.”
  6. “Editorial Policies.”
  7. “Submissions,” International Journal of Librarianship, accessed April 3, 2018, http://ojs.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/about/submissions.
  8. “Editorial Policies.”
  9. “About This Publishing System,” International Journal of Librarianship, accessed April 3, 2018, http://ojs.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/about/aboutThisPublishingSystem.
  10. “Submissions.”
  11. “Editorial Policies.”
  12. “Submissions.”
  13. “About,” cala-web.org, accessed April 3, 2018, http://www.cala-web.org/about.
  14. Guoying Liu, “Editorial: Message from Editor-in-Chief,” International Journal of Librarianship 1, no. 1 (2016): 1, https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2016.vol1.1.17.
  15. “Statistics,” International Journal of Librarianship, accessed April 3, 2018, http://ojs.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/about/statistics?statisticsYear=2018.
  16. “Editorial Team,” International Journal of Librarianship, accessed April 3, 2018, http://ojs.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/about/editorialTeam.
  17.  Guoying Liu, “Editorial: Celebrating One Year Anniversary and Introducing the Third Issue,” International Journal of Librarianship 2, no. 2 (2017): 1-2, https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2017.vol2.2.54.
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School of Information Student Research Journal (SRJ)

Image courtesy of Student Research Journal


 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: School of Information Student Research Journal (SRJ)

ISSN: 2575-2499

Website: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The School of Information Student Research Journal (SRJ) “aims to showcase excellent graduate student scholarship in library and information science, archival studies, and records management. Adhering to a rigorous double-blind peer review process, SRJ upholds critical standards of scholarship in regards to the conceptualization, execution, references, and overall value of published manuscripts.”1 The journal’s former title was SLIS Student Research Journal (2010-2017).2

Target audience: Library and information science (LIS) students and the larger LIS community.

Publisher: San José State University (SJSU).3

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

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online, open access. SRJ is hosted by SJSU ScholarWorks.5

Content: SRJ publishes research-oriented manuscripts, critical essays, and academic book reviews. Published articles cover a wide range of LIS and related topics, such as “archives, or records management theory, policy, application, or practice which advance intellectual inquiry in the field.”6

Frequency of publication: SRJ is published biannually.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Policies.

Types of contributions accepted: SRJ accepts manuscripts from graduate students enrolled at the time of submission.8 “Research manuscripts should investigate an original idea or set of ideas or circumstance, and may be empirical, critical, or theoretical in nature. Critical essays should analyze and contribute an interpretation, or analytical perspective, or new theme or concept to a theory or body of work, and may address a collection of published scholarship.” For book reviews, writers should contact the editor-in-chief to ensure the book fits the journal’s scope and is available for reviewing. There is also a list of suggested titles.9

Submission and review process: Manuscripts are accepted on a rolling basis through electronic submission. The editor-in-chief reviews manuscripts, consulting with the editorial advisory board as warranted. If approved, the manuscript is submitted to at least two peer reviewers for double-blind review. The editor-in-chief contacts the author, advising if the manuscript is accepted, needs minor or major revisions, or is rejected. Most manuscripts require revision before final acceptance.10

Editorial tone: The tone of SRJ is scholarly, and the journal follows the “conventions of scholarly discourse.”11

Style guide used:  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition.12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

SRJ is an ideal peer-reviewed journal for LIS graduate students to submit their work. The journal is produced by a team of SJSU graduate students and a faculty advisory board, which includes prominent SJSU faculty. Submitting to SRJ offers an opportunity for students to share their best work with LIS community leaders, to market themselves as emerging LIS professionals, and to begin forging professional relationships. SRJ offers a prime opportunity for LIS students writing about archives and records management or museum studies, as it publishes articles in these areas as well as in library and information science. Potential authors should watch this brief informational video created by the SRJ team.13

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Specific data are not available, but the journal’s website does indicate the number of full-text downloads for each article.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: SRJ is aimed at both LIS students and the larger LIS community, and since its inception in 2011, it has attracted student authors from a wide variety of other LIS graduate schools. SRJ has a worldwide reach because it is an open-access journal and because the SJSU School of Information attracts U.S. and international students.15

