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Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science

By on April 28, 2020 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science / La Revue canadienne des sciences de l’information et de bibliothéconomie

ISSN: 1195-096X (Print) and 1920-7239 (Online)1

Website: http://cais-acsi.ca/the-canadian-journal-of-information-and-library-science/

Purpose, objective, or mission: As the vehicle of the Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS), the journal seeks to advance the study of information and library science in Canada “by serving as a forum for discussion of theory and research. The journal is concerned with research findings, understanding of issues in the field, information practices of individuals and groups, and understanding of the history, economics, and technology of information or library systems and services.”2

Target audience: Canadian LIS community3

Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Journals Division4

Peer reviewed? Yes5

Type: LIS scholarly6

Medium: Print. It’s available online via Project MUSE7

Content: “The journal publishes research papers, scholarly opinion papers, reviews of research, brief communications, and reviews of books and other media” in both English and French.8

Frequency of publication: Quarterly9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://cais-acsi.ca/guidelines-for-submission/

Types of contributions accepted: The journal accepts submissions of “research papers, scholarly opinion papers, reviews of research, brief communications, and reviews of books and other media” in both English and French. Reviews of publications by Canadian authors are of particular interest.10

Submission and review process: Manuscripts should be submitted to the online system. A tentative title and an abstract of 50-100 words, preferably in both English and French, should be included. Submissions will be reviewed by at least two independent referees. Additional details about manuscript formatting are available on the journal website.11

Editorial tone: Academic/ Scholarly12

Style guide used: The journal uses an in-house style that is outlined on its website.13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

The Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science provides an excellent opportunity for LIS authors looking to publish scholarly, career advancing work and establish a presence outside the United States.

This publication is abstracted and indexed in Academic Search Elite/Premier, Canadian Periodical Index, Computer and Control Abstracts, Cultures, Langues, Textes: La revue de sommaires, Current Contents: Social and Behavioural Sciences, ERIC, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, International Bibliography of Book Reviews of Scholarly Literature on the Humanities and Social Sciences (IBR), International Bibliography of Periodical Literature on the Humanities and Social Science (IBZ), SCOPUS, Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA), Library Literature, Professional Development Collection, and Social Science Citation Index.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Exact circulation numbers are not available, but the journal is a benefit of membership in Canadian Association for Information Science / L’association canadienne des sciences de l’information (CAIS-ACIS). Membership is automatic for all attendees of the annual conference of the association.15 The journal is also available online through Project MUSE.16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This journal, while covering LIS topics in general, is written and aimed at LIS academics, both English and French speaking, practicing in Canada.17

Reader characteristics: The audience for this journal is a mix of academics and industry and government professionals such as information scientists and archivists, librarians, computer scientists, and educators. Readership also includes those in “media studies and journalism, business, psychology, health sciences, education, law, and many other areas.”18 This indicates a variety of workplaces from universities, large corporations and government organizations.

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Considering their shared interest in the mission of the CAIS-ACIS, it suggests the readers, while not all information science professionals, have considerable knowledge of LIS subject matter.19

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

Readers of this publication are interested in furthering their ability to practice in the field, to acquire information on new research that will support their work in support of libraries. The readers are also most likely residents of Canada and, while most of the papers published would easily benefit a librarian or information professional residing anywhere in the world, submissions need to be relevant to librarians practicing in Canada.

Last updated: April 28, 2020

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1.  Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1588090872879/72671 ↩
  2. “Call for Papers,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/call-for-papers/ ↩
  3. “Membership,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/membership/ ↩
  4. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1406608675219/72671 ↩
  5. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1406608675219/72671 ↩
  6. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1406608675219/72671 ↩
  7. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/the-canadian-journal-of-information-and-library-science/ ↩
  8. “Call for Papers,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/call-for-papers/ ↩
  9.  Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1406608675219/72671 ↩
  10. “Call for Papers,” accessed April 28. 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/call-for-papers/ ↩
  11. “Guidelines for Submission,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/guidelines-for-submission/ ↩
  12. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1406608675219/72671 ↩
  13. “Guidelines for Submission,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/guidelines-for-submission/ ↩
  14. “Abstracting and Indexing,” University of Toronto Press, accessed April 28, 2020, http://www.utpjournals.com/Canadian-Journal-of-Information-and-Library-Science.html ↩
  15. “Membership,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/membership/ ↩
  16. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, Project MUSE, accessed April 28, 2020, http://muse.jhu.edu/journal/497 ↩
  17. “Call for Papers,” Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS), accessed November 15, 2016, http://cais-acsi.ca/call-for-papers/ ↩
  18. “Membership,” accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/membership/ ↩
  19. “Call for Papers,” Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS), accessed April 28, 2020, http://cais-acsi.ca/call-for-papers/ ↩
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Jinfo

By on April 26, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Jinfo (formerly FreePint)

ISSN: 1460-72391

Website: https://www.jinfo.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: Jinfo helps “information professionals turn evolution in information sources and technology into practical actions.”2 Through regular free newsletters and updates, and subscription-based articles and reports, Jinfo provides support on a variety of issues important to information professionals and workers.

