A PRIMER ON PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHING FOR LIBRARIANS ELEANOR MITCHELL AND SARAH BARBARA WATSTEIN, EDITORS REFERENCE SERVICES REVIEW LOEX OF THE WEST, CALGARY, JUNE, 2010 Getting your words out:

You will learn how to... Identify publishable ideas/topics Assess the “publishability” of an idea Build idea into proposal Develop timetable Identify outlets Work with an editor 2

Session outline Part 1: Think, plan, write. (Revise) BREAK Part 2: The scholarly publication process Part 3: What’s next? Establishing and building your portfolio and reputation 3

What have you read, lately? (The good, the bad, the forgettable) Walt at Random The library voice of the radical middle. Information Wants To Be Free 4

Part 1: Think, plan, write. (Then, revise.) 5

Why publish? Demonstrate expertise Advancement in position Find funding Build community Career enhancement Enhance program/library/institution Professional satisfaction 6

Developing ideas Read the literature Read beyond... In other disciplines Consider what’s happening in your library  Programs  Projects, innovations  Personnel  Change  Challenges  Lessons learned 7

Rapid topic brainstorm 8

Writing with others More perspectives Leveraging different strengths Divide the workload Richer content Writing voices Work styles Timing issues Communication issues 9

Types of Articles Research paper Viewpoint Technical paper Conceptual paper Case study Literature review General review Hybrid 10

Writing for publication Concept Content/format alignment Organization Style Voice/perspective Quality of expression Clarity Grammar 11

From idea to proposal 12

From proposal to manuscript Review the literature Identify gaps/opportunities Articulate your thesis (talk to editor!) Develop preliminary outline Research/data analysis Produce rough draft Informal review by readers Develop final draft 13

The right fit: Which journal? Journals in your field Journal style, strategy, selection process Match your topic Match your approach Consider allied fields, areas 14

Editorial Objectives: RSR To review and evaluate a wide variety of publications having reference value within academic, public, school and special library settings.…to provide subject bibliographers and reference librarians with information useful to the functions of collection development and assessment, readers' advisory and guidance, bibliographic instruction, management, online searching and automated reference functions. 15

Editorial Objectives: RSR To review and evaluate a wide variety of publications having reference value within academic, public, school and special library settings.…to provide subject bibliographers and reference librarians with information useful to the functions of collection development and assessment, readers' advisory and guidance, bibliographic instruction, management, online searching and automated reference functions. 16

Editorial Objectives: JAL focus on problems and issues germane to college and university libraries….present research findings …their practical applications and significance; analyze policies, practices, issues, and trends; speculate about the future of academic librarianship; present analytical bibliographic essays and philosophical treatises…management and discipline-based software and information policy developments. 17

Editorial Objectives: JAL focus on problems and issues germane to college and university libraries….present research findings …their practical applications and significance; analyze policies, practices, issues, and trends; speculate about the future of academic librarianship; present analytical bibliographic essays and philosophical treatises…management and discipline-based software and information policy developments. 18

Setting your timetable Your career agenda Realistic planning When a “hot topic” cools off 19

Making contact the editor Conferences/events Publisher’s booth Editorial board members Published authors 20

Part 2: The Process Submission Timeline Review Feedback Revision Review Final version 21

Submitting the manuscript Follow style guidelines Directly to editor or Through online review and editorial management system 22

Timing Publication cycle Editorial communication 23

Demystifying the review process Double blind Who reviews? Structure of a review Feedback to author 24

The revising process Read the review Respond to the review Revise the manuscript 25

Final steps to publication... Revision is reviewed Decision is made Decision is communicated to author Forms and permissions requested of author Article is assigned to an issue When published, author receives copies 26

If article is NOT accepted Read the reviews attentively Consider why rejection has been decided Plan to rewrite/resubmit or Plan to resubmit elsewhere 27

Part 3: What’s next? Build a portfolio Build a reputation Collaboration vs. individual publication Become a reviewer Suggest and edit a special or theme issue Beyond journal articles 28

Continuing the conversation We invite you to meet with us at this conference, at ALA, or to contact us by . 29

Sarah Barbara Watstein University Librarian UNCW Randall Library (o) (f) Eleanor Mitchell Director of Library Services Dickinson College (o) (f) 30