Reader characteristics: Readers of the publication are graduate students studying a wide variety of LIS and related subjects and professionals from all types of libraries and institutions. SRJ publishes original research and critical reviews and essays, so readers will expect intellectual rigor and fresh perspectives on issues in library and information sciences, archives, museums, records management, and technology.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Because this publication accepts submissions about virtually all areas of information science and targets LIS professionals in all stages and settings of the profession, it would be wise to briefly introduce concepts and explain any specialized terminology for the benefit of those outside of one’s area of expertise.16

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

LIS students and professionals are a diverse group, with interdisciplinary workplaces and interests. SRJ publishes papers on virtually any topic related to LIS, making this publication a possibility for students writing on many subjects. Submissions to SRJ should be scholarly and critical, with a clear contribution to graduate research and its promotion of intellectual inquiry. Critical pieces and original studies of emerging and ongoing issues such as open-source LIS models, collection development, information literacy, information-seeking behavior, user experience, electronic records and digital asset management, or a host of other areas are welcome here.

Last updated: March 16, 2018


References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “Aims & Scope,” Student Research Journal, accessed March 16, 2018, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/aimsandscope.html.
  2. Journal Home, Student Research Journal, accessed March 16, 2018, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/.
  3. Journal Home.
  4.  “Policies,” Student Research Journal, accessed March 16, 2018, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/policies.html.
  5. Home, scholarworks.sjsu.edu, accessed March 16, 2018.
  6. “Aims & Scopes.”
  7. “About This Journal,” Student Research Journal, accessed March 16, 2018, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/about.html.
  8. “Policies.”
  9. “Aims & Scope.”
  10. “Policies.”
  11. “About This Journal.”
  12. “Style Guide & Formatting Requirements,” Student Research Journal, accessed March 16, 2018, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/styleguide.html.
  13. “Journal Home.”
  14. “Most Popular Articles,” Student Research Journal, accessed March 16, 2018, http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/topdownloads.html.
  15. “MLIS Student Profiles,” SJSU School of Information, accessed March 16, 2018, http://ischool.sjsu.edu/programs/mlis/student-profiles.
  16. “Policies.”
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Urban Library Journal (ULJ)

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Urban Library Journal (ULJ)

ISSN: 1944-9682

Website: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/ulj/

Purpose, objective, or mission: ULJ “addresses all aspects of urban libraries and librarianship.” The journal was formerly titled Urban Academic Librarian.1

Target audience: ULJ’s audience includes librarians, LIS students, and other professionals working in urban libraries, those serving diverse and urban populations, and those interested in these and related fields.

Publisher: ULJ is published by the Library Association of the City University of New York (LACUNY)2 and is sponsored by the Office of Library Services at CUNY Central.3 The journal is hosted by CUNY Academic Works.4

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

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online.6

Content: ULJ publishes research, theory, and practice articles addressing “all aspects of urban libraries and librarianship.”7 The journal has a regular book review section. Furthermore, the journal publishes Selected Proceedings from the 2017 LACUNY Institute, which regularly appear in one issue of each volume.8

Frequency of publication: ULJ “is published online on a rolling basis, and will be collected into issues twice per year.” 9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Author Guidelines.

Types of contributions accepted: ULJ “welcomes articles dealing with academic, research, public, school, and special libraries in an urban setting”10 The journal’s scope is broad, as it invites manuscripts on “areas such as public higher education, urban studies, multiculturalism, library and educational services to immigrants, preservation of public higher education, and universal access to World Wide Web resources.” Further, the editors invite recommendations for columns or special issues.11 The website lists the most popular articles, according to full-text download statistics.12

Submission and review process: ULJ accepts submissions via the journal’s website.13 Authors can submit manuscripts at any time. Manuscripts that the editors determine to be in the journal’s scope are sent to at least two reviewers for double-blind peer review, and authors receive reviewers’ comments. The editors strive to make decisions on manuscripts, including peer review, within sixty days of receipt.