Target audience: Workers in the information industry including librarians, consultants, freelancers, writers, technology experts, and commercial companies. The site was started in 1997 as a free email newsletter named FreePint and recently changed the name to Jinfo to be more memorable.3

Publisher: Free Pint Limited. Jinfo notes that only the official name has changed, nothing more. ProQuest still lists the publication as FreePint with no update to name.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional newsletter.6

Medium: Online.7

Content: Jinfo helps “information professionals turn evolution in information sources and technology into practical actions.” They “provide research on the role of source expertise in data analytics” and offer guidance on contemporary issues in the information profession.8

Frequency of publication: Twice monthly free newsletter, with content uploaded daily to members with a paid subscription.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://web.jinfo.com/go/about/contribute/

Types of contributions accepted: Jinfo articles are based on real-world experience, and writers are encouraged to share their knowledge with peers. 10

Submission and review process: Send a query to catherine.dhanjal@jinfo.com11

Editorial tone: Informative. Jinfo‘s “editorial processes help you state your ideas as clearly and cogently as possible.”12

Style guide used: UK Guardian style and UK spellings.13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication has welcomed a variety of submissions and is known for working with authors. Jinfo allows an author to gain visibility within the wider LIS community.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: As of 2012, Jinfo serves more than 80,000 readers across the globe through the newsletter email and the publication’s website and has a global audience of over 100,000 information professionals throughout the entire network.14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Jinfo is a UK-based company and reaches English-speaking readers. The newsletter is written in English and uses British spelling, punctuation, and word usage. Because Jinfo is a global publication, regional and cultural references should be kept to a minimum and explained where needed.15

Reader characteristics: Working information professionals with knowledge in their fields.16

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers will have extensive knowledge of information issues, but these issues may or may not be related to libraries. Many readers work in information environments but not necessarily library environments and library jargon should be kept to a minimum. General information jargon can be used, but where it denotes cultural or regional references, jargon should be fully explained.17

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

Given the diverse readership, both in career and local, this publication offers an opportunity to inform a global audience of readers interested in information and knowledge management. Even if you just submit one article that gets published to the site, you’ll be added to the list of Jinfo‘s “practicing professionals’ contributors,”18where more people can find out about you and your LIS writing.

Last updated: April 26, 2020

References

Show 18 footnotes

  1.  FreePint, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 26, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1521688073081/266909 ↩
  2. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  3. Jinfo Blog (2020) Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/blog/73340 ↩
  4. ProQuest. (2020). FreePint. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1412022762749/266909 ↩
  5. ProQuest. (2020). FreePint. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1412022762749/266909 ↩
  6. ProQuest. (2020). FreePint. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1412022762749/266909 ↩
  7. ProQuest. (2020). FreePint. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1412022762749/266909 ↩
  8. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  9. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  10. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  11. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/contribute ↩
  12. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/contribute ↩
  13. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  14. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  15. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  16. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/contribute ↩
  17. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/ ↩
  18. Jinfo (2020). About Jinfo. Jinfo. Retrieved from https://web.jinfo.com/go/about/people ↩
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Library 2.0

By on April 10, 2020 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

 Title: Library 2.0

ISSN: N/A

Website: http://library20.com/

Purpose, objective, or mission: This network is for librarians and others interested in web 2.0 as it applies to libraries.1

Target audience: Librarians and others interested in web 2.0.2

Publisher: Steve Hargadon.3

Peer reviewed? No.4

Type: LIS Professional and Trade Publication.5

Medium: Online.6

Content: Articles, announcements and forums, all things web 2.0.7

Frequency of publication: Irregular, determined by contributors.8

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: None.

Types of contributions accepted: Comments and links provided by members.9

Submission and review process: Users join, are approved and then are able to join forums and contribute to discussions.10

Editorial tone: Informative.11

Style guide used: Informative.12

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Authors interested in Web 2.0 technology will be able to find a lot of information in this forum and possibly establish beneficial contacts for collaboration. The discussion boards feature many testimonials from library professionals discussing their successes and obstacles with Web 2.0 matters.13

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Readership 60,000 people from 175 countries.(2020).14

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Not specified, but this is an international community as members are from 175 countries. Predominately written in the English language; however, this is an international community and events from around the world are discussed.15

Reader characteristics: Librarian staff and LIS students interested in Web 2.0. The discussions involve all types of libraries, with an emphasis on how libraries are using Web 2.0 technologies. The community seems to be very pro-Web 2.0, with very little criticism represented.16

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers likely have a better than average understanding of LIS issues.17

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

Writers well versed in web 2.0 and technology in general will be comfortable posting at this forum.

Last updated: April 10, 2020

References

Show 17 footnotes

  1. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  2. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  3. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  4. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  5. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  6. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  7. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  8. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  9. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  10. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  11. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  12. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  13. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  14. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/page/about ↩
  15. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/page/about ↩
  16. Hargadon, S. (2020). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
  17. Hargadon, S. (2016). Library 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.library20.com/ ↩
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Online Searcher

By on April 10, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Online Searcher: Information Discovery, Technology, Strategies  

ISSN: 2324-96841

Website: http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/

Purpose, objective, or mission: “Online Searcher is the definitive voice for information professionals in academic, corporate, government, law, medical, public library, knowledge management, web development, and freelance environments.”2

Target audience: “Online Searcher is the go-to publication for dedicated web researchers, database professionals, librarians in academic, corporate, public, and government work settings, and purchasers/licensees of information resources.”3

Publisher: Information Today, Inc.4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional or trade publication6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: “Online Searcher provides subscribers with the information they need to:

  • Effectively manage online research projects
  • Conduct successful internet and database searches
  • Determine the utility of new technologies
  • Build innovative services within their organizations
  • Assess the worth of new and changed resources
  • Discover trends affecting information professionals
  • Strategize services to boost the value of information departments and libraries”8

Frequency of publication: Six times per year.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Author-Guidelines.shtml

Types of contributions accepted: “Online Searcher covers the entire range of electronic information topics, including industry trends; new products and technologies; professional, business and consumer online services; the internet; enterprise-wide information management; practical search and information management techniques; information professional roles and responsibilities, electronic content; quality issues; web design from an information professional perspective; enterprise search; intranet creation and promotion; and search engines.”10

