Submissions
Guidelines for LJ Reviewers | Article Submission Guidelines |
Book/General Submission Guidelines | Audiobook Submissions |
Classic Return Submissions | Database & Disc Submissions |
Print-on-Demand Submissions | Submission for Video Reviews
| Library Journal Book Review is a selection tool used in both public and academic libraries. Each year it offers signed professional reviews of approximately 6000 current titles in a wide range of disciplines. Our service is thus an important one for libraries and their users. Reviewing for LJ is a demanding and time-consuming activity, but one that can yield a good deal of professional satisfaction. To some extent, it is an acquired skill. The following guidelines are offered to help you write your review. Of course, reading the reviews in LJ will help as well. The reviews are addressed to the educated generalist, rather than the subject specialist, and designed to present the information needed for the selection decision in a highly condensed form. Therefore, within 175-200 words, the review must include: a brief statement of the thesis or description of the contents, a critical appraisal of both substance and execution, and an indication of the book's value for library collections. Our audience expects an LJ review to be based on a thorough, careful reading and on informed judgment. Those are the basic requirements. Obviously there can be no single model for all reviews, nor would we want a programmed result. Ideally, the essential elements will be incorporated in a statement that reflects the reviewer's own mode of thinking as well as the book's individual character. At the same time, we ask reviewers keep a number of points in mind. Libraries are working with limited funds, so often the most pertinent feature in a review will be an evaluative comparison of the new title with one or two alternative choices. If little else is available on the topic, that fact should be noted, as should any virtue of the title under review. The importance of the topic itself, and the level of treatment in the book, should be pointed out, if not self-evident. A book that makes a significant contribution to literature, to scholarship, or to the understanding of contemporary issues should be identified clearly. In other cases, since libraries try to anticipate readers' demands, it will be appropriate to emphasize the book's popular appeal. To a large degree, the book's purpose will determine the reviewing approach. For example, a reference book requires a detailed account of its features and usefulness; a literary translation requires comment on its accuracy and felicity; a social science monograph, discussion of the validity and implications of the findings; while a work of fiction or poetry lends itself to their own terms; an illustrated popular history should not be expected to offer new insights to scholars, but neither should it contain inaccuracies, betray ignorance of current scholarship, or merely duplicate other library holdings. Libraries must select materials to serve a broad spectrum of readers, so objectivity is important. The reviewer of a pro-censorship or anti-abortion tract, for example, should consider whether the author presents the case in a reasoned and responsible or disorganized and strident manner. Any bias detected in an essentially nonpolemical work should be noted, and its bearing on the overall value of the book assessed. Reviewers of scholarly works should resist becoming embroiled in parochial academic debates. Even though only a few of the above considerations would apply to any given book, LJ contributors face some difficult choices in composing a 25+ line review. But their task becomes easier if the purpose of the review-library selection-is kept in mind. In addition, we must ask for special attention to accuracy in the reviews: quoted passages should be checked against the text; dates and spellings of authors' names should be given in full, the titles given exactly, and the publisher and year of publication cited (or date of LJ review, if known). An assertion that a book is filled with errors should be supported with examples. We ask our reviewers to check all factual statements (e.g., that the book is a "first" on the topic), particularly those that are difficult for us to verify. While it is our policy to edit as little as possible, reviews are reorganized or condensed when necessary, and minor changes are made in accordance with house style; but the reviewer's stated opinion will always be preserved. We can not guarantee that every review submitted will be published. In the relatively few cases in which we reject a review, we notify the reviewer once the decision is final. Because we appreciate the time and effort spent on each review, we do our best to exercise this editorial prerogative responsibly. We do not accept unsolicited reviews. We do try to honor our regular reviewers' requests for specific books or subjects to review (though not, of course, books written by friends, relatives, or associates). We ask our contributors to agree not to review for other publications the same books they review for LJ, and not to send copies of their reviews to publishers or authors. There is no payment for reviews. When possible, the reviewer receives the book and a printed copy of the review. Our service to the library audience would not be possible without the generosity of over 1500 contributors. The quality of Library Journal Book Review ultimately depends on their expertise, intellectual integrity, and professional commitment. |
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Article Submission Guidelines
| For new librarians, veteran librarians, and librarians-to-be, LJ has many opportunities to share your perspective, communicate with your peers, and showcase innovations that are going on in your library. Below are guidelines and contacts for our various forums. Your contributions help make LJ the voice of the library profession.
Feature Articles:
The best feature articles reach out to the profession in a broad way, or offer useful information and ideas to others in an accessible and readable style. We welcome either queries or finished articles, via email if possible. A query can consist of just a paragraph, or several. Describe what you plan to cover and your approach. Tell us your connection to it and your expertise. We'll get back to you and let you know if we're interested. If you have completed a draft of the article, send it in attached to your email. Most of our features run 2-3 pages in the magazine, which translates into 1800-2700 words.