Editorial tone: Articles exhibit a formal, academic style.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

ULJ is a long-established leading journal, and its peer-review process, emphasis on research, and scholarly tone make it a viable option for LIS professionals and scholars with experience in urban libraries or whose research focuses on theories and practices in urban and diverse settings. It may not be suitable for beginning or student authors, but those with workable ideas should not be discouraged from submitting.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data are not available for ULJ. LACUNY, the journal’s publisher, has about 150 members.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: LACUNY members are City University of New York faculty and staff, as well as library employees from affiliated institutions.16 ULJ editorial board members are mostly from CUNY campuses. However, the journal’s reach and relevance are broad because it is an open-access journal and its articles are of interest to LIS professionals throughout the United States and in other countries. It is written in English.

Reader characteristics: Overall, readers have master’s degrees in educational technology, computer science, and library science, and are associated with urban academic libraries. The journal is also relevant to librarians, library staff members, and other LIS professionals in a variety of libraries in urban settings or with diverse populations. Academic librarians and practitioners in other types of libraries, including school, public, and special, contribute to the journal, showing that the interest in urban libraries is emphasized more than the library type.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will possess considerable knowledge about LIS topics and subjects, with many readers knowledgeable about the inner workings of academic libraries. However, specialized jargon should be avoided or explained, in order to appeal to a wide range of librarians.

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

ULJ is a scholarly journal that publishes theoretical, practical, and heavily researched articles. Readers are from academic, public, school, and special libraries serving urban and diverse populations. Topics including services to immigrants, services to students, affordability and open educational resources, libraries as community spaces, advocacy, and the urban library setting are all suitable.

Last updated: March 23, 2018


References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “About This Journal,” Urban Library Journal, accessed March 23, 2018, https://academicworks.cuny.edu/ulj/about.html.
  2. “Publications,” lacuny.org, accessed March 23, 2018, https://lacuny.org/Publications.
  3. “About This Journal.”
  4. CUNY Academic Works, accessed March 23, 2018, https://academicworks.cuny.edu/.
  5. “About This Journal.”
  6. “About This Journal.”
  7. “About This Journal.”
  8. For example, Urban Library Journal 23, no. 2 (2017), https://academicworks.cuny.edu/ulj/vol23/iss2/.
  9. “About This Journal.”
  10. “Author Guidelines,” Urban Library Journal, accessed March 23, 2018, https://academicworks.cuny.edu/ulj/author_guidelines.html.
  11. “About This Journal.”
  12. “Most Popular Papers,” Urban Library Journal, accessed March 23, 2018, https://academicworks.cuny.edu/ulj/topdownloads.html.
  13. “Submit Article,” Urban Library Journal, accessed March 23, 2018, https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/login.cgi?return_to=https%3A%2F%2Facademicworks.cuny.edu%2Fcgi%2Fsubmit.cgi%3Fcontext%3Dulj&context=ulj.
  14. “Author Guidelines.”
  15. “Paid Members,” lacuny.org, accessed March 23, 2018, https://lacuny.org/Paid-Members.
  16. “Join Us,” lacuny.org, accessed March 23, 2018, https://lacuny.org/Membership.
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Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSQ)

 

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 Philosophy and Practice (LPP)

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Library Philosophy and Practice (LPP)

ISSN: 1522-02221

Website: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Per their website, this journal “publishes articles exploring the connection between library practice and the philosophy and theory behind it. These include explorations of current, past, and emerging theories of librarianship and library practice, as well as reports of successful, innovative, or experimental library procedures, methods, or projects in all areas of librarianship, set in the context of applied research.”2

Target audience: Library professionals (primarily employees working in academic libraries) interested in exploring the philosophy of librarianship.3

Publisher: University of Nebraska, Lincoln Libraries; University of Idaho Library4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS scholarly.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: LPP includes research-based articles covering all aspects of philosophy and theory of librarianship. Some of the many topics the journal has covered over the years include extended library-hour service, the information-seeking behaviors of journalists, information ethics, the information needs of women in prison, the creativity of public librarians, gaming theory, the role of academic libraries in developing countries as access points to print and electronic resources, and many more.8

Frequency of publication: Annually.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/instructions.html

Types of contributions accepted: Research papers on all aspects of philosophy and theory of librarianship.10