Submission and review process: Contact the editor with your proposal. “If you’d like to write for Online Searcher, please contact me (Marydee Ojala) to discuss an idea. I’d also be happy to review an outline or draft proposal. Author Guidelines are provided here. Marydee Ojala Online Searcher • P.O. 78225 • Indianapolis, IN 46278 • 317-876-8100 • Fax: 317-876-8300 marydee@xmission.com“11

Editorial tone: Per the Author Guidelines, “Write in simple, straightforward English. Short, pithy, fact-filled articles are much better than long, wordy pieces. Write tersely, in popular magazine-style, not in verbose, academic prose.”12

Style guide used: See the Author Guidelines for specific information.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Online Searcher is widely read by library and information science professionals, guaranteeing authors a substantial amount of exposure. There are numerous publication opportunities for LIS authors, as this journal touches on a diverse assortment of topics from book/product reviews, conference coverage, and technologies such as website design and user experience. Most information professionals will be able to find an appropriate angle to pitch to this publication.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: “The Information Today, Inc. website is now averaging more than 50,000 visitors each month.”13

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This publication is printed in English out of Medford, New Jersey. There is no audience location data readily available, but it should be assumed that the majority of its readership resides in North America.14

Reader characteristics: Most of this publication’s readership consists of working information professionals. Readers of Online Searcher (along with readers of its sister publications, Information Today and Computers in Libraries) are:

› 14% Information Professionals
› 27% Academic Librarians
› 24% Special Librarians
› 10% Government Librarians
› 21% Public Librarians
› 4% Other.15

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: This readership will have a solid knowledge of LIS subject matter, but as this is not a scholarly publication, academic jargon should be left out.12

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

Since much of the audience for this publication are information professionals, this is a great opportunity to turn practical experience and knowledge into an article that will reach an engaged and informed readership. Readers will, however, prefer concise, magazine-style writing that makes clear and fast points. As over 70% of its readers are librarians, this publication is a great opportunity to connect to one’s peers and showcase relevant information that others in the profession will benefit from.

Last updated: October 30, 2018

References

Show 16 footnotes

  1. “Online Searcher,” OCLC WorldCat, accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.worldcat.org/title/online-searcher/oclc/812038505 ↩
  2. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  3. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  4. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  5. “Author Guidelines,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Author-Guidelines.shtml ↩
  6. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  7. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  8. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  9. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  10. “Author Guidelines,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Author-Guidelines.shtml ↩
  11. “Author Guidelines,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Author-Guidelines.shtml ↩
  12. “Author Guidelines,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Author-Guidelines.shtml ↩
  13. “Media Kit,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/advert/2019/2019-ITI-Combined-Media-Kit.pdf ↩
  14. “Online Searcher,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher/ ↩
  15. “Media Kit,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/advert/2019/2019-ITI-Combined-Media-Kit.pdf ↩
  16. “Author Guidelines,” Information Today, Inc., accessed April 10, 2020, http://www.infotoday.com/OnlineSearcher/Author-Guidelines.shtml ↩
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Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal

By on April 6, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal

ISSN: 1077-66131

Website: http://associates.ucr.edu/index.html

Purpose, objective, or mission: Provides a voice for and promotes the exchange of information within the library support staff community.2

Target audience: The primary audience is support staff at all libraries including public, special, academic, and school. The journal is online and subscriptions are free.3

Publisher: University of California Riverside Library.4

Server and listservs are housed at the University of California, Riverside, and the website is powered through WordPress.5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: Professional newsletter.7

Medium: Online.8

Content: Topics range from how-to articles, opinion pieces, conference information, resource updates, fiction, conference updates, and research articles.9

Frequency of publication: Published three times per year, in March, July, and November.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=88

Types of contributions accepted: The newsletter discusses issues and developments related to the work of library support staff. Topics might include cataloging, collection management, public relations, technology, and personnel issues. Priority consideration will be given to submissions written by library support staff. The submission guidelines provide a list of topics for feature article consideration.11

Submission and review process: Articles of any length are accepted, however, the guidelines are: no longer than 10 double-spaced typed pages for features; four double-spaced typed pages for fiction; and one double-spaced typed page for poetry. Submissions are reviewed by a member of the Editorial Board. “Significantly edited versions will be returned to the authors for discussion or approval. However, most editing is done for punctuation, grammar and for establishing clarity.”12

Items can be submitted any time prior to the publication months and should be submitted to the editor, Kevin Dudeney, at: associates@hotkey.net.au.13

Editorial tone: Items that are written from or focused on a support staff point of view are preferred.14 A review of previous issues indicated that a personal style is common.15

Style guide used: There are no specific style guidelines given, but the editors state that “all submissions must be written in a professional manner, with citations for researched material provided.”16

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Since most LIS students have worked or are working in support staff positions, this publication may be a good place to get started writing for the field. While it is not a scholarly journal, it would allow an author to demonstrate their understanding of a staff position other than a librarian.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Currently 1,700 worldwide subscribers.17 Subscription to Associates is free, and all issues are available free online which suggests they may have an audience beyond their subscribers.18

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This publication originates in the United States however they claim to have “1,700 worldwide subscribers”, indicating an international audience.19 It is an English language publication.20 Due to international audience, avoid regionalisms and any references, for example, currency or location, are clear to the reader.

Reader characteristics: Audience, as support staff in all types of libraries, most likely reflects the general public, all ages and backgrounds, with an interest in connecting with other support staff and improving their job skills. Publication values the work of support staff and aims to promote the value of library support staff.21

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As library support staff, the readers can be expected to have the background and education to understand topics and terminology used in work accepted by this publication.22

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

Authors submitting work to this publication would benefit from reading the current and past issues to gain a clear understanding of their audience. It seems a cooperative approach, emphasizing the value of all team members in a library, would be useful.