Good examples: Mary Kay Chelton, Reader's Advisory 101 (LJ 11/1/03) Terry Pickens, This Just In: Savvy PR in Your Library (LJ 10/15/03) Saul Amdursky, with Richard Hulsey and Christie Pearson Brandau, ILL: Sacred Cow or Vital Service, (LJ 6/1/03) Brian Kenney, The Virtual Gets Real (at CLEVNET), (LJ 9/15/03) Backtalk: LJ is always hungry for opinion pieces and rants about topics and concerns in the library profession. 900 words. Contact for Feature Articles & Backtalk: Francine Fialkoff, Editor, fialkoff@reedbusiness.com Rebecca Miller, Features Editor, miller@reedbusiness.com Assign date: 4-6 months in advance of publication. How Do You Manage: Analyze and offer realistic advice on contemporary issues confronting librarians. Case studies are written and edited by Michael Rogers. If you are interested in writing a response, please contact Ann Kim below and specify your interest area (staff management, difficult patrons, technology, ethics, etc.). Contact: Ann Kim, Assistant to the Editor, akim@reedbusiness.com |
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Book/General Submission Guidelines
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Library Journal Book Review is an adult book selection tool for public and academic libraries. Each year it provides some 6000 timely, professional evaluations written by carefully screened outside reviewers--public, academic, and special librarians, academic faculty members, and other subject specialists. Books chosen by the editors for review, from about 40,000 received annually, range from the most popular to the scholarly, encompass all subject areas, and include original paperbacks as well as hardcover books. The books represent the output of publishers large and small, including trade, scholarly, and alternative presses. Our 'Classic Returns' column covers reissues of out-of-print titles, or special editions, in every issue. Books are selected for their potential interest to a broad spectrum of libraries. About 50% of LJ's readers are in public libraries; another 21% are in academic libraries; about 13% are in special libraries; and about 6% are in school libraries. Our reviews are used primarily by librarians to make their purchasing decisions. Only a few areas of publishing fall outside LJ's scope: textbooks, children's books, very technical or specialized works (particularly those directed at a professional audience), and books in languages other than English. We do, however, consider bilingual editions, and we have a quarterly review of Spanish-language books called Críticas. Books previously published abroad are eligible if they are being released here for the first time and have a U.S. distributor. We prefer to receive materials three to four months in advance of publication date since our primary goal is prepublication review. We will accept galleys, page proofs, or manuscripts (only one copy is necessary). Those publishers (small houses) that cannot supply advance galleys may submit finished books, but these should be sent as early as possible with the words In lieu of galleys and the publication date affixed to the cover. We generally avoid reviewing books later than date of publication, though we do make exceptions for reference and heavily illustrated works. For such works, it is helpful to send F & Gs in advance, but please follow promptly with the finished book. If F & Gs are not available, send the finished book as early as possible; many publishers are able to supply advance copies, which helps the reviewing process enormously. Address materials to: Book Review Editor / Library Journal / 360 Park Avenue South / New York, New York 10010. Send Críticas submissions attention Carmen Ospina to the same address. Include the following information: Author, title; name, address, and telephone number of publisher; date of publication; price; number of pages; and ISBN and LC numbers if available. Please indicate whether any illustrations, an index, or bibliography will be included; also include a brief description of the book, its intended audience, and information on the author's background.Regarding review status: LJ does not enter submissions into the book review database upon arrival; galleys and books are entered only if they are assigned for review. If you are concerned about the receipt of a galley or book, please email Anna Katterjohn a week after your title is sent, at Anna.Katterjohn@reedbusiness.com. Please indicate author, title, and a brief description taken from the catalog or press release and also indicate whether your title was sent in lieu of galleys. Your email will then be forwarded to the relevant editor, who will contact you ONLY if he or she has not received your title. Given the volume of queries, please contact us about your most important books only. For regular updates about our upcoming reviews, please subscribe to our LJ Review Alert service and a list of books to be reviewed in a given issue will be emailed to you a month in advance of issue date. To subscribe to this free service, please email us at subscribe@email.libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com from the account at which you wish to receive the alerts. Please note that this account will not accept any other inquiries. Please follow up review galleys with a copy of the bound book. Neither books nor galleys can be returned. |
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Audiobook Submissions
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Please submit materials to: Ann Burns, Associate Editor Library Journal , the premier source for U.S. librarians, reviews over 300 audiobooks each year. Please submit audiotapes/CDs for review as soon as they are available. Timeliness is important to our selection process, and audiotapes must be current to be considered for review. Promotional material must accompany each audiobook, noting publication date, number of cassettes, number of hours, narrator, category, ISBN, and price. New in 2004, Prepub Audio : Due to the demand for early notice regarding titles, LJ has launched a Prepub Audio column in each issue of the magazine. These brief alerts note titles that are forthcoming--ideally four months away from the magazine's pub date. Please submit information on forthcoming titles as soon as it is available. Include title, publication date, number of cassettes/CDs, number of hours, narrator, category, ISBN, and price. Also note if the audiobook is an exclusive. Email this information to Ann Kim at akim@reedbusiness.com |
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Classic Return Submissions
| To qualify for inclusion in Classic Returns books must have been out of print for a minimum of ten years. New translations of popular foreign works, revised versions of acknowledged classics, and more affordable editions of newer expensive volumes are also welcome for submission. |
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Database & Disc Submissions
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To qualify for coverage in the Database & Disc Reviews column CD-ROMs and Internet/Web-hosted databases must adhere to the standard Library Journal requirements of containing information for the adult public- or college/university-level user. Young adult materials will not be considered. Submit materials directly to:
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Print-on-Demand Submissions
| We do consider print-on-demand and online materials, but we would like to see these materials as much in advance of the launch date as possible. For print-on-demand books, please send us proofs as soon as they are available and specify estimated launch date as well as ISBN, price, and other relevant material, as with any traditional book. For mailing instructions, please see the Book/General Submissions section above. |
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Video Review Submissions
| Videotapes and DVDs are eligible for review in Library Journal if they are designed for an adult audience (public and academic) and were produced no earlier than 2002. Complete editions of appropriate releases should be sent along with information on the program's running time, distribution (name, address, phone, URL), all price information (MSR, rental, shipping/handling, public performance, etc.), closed-captioning if available. Send to: Bette-Lee Fox, Video Reviews, LJ, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010; 646-746-6802; bl.fox@reedbusiness.com. |