Submission and review process: Authors should email their articles (in .doc, .rtf, or html format) to the editors. The editors encourage authors to query them prior to submitting an article.  The journal only accepts unpublished articles and articles which aren’t currently under review elsewhere. Lastly, authors should be aware that “all manuscripts are checked using Safe Assignment software before they are sent for peer review.”11

Editorial tone: Scholarly.12

Style guide used: “Use MLA, APA, or any other style that embeds citations in the article, e.g., (Bolin, 2005), with a list of works cited at the end of the article. Do not use footnote or endnote citations. Please include links to any web resources that are mentioned.”13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Each issue of LPP covers an extensive variety of topics pertaining to applied research and the theory behind it. The sheer breadth of topics beneath the umbrella of applied LIS research, combined with the journal’s international scope (please see the “Audience analysis” section below) make this publication an excellent choice for new and seasoned LIS authors alike. Additionally, the journal’s flexibility regarding the style used (MLA, APA, etc.) make it an appealing choice for authors in both the humanities and scientific professions.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Although circulation figures are unavailable, LPP’s papers have been downloaded almost three million times. Nearly 700,000 of these downloads occurred within the past year.14

Audience location: Although LPP is published in the U.S.15, it covers topics pertaining to specific libraries and information organizations all over the world. The map on the journal’s homepage shows that readers live in New Zealand, the U.S., Jamaica, and numerous countries in between.16

Reader characteristics: Readers are educated, have an MLIS, a PhD, or are currently studying in an information and library science program. They may be students yet to work in an information organization, librarians, directors of information organizations, researchers, etc.17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: In general, it’s safe to assume that most readers will have extensive knowledge of LIS subject matter. However, as mentioned above, the articles vary widely, both in terms of content and complexity. Some articles are written in a less formal style while others are very scholarly, containing advanced language and foreign concepts that even a professional librarian might have trouble deciphering.18

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

Due to the broad scope of this journal, authors should write to a specific group of people, rather than trying to please every reader. Articles tend to address very specific topics (e.g., “Information Seeking Behaviors of Journalists in North India”),19 so readers will expect authors to be experts on their chosen topic. Additionally, authors shouldn’t shy away from technical terms or library jargon, since they can safely assume that at least some of their readers will be familiar with it.

 

Last updated: March 5, 2018


References

Show 19 footnotes

  1.  Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  2.  Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  3.  Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  4. Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018, http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/lpp.htm
  5. Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  6.  Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  7.  Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  8. Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  9. Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  10. Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  11. Library Philosophy and Practice: Instructions for Authors,” University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  12.  Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  13.  “Library Philosophy and Practice: Instructions for Authors,” University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  14.  Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  15. Library Philosophy and Practice, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 5, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520296753644/266299
  16.  Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
  17. Mary Bolin, email message to author, September 16, 2008.
  18. Mary Bolin, email message to author, September 16, 2008.
  19.  Library Philosophy and Practice, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, accessed March 5, 2018,  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/
Continue Reading

Library Hi Tech (LHT)

 

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
Continue Reading

Library Management (LM)

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Library Management (LM)

ISSN: 0143-51241

Website: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journal/lm

Purpose, objective, or mission: Library Management “reflects the latest research undertaken in academic, government and corporate institutions by reporting contemporary thought, whilst also exploring practical implications for those involved in teaching and practice.”2

Target audience:Library Management (LM) publishes articles of interest to senior library managers and academics.”3

Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited.4

Peer reviewed? Yes.5

Type: LIS Scholarly.6

Medium: Print and online.7 LM “is available as part of an online subscription to the Emerald Library Studies eJournals Collection.”8

Content: “The journal welcomes submissions on:

  • Strategic management
  • HRM/HRO
  • Cultural diversity
  • Information use
  • Quality and change management
  • Management issues
  • Marketing
  • Outsourcing
  • Automation
  • Library finance
  • Charging
  • Performance measurement
  • Data protection and copyright”9

Frequency of publication: Nine times per year.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm

Types of contributions accepted: Research papers, viewpoints, technical papers, conceptual papers, case studies, literature reviews, and general reviews, 3000 to 6000 words in Microsoft Word format.11 See the Content details (above) for more info on Library Management 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

