Welcome to LJ Reviews

We hope this page provides the information you need to submit titles for review consideration

Library Journal reviews new general trade books, original paperbacks, e-originals, graphic novels, reference books, and professional development titles for librarians and educators prior to their first U.S. publication. We also review audiobooks, DVDs/Blu-rays, databases, and subscription services of interest to libraries. LJ reviews are available online, and select reviews appear in our monthly print magazine. LJ reviews are also licensed to book distributors and vendors.

Works are selected for their potential interest to a broad spectrum of libraries. Only a few areas of publishing fall outside LJ’s scope: textbooks, children’s and Young Adult books (handled by our sister publication, School Library Journal; see SLJ submission guidelines here), and very technical or specialized titles (particularly those directed at a professional audience). Books previously published abroad are eligible if they are being released in the United States for the first time and have a U.S. distributor.

To be considered for review, books must be of national interest. Review copies should be received six months prior to publication. If that is not possible, please alert editors as to when the book will become available. Review coverage is not automatic; many books submitted are not reviewed.

Submissions

*WELCOME TO THE VIRTUAL BOOK ROOM*

Library Journal has a new galley submission process. Our improved method of submission offers publishers email receipt of titles submitted to LJ and email notification of any issues with submissions.

To submit titles, you need to be added to our system. Please use this link to access the sign-up form and create an account. You will receive an email from books-donotreply@mediasourceinc.com with a link in the email body. It can take up to two business days for our system to send you the email, but you may receive it much sooner. Click the link and follow the instructions. Once set, you will be redirected to a personal folder where you will be able to securely upload PDF files to our book room. Please bookmark this site. You may then begin using the new book room.

We have made a quick-start guide and a more detailed set of instructions on how to use and navigate the book room. We also offer a simple explination of any errors you may encounter. If you encounter a problem using the system, please reach out to us at BookRoomHelp@mediasourceinc.com. 

LJ Edelweiss Community

If you are active on Edelweiss, please auto-approve the Library Journal Reviewers community. This community is accessible only to LJ review editors and active LJ reviewers who read e-galleys.

This is a one-time process in which you approve the community rather than individually approving each reviewer. Edelweiss has made this document outlining the steps to approve a community. If you have questions on approving the Library Journal Reviewers community, please reach out to Deidre Dumpson: ddumpson@abovethetreeline.com.

Physical Copies

Mail to:

Library Journal: Book Room

7001 Discovery Boulevard, Suite 100

Dublin, OH 43017, United States

Physical copies are our preferred format for works of a highly visual nature.

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Submission Terms & Conditions

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT 

Library Journal’s reviews are both positive and negative, and make recommendations both for and against purchase. Our reviewers are encouraged to compare new titles to other materials that are already held in most library collections. Each title is evaluated on its literary and illustrative quality, its clarity and accuracy of presentation, and its appeal to the intended audience.

• Submission does not guarantee review. Due to space limitations and the great volume of material submitted to LJ, we cannot review every work sent to us. The editors decide which books and multimedia materials to review based on potential interest to LJ readers. All submissions of books and multimedia materials become the sole property of Media Source Inc.; requests for return of materials or other restrictions cannot be honored.
• All reviews are final and not subject to change. We will correct factual errors but not the editorial substance of reviews.

Formats Reviewed and Contacts at Library Journal

Books

We will accept digital galleys, bound galleys, bound page proofs, or bound manuscripts (only one copy is necessary). Those publishers that cannot supply advance bound 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. Books that fall into the following categories may be reviewed several months after their publication date:

• Reference
• Coffee-table books, art books, and other works that are heavily illustrated
• Graphic Novels
• Crafts and DIY
• Library Science
• Poetry
• Cookbooks

Graphic Novels

For review consideration, advance copies are appreciated, but not necessary; we prefer to review from the finished copy when available (unless the galley is very high quality). We do not review single-issue comics, only hardback or paperback compilations. Please send titles for review consideration as close to the publishing date as possible. Bibliographic information and promotional materials should be included in your email. If advance copies of a title with color illustrations are in black and white, please send or make available sample color pages or a color PDF. Please submit these materials to Melissa DeWild: mdewild@mediasourceinc.com.

Audio Recordings

Please submit lists of upcoming releases, noting publication date, running time, narrator, subject/genre, ISBN, and price. An editor will reach out to request review files for selected titles. Please send these lists to Sarah Hashimoto: shashimoto@mediasourceinc.com.

DVDs and Streaming Film Files

Please submit lists of forthcoming DVD/Blu-ray releases, foreign films, indies, and documentaries, noting publication date, running time, director, studio, DVD UPC, rating, subject/genre, and price. A columnist will reach out to request review copies for selected titles. Please send these lists to Liz French: efrench@mediasourceinc.com.

Online Resources and Databases

Reference products and online resources, designed for both general and academic users, should be sent to Sarah Hashimoto: shashimoto@mediasourceinc.com.

Collection Development and Readers’ Advisory Columns

In addition to reviews, LJ also publishes subject- or genre-specific review columns and articles on collection development and/or readers’ advisory. Publishers may request a list of the planned columns and special roundups on the editorial calendar from their sales representative. To submit materials for potential coverage in a specific column or article, contact Neal Wyatt: nwyatt@mediasourceinc.com.

Author Interviews and Q&As

To pitch an author for an interview in LJ, we first need to have accepted the title for review. Please ensure you have submitted a PDF galley to our Virtual Book Room far in advance of publication date and wait for the email notification that the book has been selected for review. At that point, please contact the review editor in charge of the relevant section to discuss the possibility. Editors are listed below.

Review Editors:

Melissa DeWild mdewild@mediasourceinc.com

• Romance Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Fantasy Fiction
• Horror Fiction
• Christian Fiction
• Graphic Novels/Manga

Liz French efrench@mediasourceinc.com

• Mystery & Suspense/Crime Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Women’s Fiction
• Popular Fiction
• Literature & Literary Criticism
• Self-Help
• Fine Arts/Photography
• Pets/Animal Husbandry
• Parapsychology
• Classics
• DVDs

Sarah Hashimoto shashimoto@mediasourceinc.com

• Audiobooks
• Reference Databases
• Library Science/Pro Media

For all other subjects, or any questions, please contact Neal Wyatt, Reviews Director: nwyatt@mediasourceinc.com