Last updated: April 6, 2020

References

Show 22 footnotes

  1.  Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal, University of California Riverside Library, accessed April 6, 2020 http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/ ↩
  2. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  3. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  4. ProQuest. (2020). Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1410118090286/462559 ↩
  5. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  6. ProQuest. (2020). Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1410118090286/462559 ↩
  7. ProQuest. (2020). Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1410118090286/462559 ↩
  8. ProQuest. (2020). Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal. Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1410118090286/462559 ↩
  9. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  10. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  11. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). Submission Guidelines. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=88 ↩
  12. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). Submission Guidelines. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=88 ↩
  13. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). Submission Guidelines. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=88 ↩
  14. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). Submission Guidelines. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=88 ↩
  15. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). Archives and Back Issues. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=4 ↩
  16. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). Submission Guidelines. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=88 ↩
  17. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  18. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  19. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  20. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  21. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
  22. University of California Riverside Library. (2020). About Associates. Retrieved from http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=2 ↩
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Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals

By on March 8, 2020 in

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals

ISSN: 1361-32001

Purpose, objective, or mission: Ariadne is published by Loughborough University Library in the U.K. for Information Professionals to stay abreast of a wide variety of LIS topics. Initially, Ariadne was made available in electronic format by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), in order “to create awareness of Internet developments in the UK higher education LIS community”. 2 Website: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/

Target audience: The target audience for Ariadne is librarians, museum curators, archivists and associated technical staff & managers. Articles should cover topics that will be of interest to one or more of these audiences. 3

Publisher: Loughborough University Library in the U.K. 4

Peer reviewed? No. The editor makes all decisions regarding manuscript submissions.5

Type: LIS professional news. Although Ariadne does publish some research-oriented content, it is not peer reviewed and it cannot be considered “scholarly.” ISSN is 1361-3200.6

Medium: Entirely online. Ariadne is free and open access, so the full text of all issues (current and archived) is available on the website. 7

Content: Ariadne publishes a variety of articles on current trends and issues in the LIS field. A standard issue contains an editorial, a number of articles including a feature article, news, and events. Prominent topics include emerging technologies and trends, digital libraries and collections, information architecture, search engines, metadata, and conference information. 8

Frequency of publication: Undefined. The magazine was published quarterly up through 2010; as of 2013 there are two issues per year. 9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submission guidelines can be found on the Guidelines page. The publication’s website indicates to submit proposals the editor who will then correspond via email once an article proposal has been accepted. 10

Types of contributions accepted: Ariadne accepts a variety of contributions, including articles (i.e., scholarly papers, position pieces, and case studies), reviews, and reports on events, workshops, meetings, and conferences. The magazine also accepts proposals regarding organizations and work-related projects. There are no stated requirements for length.11

Submission and review process: Ariadne requires an initial proposal for all articles. Authors should submit an abstract, outline, or general description to the editor prior to submission of the completed manuscript. After an agreement is reached, a date for submission is set and the editor then sends out an explanation of the editorial process. No peer-review process is used.12

Proposals can be submitted through an email to the editor: editor@ariadne.ac.uk.13

Editorial tone: There are no stated guidelines for editorial tone. Main articles tend to have a more formal, scholarly tone, while reviews and other articles appear to be relatively informal (i.e., first person is acceptable).14

Style guide used: Ariadne does not use a formal style guide.

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Ariadne has remained on the forefront of the open access movement and continues to focus its content on current and emerging LIS trends and technologies. Thus, although it is not peer reviewed, it is a credible and highly accessible source with great publishing potential for LIS practitioners, educators, and students. Contributors might consider writing about LIS conferences or workshops, workplace technologies, online learning, digital collections, social networking, Web 2.0./Library 2.0, or Web-based information seeking behavior.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Ariadne is an open access electronic publication that is available free to anyone with Internet access. As such, there is no formal subscription process and no readily available circulation data. Generally, though, freely accessible online resources do at least have the potential of a large audience base.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: Although Ariadne maintains an international audience, the majority of readers are located in the U.S. and U.K., and content reflects this. 16

Ariadne is published solely in English, and based on geographic information, it can be assumed that the vast majority of readers are, in fact, native English speakers. However, authors should be aware of the linguistic and cultural differences that exist between the U.S. and British English. For example, submission guidelines indicate that “British English” should be used rather than “US English.” 17

Reader characteristics: Ariadne does not provide any detailed demographic information relating to the gender, age, or ethnicity of its readers. Because this is an international professional publication geared towards practicing information professionals, it is likely that the audience is relatively mature and experienced, but also demographically diverse. Although readers are likely to hold a wide variety of professional specializations, they are also very likely to share professional interests based on Ariadne‘s primary topics, which include digital libraries, technological developments, digital information management, and online learning. As a large portion of Ariadne readers work in libraries and archives, they are likely to be both interested in and sympathetic to library issues. They are also likely to share common values and beliefs about the role and importance of librarianship in an information society. It should be noted that Ariadne also features more opinion-based reader reviews, retrospectives, and reflections.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Ariadne readers are likely to be quite knowledgeable about LIS subject matter and jargon. As practicing information professionals, they would certainly be interested in library topics that are directly applicable to their careers. Read through the archived issues to get a sense of the current topics. 19

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

Ariadne is a professional publication with a very specific focus on practical articles that discuss sophisticated technological issues and developments in LIS. Overly general library articles, theoretical papers, or pieces that fail to directly address current trends in librarianship with a heavy focus on digital initiatives may not interest Ariadne readers. Submissions should be professional but not necessarily scholarly in tone, and they should focus on relating practical applications for LIS practitioners (see topic suggestions in the Publication Analysis above).

It is important for the author to note that although Ariadne is a British publication with a core following in the UK, the majority of readers actually reside in the U.S., and it is a global magazine. This allows for increased opportunities to effectively reach Ariadne readers.

