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Alabama Libraries

Good news! Alabama Libraries is back!!! Meet our new editorial board and see our call for articles.

Beginning with volume 60 number 2, Winter 2022, all current issues of Alabama Libraries will be available through the University of South Alabama's Institutional Repository. Back issues will be loaded into the new home for the journal soon.

Access Alabama Libraries Here!

Thanks to the University of South Alabama's Libraries for hosting our journal on their Institutional Repository - JagWorks@USA!

Back Issues

v.60 no.1, Summer 2022

v.59 no.2, Fall 2021

v.59 no.1, Spring 2021

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief

Laura Pitts [email protected]

Peer Reviewers

M. Delores Carlito [email protected]
Tracy Cole [email protected]
Tim Dodge [email protected]
Charlotte E. Ford [email protected]
Jessica Hayes [email protected]
Peggy Kain [email protected]

 

Proofreaders

Michelle Hamrick [email protected]
Kayla Johnson [email protected]

Call for Articles

Alabama Libraries is seeking articles relevant to librarianship in Alabama. The Alabama Library Association’s peer-reviewed journal publishes scholarly articles biannually in an open access format.

Scholarly Articles (peer reviewed) (15 - 25 pages, inclusive of references, tables, and figures): These articles are written by researchers or experts in the LIS or related field in order to share the results of their original research or analysis with other researchers and students. These articles focus should make an original contribution to the field of libraries in Alabama. Articles should be driven by research questions that address those problems. We welcome all methodologies; in all cases we ask authors to keep the literature review and methods sections succinct and emphasize the findings and the applications of those findings. All submissions are double blind peer reviewed. These submissions welcome authors who currently work in libraries (all types including academic, public, school, tribal, law, health, etc.) and authors who have an interest in Alabama libraries but may not work in a specifically in a library setting. All scholarly article submissions are double blind peer reviewed.

Submission Guidelines:

  • All manuscripts will undergo an initial evaluation.
  • If the submission does not meet the requirements outlined in the submission guidelines, it will be returned to the author for revisions before proceeding to peer review.
  • Manuscripts may also be desk-rejected at this stage if they fall outside the scope of the journal or are deemed unsuitable for further consideration.
  • Please ensure that your manuscript is fully anonymous upon submission.
  • All author information should be included in a title page on the article. The title page should include: Article title, Author name(s)
  • Affiliation(s), Acknowledgement, Corresponding author address (full address is required), Corresponding author email address.
  • Submissions for Scholarly Articles, Student Research and Practical Articles must contain the following:
    • An abstract of up to 300 words and up to six key words. The abstract should cover the overall purpose or research problem, stated early in the abstract, the methodology used, including the research design, sample, and data collection methods, a concise discussion of a few significant research findings and an overview of the main conclusions of the paper. No references should be listed in the abstract.
    • The following sections: Main text introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results/ Findings, Discussion, References, Appendices (as appropriate), Table(s) with caption(s) (on individual pages), Figures; figure captions (as a list).

Guidelines for Submissions of Scholarly Articles:

  • All manuscripts must be submitted to [email protected] as attachment to an email, preferably in MS Word.
  • Manuscripts must be written in APA style and include an abstract and keywords.
  • Although longer or shorter works may be considered, 15 - 25 pages of research is preferred.
  • The name, position, and professional email address of the author should appear in the bottom left-hand corner of a separate title page. The author's name should not appear anywhere else in the document.
  • Submissions will undergo a double blind peer review process.
  • Photographs and other images relevant to the submission will be accepted for consideration but cannot be returned. Digital images are preferred.
  • No other publisher should be simultaneously considering a manuscript submitted to Alabama Libraries.
  • If the manuscript includes analyses of survey results, please acknowledge approval by the appropriate Institutional Review Board either through direct reference in the manuscript or acknowledgement as part of the manuscript submission.
  • Upon receipt, manuscripts will be acknowledged by the Editor-in-Chief, who will then assign manuscripts to two reviewers. The reviewers who receive the manuscript will have no direct information on the author or the author's affiliation. Following the review, a decision will be communicated to the writer.

Upon acceptance, publication can be expected within six months.

Practical Articles (peer reviewed) (8-15 pages, inclusive of references, tables, and figures): These articles are practical and focus on best practices and advice for all types of libraries, groups supporting libraries, etc. These submissions welcome authors who currently work in libraries (all types including academic, public, school, tribal, law, health, etc.) and authors who have an interest in Alabama libraries but may not work in a specifically in a library setting. Topics may include: planning a library marketing activity and/or campaign, market research, community analysis, market segmentation, SWOT analysis, public relations strategies, an outreach activity, or a re-branding project, etc.