Editorial tone: Scholarly.13 Also, while the content clearly embraces innovative thought and “big ideas,” many articles have a practical tone when addressing individual libraries.14

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Library Management is a highly informative publication which explores topics pertaining to libraries all over the world. For instance, in volume 39, issue 3/4, the topics covered include the economic crisis as it pertains to public libraries in Greece, agricultural libraries in Northern India, and a SWOT analysis of Jamaican academic libraries.16 The journal should also be of particular interest to Chinese authors, due to its annual Chinese supplement.17

LIS authors, whether professional librarians or library managers, have the opportunity to delve into current issues in library management and publish their research in a highly regarded academic journal.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Circulation statistics are not available. According to the Emerald site, however, Library Management articles are downloaded over 11,000 times per month.18

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Library Management is written in English and published in the UK but is international in scope.19 The editor lives in Australia, while the editorial board members live in various countries throughout the world, including the UK, Canada, India, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Africa.20

To ensure international voices have an opportunity to be heard, Emerald offers an editing service, Peerwith, which offers help with “language editing and translation.”21

Also, the aforementioned annual Chinese supplement is a Chinese language publication, “created specifically for Chinese researchers”22 with an “Editorial Board of eminent Chinese Librarians and Educators.”23

Reader characteristics: Most readers are senior managers and academics. Due to the journal’s international scope, its audience will have diverse cultural experiences. However, readers will share an interest in current research and contemporary thought related to managerial issues in academic and government institutions worldwide.24

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Because of this publication’s primary focus on LIS managers, readers are likely to have extensive knowledge of LIS subject matter.25

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

LM’s audience is a knowledgeable, diverse, and academic audience. Readers expect high-level, thorough, and thoughtful research on leadership and management issues in libraries. Potential authors who want to share innovative approaches to these issues, especially with implications in real library settings, will find a highly invested audience. Ideally, authors should hold LIS managerial positions themselves to enhance their credibility in the eyes of their readers.

Last updated: March 3, 2018


References

Show 25 footnotes

  1.  Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  2. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  3.  “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  4. Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  5. Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  6. Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  7.  Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  8. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  9.  “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  10. Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  11. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm
  12. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lm
  13.  Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  14. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  15. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lm
  16. Steve O’Connor, ed., “Table of Contents.” Entire issue, Library Management 39, no. 3/4 (2018).
  17.  “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  18. “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  19. Library Management, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed March 3, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1520112361456/117078
  20. “Editorial Team,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/editorial_team.htm?id=lm
  21. “Author Guidelines,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=lm
  22. “Emerald Launches Chinese Website,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/about/news/story.htm?id=1279
  23.  “Emerald Launches Chinese Website,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/about/news/story.htm?id=1279
  24.  “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
  25.  “Aims & Scope,” Emerald Publishing, accessed March 3, 2018, http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=lm
Continue Reading

Library and Information Research (LIR)

 

Publication Analysis


About the publication

Title: Library and Information Research

ISSN: 1756-1086 (Online)1

Website: http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir

Purpose, objective, or mission:

“LIR has the following objectives:
– To provide an overview of LIS research activity and developments worldwide;
– To publish research in such a way that it is accessible to, and usable by, the LIS community;
– To publish LIS research (including informal or in-house research) by practitioners;
– To publish practical case studies that illustrate best practice;
– To encourage reflective and evidence-based practice;
– To publish papers resulting from LIRG annual awards and prizes;
– To promote the use and understanding of quality research methods;
– To raise awareness of new tools, books and funding opportunities for research;
– To comment, and provide a forum for comment, on the state of LIS research.