Last Updated: March 8, 2020

References

 

Show 19 footnotes

  1.  Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals, Loughborough University Library, accessed March 8, 2020, http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/ ↩
  2. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/about/copyright ↩
  3. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  4. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/about/copyright ↩
  5. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  6. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines  ↩
  7. ProQuest. (2016). Ariadne(Online). Urichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1410383864655/259370 ↩
  8. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  9. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  10. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  11. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  12. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  13. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  14. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  15. ProQuest. (2016). Ariadne(Online). Urichsweb Global Serials Directory. Retrieved from http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1410383864655/259370 ↩
  16. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue ↩
  17. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/guidelines ↩
  18. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue ↩
  19. Loughborough University Library. (2020) Ariadne: Web Magazine for Information Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue ↩
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The American Archivist

By on February 28, 2020 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: The American Archivist

ISSN: 0360-9081 (Print) and 2327-9702 (Online)1

Website: https://americanarchivist.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: The website of The American Archivist states it “seeks to reflect thinking about theoretical and practical developments in the archival profession.”2 It is the journal of the Society of American Archivists, so the focus is on the cultural, social, legal, and technological developments in North America in particular.3

Target audience: Archivists and special collections librarians.4

Publisher: Society of American Archivists (SAA).5

Peer reviewed? Yes6

Type: LIS and History, scholarly7

Medium: Print and online open access; last six issues available to SAA members and subscribers only, or to the general public for a fee.8

Content: Includes research articles, case studies, commentaries on issues and practices of interest to the field, essays on international archival practices, annotated professional resource bibliographies, discussions of professional practice and initiatives, and letters to the editor on previously published articles and other topics of interest to the field.9

Frequency of publication: Semi-annual.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy

Types of contributions accepted: Original research articles, case studies, opinion and editorial pieces, articles concerning international practices or perspectives, professional resource bibliographies, and reviews of books, archival literature, finding aids, microfilm editions, exhibits, and computer software.11

Submission and review process: The preferred maximum length is 8,000 words for research articles and surveys, and 3,000 words for case studies and perspectives. These length requirements may be waived for certain articles in consultation with the editor. All articles should be accompanied by a 250-word abstract. Manuscripts are to be submitted electronically through the Submissions Manager in Microsoft Word, double-spaced and pages numbered throughout, with author’s name and address on the title page only.12

The American Archivist is a refereed journal. Each submission will be reviewed by two experts in the subject matter of the submission, and a final decision for publication will be based on their reviews. Final decision normally takes a minimum of three months.13

Acceptance for publication is usually on the condition that specified revisions be made. Once an article is accepted, author will send a short biographical statement and photo. Authors are given the opportunity to approve all editorial changes and to review page proofs for correction of printer’s errors. It usually takes a year for a submission to be seen in print.14

Editorial tone: Scholarly.15

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, latest edition; for professional terminology refer to the definitions outlined in A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology by Richard Pearce-Moses.16

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

If the author is looking for an avenue to enter the conversation of current, scholarly archival practices and the future of conserving information, this may be one of the more prestigious journals through which to pursue publication. Publishing in American Archivist is sure to have weight when interviewing for a position, or to fulfill tenure or promotion requirements for academic libraries or other scholarly institutions.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The American Archivist circulates to around 5,300 members of the Society of American Archivists, while the digital edition receives about 17,000 page views per month17

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: SAA members live and work all over North America. There is no specified or dominant culture or geographic area. This journal is mainly focused on North American archivists and their practices, and all articles are in English. However, this journal expresses a definite interest in the archival practices of their international colleagues, and specifically looks for articles on this subject.18

Reader characteristics: Highly educated individuals, most of whom have at least two university degrees. Most have history and/or library science graduate degrees. There are further specializations in every area imaginable, so a variety of interests are represented here. There is no information provided on age, gender, or ethnicity of the members. This audience works in a variety of professional settings, including universities and higher education, private corporations, nonprofits, historical societies, public and special libraries, art and history museums, religious organizations, and government agencies. Some specializations include acquisition and appraisal, business archives, religious archives, academic archives, museums, description (cataloging), electronic records, government records, manuscript repositories, oral history, preservation, reference and access, and visual materials to name a few. People may work by themselves with little to no assistance, or work in immense academic or private institutions with a fleet of colleagues and assistants. The most striking characteristic of American Archivist readers is that they love and believe in what they do. They are incredibly interested in their profession, and how to continue and expand it into the future. These readers are interested in practical approaches and ideas, as they are practitioners in the real world who are usually short on money, space, and time. Theoretical discussions with no practical applications would be of little value to them.19

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: With extensive knowledge specific of their branch of LIS, these readers are well versed in the history of archiving and preservation and specific technologies and practices, and are often eager to discuss and debate new technologies and future practices in the field. They are familiar with both LIS and archival terminology, concerns, issues, and theories. Archival studies includes several different models used for appraisal, weeding, preservation, etc., which are also discussed in this publication. Not all readers will possess an LIS degree as some enter the field by way of a history or museum education and background.20

Conclusion: Reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

The readers of this publication can be extremely intimidating for the new author and archival professional. Many of SAA’s members have been publishing in this journal (and others) for years, and their names are well-known and carry weight at conferences and national conventions. They have highly specialized and technical knowledge ranging over hundreds of topics, localities, and institutional settings. These readers are professional scholars and practitioners who value both theoretical and applied research in archival science. They will be looking for excellent academic writing, new ideas, or suggestive case studies with relevance to their own repositories. This is a high standard to meet. However, if an author feels he or she has something to add to the conversation of archival studies, this is the right forum. This is where the newest, most significant research, case studies, and experimental models in the field are disseminated and discussed.