Guidelines for Submissions of Practical Articles:

  • All manuscripts must be submitted to [email protected] as attachment to an email, preferably in MS Word.
  • Manuscripts must be written in APA style and include an abstract and keywords.
  • Although longer or shorter works may be considered, 8 - 15 pages of research is preferred, but longer is fine.
  • The name, position, and professional email address of the author should appear in the bottom left-hand corner of a separate title page. The author's name should not appear anywhere else in the document.
  • Submissions will undergo a double blind peer review process.
  • Photographs and other images relevant to the submission will be accepted for consideration but cannot be returned. Digital images are preferred.
  • No other publisher should be simultaneously considering a manuscript submitted to Alabama Libraries.
  • If the manuscript includes analyses of survey results, please acknowledge approval by the appropriate Institutional Review Board either through direct reference in the manuscript or acknowledgement as part of the manuscript submission.
  • Upon receipt, manuscripts will be acknowledged by the Editor-in-Chief, who will then assign manuscripts to two reviewers. The reviewers who receive the manuscript will have no direct information on the author or the author's affiliation. Following the review, a decision will be communicated to the writer.

Upon acceptance, publication can be expected within six months.

Student Research (peer reviewed) (8-15 pages, inclusive of references, tables, and figures): These articles are to be authored by current Undergraduate, MLIS, PhD, etc. students.

All research must maintain an Alabama focus. Articles are practical and focus on best practices and advice for all types of libraries. These submissions welcome authors who currently work in libraries (all types including academic, public, school, tribal, law, health, etc.) and authors who have an interest in Alabama libraries but may not work in a specifically in a library setting. This would include but not be limited to academic, public, school, tribal, law, health, etc. Topics may include: planning a library marketing activity and/or campaign, market research, community analysis, market segmentation, SWOT analysis, public relations strategies, an outreach activity, or a re-branding project, etc.

Guidelines for Submissions of Student Research:

  • All manuscripts must be submitted to [email protected] as attachment to an email, preferably in MS Word. 
  • Manuscripts must be written in APA style and include an abstract and keywords.
  • Although longer or shorter works may be considered, 8 - 15 pages of research is preferred, but longer is fine.
  • The name, position, and professional email address of the author should appear in the bottom left-hand corner of a separate title page. The author's name should not appear anywhere else in the document.
  • Submissions will undergo a double blind peer review process.
  • Photographs and other images relevant to the submission will be accepted for consideration but cannot be returned. Digital images are preferred.
  • No other publisher should be simultaneously considering a manuscript submitted to Alabama Libraries.
  • If the manuscript includes analyses of survey results, please acknowledge approval by the appropriate Institutional Review Board either through direct reference in the manuscript or acknowledgement as part of the manuscript submission.
  • Upon receipt, manuscripts will be acknowledged by the Editor-in-Chief, who will then assign manuscripts to two reviewers. The reviewers who receive the manuscript will have no direct information on the author or the author's affiliation. Following the review, a decision will be communicated to the writer.

Upon acceptance, publication can be expected within six months.

Guest Columns (500 - 1,000 words; will not include any references, tables, and figures); These columns are written in first person. Topics are at the discretion of the author and can pertain to any type of library, library and information science, management, issues, etc.

Guidelines for Submissions of Guest Columns:

  • All manuscripts must be submitted to [email protected] as attachment to an email, preferably in MS Word. 
  • Submissions should be between 500 - 1,000 words. 
  • The name, position, and professional email address of the author should appear in the bottom left-hand corner of a separate title page. The author's name should not appear anywhere else in the document.
  • Photographs and other images relevant to the submission will be accepted for consideration but cannot be returned. Digital images are preferred.
  • No other publisher should be simultaneously considering a manuscript submitted to Alabama Libraries.
  • If the manuscript includes analyses of survey results, please acknowledge approval by the appropriate Institutional Review Board either through direct reference in the manuscript or acknowledgement as part of the manuscript submission.
  • Upon receipt, manuscripts will be acknowledged by the Editor-in-Chief, who will then assign manuscripts to two reviewers. The reviewers who receive the manuscript will have no direct information on the author or the author's affiliation. Following the review, a decision will be communicated to the writer.

Upon acceptance, publication can be expected within six months.