LIR’s strap line is Research Into Practice in Information and Library Services (RIPILS). Any contributions falling within this remit and meeting one or more of the objectives specified above are welcome.”2

Target audience: This publication is written by and for members of the Library and Information Research Group, as well as all parties interested in current research topics in library and information science.3

Publisher: Library and Information Research Group, a Special Interest Group of CILIP.4

Peer reviewed? Only refereed research articles are peer-reviewed.5

Type: LIS scholarly.6 Although most manuscripts submitted to the journal are not peer-reviewed, all submissions involve LIS research of some type.7

Medium or mode of distribution: Online only.8

Content: The journal covers a wide variety of research topics, including the values and ethics within librarianship, institutional ethnography, qualitative research in LIS, etc.9

Frequency of publication: Three times a year. 10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Refereed research articles, opinion pieces, case studies, book reviews, reports on conferences, etc.11

Submission and review process:Length depends on the type of submission, although the maximum word count for any submission is 7,000 words. Manuscripts should be formatted according to a template available at the “Author Guidelines” page.12 Free registration is required for authors who wish to submit articles for consideration.13 All manuscripts must be unpublished and submitted in Microsoft Word or RTF format.14

As for the review process, refereed research articles are reviewed by a minimum of two double-blind peer reviewers.15

Editorial tone: Formal, scholarly, very technical.16

Style guide used: APA-style references.17

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Library and Information Research is an excellent publication for LIS researchers, including students. Graduate students who have taken a research methods course, for instance, could adapt one of their papers to meet the journal’s standards. Additionally, as an open-source journal, Library and Information Research has the potential to reach a large audience. Its status as a “research into practice”18 journal allows authors to present both new information and future possibilities through long and short articles.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The publication is an open-access, online-only journal,19 and thus, circulates daily. An estimate of circulation numbers is unavailable.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: The journal is produced in the UK,20 so more likely than not, a large percentage of readers will be British. Readers will be more likely to use British English than American English.21 However, since the journal is open access22 it’s safe to assume it enjoys readership worldwide. Due to its international reach, colloquialisms and unexplained cultural references should be omitted.

Reader characteristics: Readers will likely work in libraries or other research institutions in some capacity. Since Library and Information Research has such a strong focus on research, readers will favor objectivity over opinion, except when a piece is specifically intended to be opinion-based.23

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers must possess a high level of LIS subject matter knowledge to appreciate all the journal has to offer. Highly technical terms, e.g., phenomenography, are common, so it’s safe to assume that readers have graduate or post-graduate-level knowledge.24

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

Readers of Library and Information Research will expect meticulous attention to detail and in-depth knowledge of LIS research. Although not required for publication, readers will appreciate authors with professional and scholarly experience in LIS research, as well as those who have a background in sociological issues, e.g., social equality. Additionally, readers will expect writing to be technical and free of unnecessary fluff.

Last updated: February 27, 2018


References

Show 24 footnotes

  1.  Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  2. “Focus and Scope,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope
  3. “Focus and Scope,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope
  4.  Diane M. Rasmussen Pennington, email message to author, February 28, 2018
  5. “Peer Review Process,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#peerReviewProcess
  6. Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  7. “Focus and Scope,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope
  8. Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  9.  Judith Broady-Preston, ed., “Table of Contents.” Entire issue, Library and Information Research 41, no. 125 (2017).
  10.  Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  11. “Section Policies,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#sectionPolicies
  12. “Author Guidelines, Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
  13. “Online Submissions” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions
  14. “Submission Preparation Checklist,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
  15. “Author Guidelines,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 24, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
  16. Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 27, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  17. “Attribution Policy,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 27, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0
  18. “Focus and Scope,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 27, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope
  19. “Focus and Scope,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 27, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope
  20. Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  21. Library and Information Research, Library and Information Research Group, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 24, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/658167
  22. “Open Access Policy,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 27, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#openAccessPolicy
  23. “Section Policies,” Library and Information Research Group, accessed February 27, 2018, http://www.lirgjournal.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir/about/editorialPolicies#sectionPolicies
  24. Judith Broady-Preston, ed., “Table of Contents.” Entire issue, Library and Information Research 41, no. 125 (2017).
Continue Reading

Journal of Information Literacy (JIL)

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Journal of Information Literacy (JIL)

ISSN: 1750-59681

Website: https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/JIL/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The Journal of Information Literacy (JIL) is the professional journal of the CILIP Information Literacy Group. The journal “publishes innovative and challenging research articles and project reports which push the boundaries of information literacy thinking in theory, practice and method, and which aim to develop deep and critical understandings of the role, contribution and impact of information literacies in everyday contexts, education and the workplace.”2

Target audience: The target audience includes members of the UK-based CILIP Information Literacy Group and LIS professionals, scholars, students, and teachers, and those working in any field related to information literacy instruction and scholarship.