Last updated: February 28, 2020

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1.  The American Archivist, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/search/-712559018 ↩
  2. “The American Archivist,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, https://americanarchivist.org/ ↩
  3.  “The American Archivist,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28. 2020, https://americanarchivist.org/ ↩
  4.  “The American Archivist,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, https://americanarchivist.org/ ↩
  5. The American Archivist, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1401982746364/41437 ↩
  6.  The American Archivist, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1401982746364/41437 ↩
  7.  The American Archivist, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1401982746364/41437 ↩
  8.  “The American Archivist,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, https://americanarchivist.org/ ↩
  9. “Editorial Policy,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy ↩
  10.  The American Archivist, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1401982746364/41437 ↩
  11. “Editorial Policy,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy ↩
  12. “Editorial Policy,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy ↩
  13. “Editorial Policy,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy ↩
  14. “Editorial Policy,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy ↩
  15.  The American Archivist, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed February 28, 2020, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1401982746364/41437 ↩
  16. “Editorial Policy,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy ↩
  17. “Advertising Opportunities,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020,  http://www2.archivists.org/advertising ↩
  18. “Advertising Opportunities,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020,  http://www2.archivists.org/advertising ↩
  19. “So You Want to Be an Archivist,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/careers/beanarchivist ↩
  20. “So You Want to Be an Archivist,” Society of American Archivists, accessed February 28, 2020, http://www2.archivists.org/careers/beanarchivist ↩
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American Libraries

By on June 30, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: American Libraries

ISSN: 0002-9769 (Print) and 2163-5129 (Online)1

Website: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org

Purpose, objective, or mission: American Libraries is “the flagship publication of the American Library Association,” dedicated to publishing news “about all matters of import to libraries and librarians.”2 Per the Editorial Policy, part of the ALA Policy Manual section 10.2: the editor is charged with “a particular responsibility to convey to the membership and other readers full and accurate information about the activities, purposes, and goals of the Association.”3

Target audience: ALA members, the majority of whom are professional librarians in the United States.4

Publisher: American Library Association (ALA)5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: LIS professional news magazine.7

Medium: American Libraries is a print publication, with occasional digital supplements. American Libraries Online is the online edition.8

Content: American Libraries “features articles on professional concerns and developments, along with news of the Association, library-related legislation, and libraries around the country and the world. Expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues make the magazine the premier forum for the exchange of ideas.” 9

Frequency of publication: The print edition is published 6 times per year, with a digital-only July/August issue and occasional digital supplements.10

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/submissions/

Types of contributions accepted: American Libraries solicits contributions of 600-1,500-word articles, including book reviews, features and opinion pieces on topics of general interest to members of the American Library Association. Letters to the editor are also accepted.11

Submission and review process: Manuscripts should be submitted via email to americanlibraries@ala.org. Hard copies may be mailed to American Libraries, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. After submission, there may be “editorial revisions, deletions, or additions that in their opinion support the article’s focus. Editors will make every possible effort to review copy with the author prior to publication, especially regarding any proposed substantive changes.” Authors should hear back about their manuscripts within 4-8 weeks.12

Editorial tone: “Informal, but informative. Factual articles must be inviting and readable, with all statements backed by responsible research and interviews with several expert sources.” The editor encourages the “expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues.”13

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.).14

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This 100+-year-old magazine is a well-respected publication with a wide audience. It would not be scholarly enough in tone to carry much weight for someone building up publications for tenure, but it is a credible, professional publication that provides a forum for practical information sharing among members of the LIS community. American Libraries publishes feature stories and opinion pieces as well as letters to the editor, and occasionally opportunities for columnists arise. Strong writers with appropriate story ideas should be encouraged to submit work here, whether they are LIS practitioners, educators, or students.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: Over 62,000 member organizations, individual members, and paid subscribers.15

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: A geographic breakdown could not be found, though American Libraries does offer rates for the US, Canada, and International subscriptions.16 It is probably safe to assume that the majority of ALA members reside and work in the United States. American Libraries is published in English, and readers are likely to be completely comfortable communicating in English. However, overuse of regionalisms should be avoided to appeal to the diverse and widespread American audience.17

Reader characteristics: Because readers are usually members of the ALA, the vast majority work in a variety of libraries and have a high level of education.18 As librarians, these readers are likely to be interested in library topics and sympathetic to library issues. However, it is not safe to assume that readers are homogeneous in terms of how they believe problems should be solved. Letters to the editor and point-of-view pieces indicate that readers can be highly opinionated. The editorial policy states that the “expression of diverse viewpoints and critical interpretation of professional issues make the magazine the premier forum for the exchange of ideas.”19

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Readers are likely to know a lot about general library topics and issues. Still, the audience includes all types of librarians, so authors would want to avoid highly specialized topics and language. For example, public librarians may not be familiar with (or interested in) the particular jargon and issues of military librarians, and technology specialists may not be familiar with the jargon of catalogers.[19. American Libraries, “About.”

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

Because this is a professional rather than a scholarly publication, appropriate submissions would be practical rather than theoretical. Possibilities might include current topics in librarianship, or unique twists on topics of general interest to the broad LIS community such as management, advocacy, and general-interest technologies. American Libraries readers have in common a professional or personal interest in libraries, but the audience is large, and readers’ specialized interests will be quite diverse. For this magazine, general library topics would be appropriate — articles on things like library technology, marketing, or management, the kinds of topics that would be relevant to all librarians, no matter what kinds of libraries they worked in.

Authors could assume that American Libraries readers would understand general library language and that basic terms would not need to be explained (the editors of American Libraries, for example, assume that readers will understand ALA’s common acronyms, such as ACRL). However, authors should try to avoid the kinds of topics or jargon that might be related to a specific library environment or aspect of librarianship, such as academic libraries or cataloging. Articles on highly specific topics or for particular ALA subgroups would be better directed toward the publications of the related ALA divisions, such as College and Research Libraries News or Children and Libraries.