Publisher: JIL is published by the CILIP Information Literacy Group and hosted by Loughborough University Library.3

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

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online, open access.

Content: JIL “aims to investigate information literacy in all its forms to address the interests of diverse IL communities of practice.”5 Regular sections include Peer-Reviewed Articles, Articles from LILAC (Librarians’ Information Literacy Annual Conference), Book Reviews, Conference Updates, Project Reports, and Students’ View of IL.6

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: JIL accepts research articles that are “informed and evidence based, designed around an arguable research question, contextualised with reference to previous and current advances in IL thinking, [and] methodologically robust with a demonstrable research design.8 For the Students’ View of IL section, submissions should be “papers drawn from research (theoretical or applied) undertaken by students as part of a postgraduate course in LIS or other cognate disciplines, such as education or media.”9 Authors may also submit reviews of books, media, websites, and software relevant to information literacy practices; conference updates; and project reports “related to information, digital and learning literacies.10

Submission and review process: JIL‘s Submission page includes a section titled The Route to Publication that provides a helpful overview of the submission, review, and acceptance process. Authors need to format manuscripts according to the journal’s article template and verify that manuscripts conform to each item on the Submission Preparation Checklist. After manuscripts are submitted online, they are peer reviewed with comments on suitability and suggestions for revision; authors receive feedback and may resubmit for review if substantial changes are made.11

Editorial tone: The tone is scholarly, and writers should use UK spelling. The journal’s Submission page provides helpful guidelines and templates for expected style, structure, and argument.12

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

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

JIL “publishes articles from both established and new authors” in the field of information literacy. Furthermore, JIL “welcomes contributions that push the boundaries of IL beyond the educational setting and examine this phenomenon as a continuum between those involved in its development and delivery and those benefiting from its provision.”14 This journal is a good fit for LIS authors who conduct original research and novel scholarship in any area of information literacy. LIS graduate students and recent graduates have a great opportunity to publish in the journal’s Students’ View of IL section. JIL accepts 44% of articles submitted for publication.15

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Data not available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: JIL is published by CILIP Information Literacy Group, which “works across the UK and represents a UK workforce of 87,000 information professionals working across the private, public and third sectors to unlock the value of information.”16 Authors should keep in mind that readers are information professionals throughout the UK, but as an open-access journal for a large organization, it can have an international reach.

Reader characteristics: Readers are information professionals throughout the UK. CILIP explains that information professional “is an umbrella term for librarians, information managers, knowledge managers and data professionals.”17

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers have a solid and practical understanding of LIS subject matter.

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

Based on membership in CILIP, readers are UK information professionals in a wide range of libraries and institutions. Members are interested in staying up-to-date on the most current developments in information literacy and in advancing scholarship of and practice in the field. Authors should keep in mind the journal’s focus on innovative research, scholarship, and practice in the field of information literacy.

Last updated: April 10, 2018


References

Show 17 footnotes

  1.  Journal of Information Literacy, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 15, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1523821255563/626763
  2. Homepage, Journal of Information Literacy, accessed April 10, 2018, https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/JIL/.
  3. “About the Journal,” Journal of Information Literacy, accessed April 10, 2018, https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/JIL/about.
  4. “Submissions,” Journal of Information Literacy, accessed April 10, 2018, https://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/JIL/about/submissions.
  5. “About the journal.”
  6. “Submissions.”
  7. “About the Journal.”
  8. “Submissions.”
  9. “Submissions.”
  10. “Submissions.”
  11. “Submissions.”
  12. “Submissions.”
  13. “Submissions.”
  14. “About the Journal.”
  15. “About the Journal.”
  16. “Who We Represent,” cilip.org.uk, accessed April 10, 2018, http://www.cilip.org.uk/page/who_we_represent.
  17. “Who We Represent.”
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Pennsylvania Libraries: Research and Practice (PaLRaP)

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice (PaLRaP)