Last updated: June 30, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “American Libraries,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 30, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1561931025099/41722 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “About,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/about/ ↩
  3. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  4. American Libraries, “Advertising,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/advertising-2/ ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  9. American Libraries, “Submissions,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/submissions/  ↩
  10. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  11. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  12. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  13. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  14. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  15. American Libraries, “Advertising.” ↩
  16. American Libraries, “Subscriptions,” accessed June 30, 2019, https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/subscriptions/ ↩
  17. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  18. American Libraries, “About.” ↩
  19. American Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
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Young Adult Library Services

By on June 29, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: Young Adult Library Services (YALS)

ISSN: 2374-7706 1

Website: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/young-adult-library-services

Purpose, objective, or mission: It is the official journal of Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), whose mission is “to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives.”2 In support of these efforts, YALS “features articles that showcase best and emerging practices, provides news from related fields, spotlight significant YALSA events and opportunities, and offer in-depth reviews of professional literature.”3

Target audience: Librarians and library staff who serve youths, ages 12 through 18.4

Publisher: American Library Association.5

Peer reviewed? No.6

Type: LIS professional news.7

Medium: Online.8

Content: Showcases best practices, news from related professions, reviews of professional literature, and spotlights YALSA events.9 Each issue may contain articles on important topics such as: intellectual freedom, intersectionality, cultural competence, adolescent literacy, youth development, and leadership. There may also be interviews, speeches, or bibliographic essays.10

Frequency of publication: Four times a year.11

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/yals/author-guidelines/

Types of contributions accepted: Feature articles ranging from 1,800 to 4,000 words in length. News of current interest to the profession, articles on best practices, news from related professions, and reviews of professional literature. Manuscripts submitted should not be under consideration or accepted elsewhere.12

Submission and review process: Manuscripts should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents via email to the editor. Contact the editor for specifics concerning submission and style guidelines. Submissions may be edited for clarity accuracy, and readability.13

Editorial tone: There is no stated tone for article submissions, and articles can range from academic to reports on field practice. A wide variety of styles is acceptable as long as the submission conforms to the themes and types of articles YALSA is interested in for their readers.14

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition.15

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

This publication is eminently suitable to anyone who has an interest in writing articles geared towards librarians serving young adults (aka “teenagers,” adolescents,” “youth”). It would be an excellent resume builder to have been published in the YALSA journal. The guidelines are direct and exact. Getting published in this journal might be difficult for a novice, but the attempt would be worth it.

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: YALS reaches YALSA membership, over  5,000 librarians and educators.16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: YALSA is centered in Chicago, IL, and the main geographic location served is the United States. However, they do outreach programs in other countries and some members are international, so the journal has a limited international scope as well. Cultural considerations do not generally enter into the journal’€™s authorship. Most authors appear to be writing solely for American librarians who serve young adults. These articles can be applicable to most any other developed country’€™s librarians serving youth (ages 12-18), however, even more than with young adult services in the U.S., there is a dearth of research and scholarship on developing nation’s youth services.17

Reader characteristics: Readers range in location, age, and gender. They are spread all over the U.S. in both public and school libraries. The vast majority of readers have MLIS degrees and work as Young Adult Specialists or youth generalists in public library librarians or School Library Media Technicians. Some readers are para-professionals or library assistants at these locations and do not have a MLIS degree. All the librarians who read YALS, however, are highly interested in services to young adults (ages 12-18) as that is the target issue for this particular journal. Some interests they all share are collection development for YA literature, community development, inclusivity, methods of incorporating library use into school curricula, intellectual freedom, and hot topic issues having to do with youth services. Since the librarians targeted by this journal work with young adults (ages 12-18), their needs tend to be a trifle more progressive than some fields. The world of youth services is constantly expanding and evolving due to YA reliance on the internet and technology. In order to keep up with the clientele they serve, the readers are going to be looking for innovative articles which will offer the ideas, experiences, and opinions of their colleagues.18

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Considering that most of the readers have MLIS degrees, contributors can assume that readers will be familiar with the profession’s vocabulary, particularly that pertaining to young adult services.19

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

The most important thing to keep in mind when writing for YALS is that the readership is going to be interested primarily in topics having to do with youth librarianship. They are not going to be interested in esoteric topics on archives, law libraries, etc. Some articles on cataloging or subscription databases would be acceptable, but primarily articles should be geared toward advancing, managing and delivering excellent library and information services to young people.

Last updated: June 29, 2019

References

Show 19 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “Young Adult Library Services (Online),” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1561864038399/442511 ↩
  2. American Library Association, “About YALSA,” Young Adult Library Services Association, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/yalsa/aboutyalsa. ↩
  3. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS),” Young Adult Library Services Association, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/yalsa/young-adult-library-services. ↩
  4. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS).” ↩
  5. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  6. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS).” ↩
  7. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  8. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS).” ↩
  9. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS).” ↩
  10. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Archive,” YALSA Blog, accessed June 29, 2019. http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/yals/yals-archive/. ↩
  11. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Archive.” ↩
  12. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Author Guidelines,” YALSA Blog, accessed June 29, 2019. http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/yals/author-guidelines/. ↩
  13. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Author Guidelines.” ↩
  14. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Author Guidelines.” ↩
  15. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Author Guidelines.” ↩
  16. Young Adult Library Services Association, “YALS Advertising,” YALSA Blog, accessed June 29, 2019, http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/yals/yals-advertising/. ↩
  17. American Library Association, “About YALSA.” ↩
  18. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS).” ↩
  19. American Library Association, “Young Adult Library Services (YALS).” ↩
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College & Research Libraries News

By on June 29, 2019 in

 

Publication analysis

About the publication

Title: College & Research Libraries News

ISSN: 0099-0086 (Print) and 2150-6698 (Online)1

Website: http://crln.acrl.org/

Purpose, objective, or mission: C&RL News “provides articles on the latest trends and practices affecting academic and research libraries and serves as the official newsmagazine and publication of record of the Association of College and Research Libraries.”2

Target audience: Members of the ACRL.3

Publisher: Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).4

Peer reviewed? No.5

Type: LIS professional news magazine.6

Medium: Print and online.7

Content: Per their website, “College & Research Libraries News (C&RL News) publishes articles, reports, and essays written by practitioners addressing philosophy and techniques of day-to-day management of academic library services and collections. C&RL News provides current information relating to issues, activities, and personalities of the higher education and academic and research library field. Information literacy, scholarly communication, technology, professional education, preservation, government actions that affect libraries, acquisitions, grants to libraries, product updates, and the business of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) are covered in C&RL News.”8

Frequency of publication: 11 monthly issues.9

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

Types of contributions accepted: Articles, essays, and reports.10

Submission and review process: Manuscripts must be submitted to the editor via email. Only original manuscripts that have not been published will be accepted, however, exception may be given to previous items published in other institutional newsletters. Submission length depends on type: “News notes may be 150-350 words; essays for “The Way I See It” should be 750-1,000 words; feature articles (Scholarly Communication, ACRL Techconnect, and Internet Resources) should be no more than 2,000 words.” Footnotes, charts and tables should be minimal; graphics should be included with submission. The author is responsible for obtaining permission for the use of any graphics. Please provide a brief caption and credit (if needed) for all images.11 Authors should consult past issues and the author guidelines for instructions on writing for specific columns.

Editorial tone: Practical, accurate, informative, and informal. Even humorous essays are welcomed.12

Style guide used: Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed.13

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

Publishing with C&RL News provides a strong foundation for both an author’s portfolio, in addition to allowing the author to be involved in a LIS association. Authors are not required to become ACRL members to publish with C&RL News; however, ACRL offers a variety of publication tools and resources, including wikis and other forums for information sharing that is important to the professional development of librarians, and LIS authors. C&RL News provides new LIS authors the potential to build their writing portfolio within a supportive, field-specific environment.14

 

Audience analysis

About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: The largest division of the ALA, the ACRL claims a membership of over 10,000.15 Since these members receive automatic subscriptions to the C&RL News, this would be a certain count towards the circulation. However, nonmembers can also subscribe to the publication, and the latest circulation total notes the total circulation count at 14,000. Aside from members and nonmember single subscriptions, there may also be subscriptions by other libraries or related groups (educators) that may have an interest in receiving this publication.16

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: As the ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, the publication is geared towards academic and research libraries in America. However, the subscription information provides rates specific to subscriptions to Canada, Postal Union of the Americas and Spain (PUAS) countries, and all other countries.17 The publication is printed in English and serves as the official news outlet for a US-based organization, so cultural considerations do not seem to expand beyond the U.S. However, some columns may include international websites and stories on librarianship in other countries18 which demonstrate an awareness of how library trends and practices in other countries can affect U.S. librarianship.

Reader characteristics: The audience of C&RL News is comprised of members of the ACRL, who are professional librarians, staff, administrators, directors, educators in LIS, and students. Nearly all members report affiliation with universities or colleges, with almost half belonging to large research or doctoral-granting universities. The smallest reported group of subscribers is those affiliated with two-year or technical colleges, who comprise 11% of the current membership.19 Readers are used to the publication’s inclusion of more personal insights into individual experiences and humorous anecdotes, and are therefore likely to be open to new perspectives.20

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: As the ACRL is a professional association of academic librarians and individuals with interest in academic librarianship, an advanced and specific knowledge of LIS subject matter can be assumed. Readers will not want definitions and descriptions of issues that they are familiar with; this audience expects to be informed on the current news, trends, and practices in academic and research libraries.

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

This publication’s readers are involved in their libraries, their institutions, the academic library community, and the academic community itself. Though not a scholarly publication, informal research exploring best practices and methods for improving services is a sure way to maintain readers’ attention. From archives to community college public services, any essay on a specific topic within the academic library field could offer readers the opportunity to apply the author’s findings to their own institutions. However, authors should keep in mind that readers have diverse experiences. Staff members at technical colleges may be more interested in new resources on serving local communities, whereas administrators at research universities may have a greater interest in international trends. Whatever the chosen topic, authors should be sure to write from experience and with the confidence of expertise.

Last updated: June 29, 2019.

References

Show 20 footnotes

  1. ProQuest, “College & Research Libraries News,” Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed June 29, 2019. http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1561866753201/119300 ↩
  2. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/pages/view/about ↩
  3. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  4. ProQuest, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory. ↩
  5.  Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  6. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  7. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0. ↩
  8. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/about/submissions#authorGuidelines ↩
  9. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  10. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
  11. Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
  12. Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
  13. Association of College and Research Libraries, Submissions. ↩
  14. Association of College and Research Libraries, “About C&RL News.” ↩
  15. American Library Association, “About ACRL,” Association of College & Research Libraries, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl. ↩
  16. Association of College & Research Libraries, 2018-2019 Media Planning Guide, accessed June 29, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/ACRL_MediaKit19.pdf. ↩
  17. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Editorial Policies.” ↩
  18. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Past Issues,” College & Research Libraries News, accessed June 29, 2019, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/issue/archive. ↩
  19. Association of College & Research Libraries, 2018-2019 Media Planning Guide. ↩
  20. Association of College and Research Libraries, “Submissions.” ↩
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