ISSN: 2324-7878 (online)

Website: www.palrap.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice provides (PaLRaP) provides opportunities for Pennsylvania librarians to share their knowledge and experience in all areas of librarianship with other librarians in the state and beyond.1

Target audience: Librarians and LIS professionals in Pennsylvania, as well as those in other states and countries.2

Publisher: The journal is published by the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh, and cosponsored by the College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association and the University of Pittsburgh Press.3

Peer reviewed? Articles in the Research and Practice section are double-blind peer reviewed. Essay and Commentary articles are not peer reviewed but are edited and fact checked. News, features, and letters  are not peer reviewed.4

Type: LIS scholarly journal.

Medium: Online and open access.5

Content: Sections appearing regularly in PaLRaP are Editorial, Letter, Commentary, Feature, Interview, Practice, Research, and News.6 Although the journal emphasizes scholarship from Pennsylvania libraries, the Research and Practice articles are original, current, and applicable to public and academic libraries outside of the state.

Frequency of publication: Twice a year.7

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submissions.

Types of contributions accepted: The journal is a forum for the “unique and valuable work of librarians in Pennsylvania.” PaLRaP “includes articles from all areas of librarianship, and from all types of libraries in Pennsylvania,” including original research, innovative initiatives and practices, and current trends and challenges.8 Each section of the journal has its own editorial guidelines, scope, and style.

Submission and review process: PaLRaP uses an online submission system. Registration as an author on the PaLRaP website is required to submit and check the status of manuscripts. Authors should read the section policies for editorial guidelines and to determine the correct category for manuscripts. Articles submitted to the Research and the Practice sections are submitted to blind peer review.9 The website provides a flowchart of the Open Journal Systems software, which is a helpful overview of the publishing process.10

Editorial tone: The Research and Practice articles are scholarly; the tone of other sections is less formal but appropriate for a scholarly journal.

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th edition,11 and the journal’s own “Additional Manuscript Guidelines for Authors.”12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

LIS authors writing from and about Pennsylvania will find an excellent outlet in PaLRaP. The journal welcomes submissions from all types of libraries and all areas of librarianship. The journal’s focus on Pennsylvania may limit the ability of LIS authors from out of state to get published; however, LIS authors whose research and practice is in Pennsylvania have a great opportunity for publishing in a high-quality LIS journal whose content is relevant to academic and public libraries beyond Pennsylvania’s boarders.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: This is a five-year-old online open-access journal directed specifically to librarians and LIS professionals in Pennsylvania.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: PaLRaP‘s focus is on libraries in Pennsylvania, and its primary audience is in Pennsylvania; however, it is an open-access journal, so it can reach audiences worldwide. It is written in English.

Reader characteristics: Readers will most likely be librarians in Pennsylvania who expect to read about research and practice from within their state. Readers will expect “to be exposed to the unique and valuable work of librarians in Pennsylvania that may not be published elsewhere in the library literature.”13

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will have LIS subject matter knowledge.

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

Although this publication focuses on library research and practice from the state of Pennsylvania, this is an open-access journal whose content is relevant outside of the state as well. Authors should keep in mind that there is potentially a much wider audience than just a local one.

Last updated: February 21, 2018


References

Show 13 footnotes

  1. “Editorial Policies,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/editorialPolicies#focusAndScope.
  2. “Editorial Policies.”
  3. “Journal Sponsorship,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/journalSponsorship.
  4. “Editorial Policies.”
  5. Homepage, Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, www.palrap.org.
  6. Tom Reinsfelder and Anne Behler, “Editors’ Note: Five Years of PaLRap,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice 5, no. 2 (Fall 2017), https://doi.org/10.5195/palrap.2017.169.
  7. “Archives,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/issue/archive.
  8. “Editorial Policies.”
  9. “Submissions,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions.
  10. “About This Publishing System,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/aboutThisPublishingSystem.
  11. “Submissions.”
  12.  “Additional Manuscript Guidelines for Authors,” Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice, accessed February 21, 2018, http://www.palrap.org/ojs/index.php/palrap/pages/view/manuscriptguide.
  13. “Editorial Policies.”
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