How to Write
for Computers in Libraries
If you have an idea for an article for Computers in Libraries
magazine, please let us know!
- To learn more about CIL magazine
and the types of articles we want, read the FAQ.
- If you have an idea for an article
that would fit our needs and style, take a look at our themes for the 2010 issues
and try to match your article idea to one of the issues. Every feature
article does not have to fit a theme, but we use
theme-related articles first and then accept general articles when
space allows.
- Don’t send already written
manuscripts, please.
- We are looking for interesting
articles, written as case studies or how-we-did-it pieces. We do not
publish academic research papers or vendor-written articles, and
CIL is not a peer-reviewed journal.
- When writing queries, please
remember this:
- CIL’s
mission is to provide librarians and other information professionals
with useful and insightful information about all computer-related
subjects that affect their jobs. CIL does this
through articles that are written by library professionals for library
professionals, with a friendly, personal voice. These general technical
articles should be practical and helpful for the average librarian in
any sort of environment—academic, public, special, K–12, or corporate
libraries. CIL aims to publish articles that are
interesting to read and appealing to people in many aspects of the
field.
- Allow up to a month after
the query deadline for a response.
You may submit queries using
our online form. For more
details see our FAQ!
FEATURE ARTICLES (Issue
Themes)
Computers in Libraries
2010 Editorial Calendar and Deadlines for Authors
OVERALL
THEME FOR 2010:
Strategies for Enabling Tomorrow’s Libraries Today |
| Issue
|
Theme
|
Query
Due |
Article
Due |
January/
February |
Libraries in the Age of Discovery
Technologies,
tools, and techniques for helping library patrons find, select, and
retrieve materials—next-gen catalogs, innovative OPACs, discovery
interfaces, special projects that take users beyond mere "look-up,"
plus general articles about the state of the art. Where does "the
library" find itself in 2010?
|
October 15, 2009 | November 21, 2009 |
| March
|
Going "e"
Experiments
and experiences with ebooks, e-reference services, e-repositories,
e-archives, and e-collections, plus green initiatives that proved to be
economic as well as eco-conscious. Also, experiences with ebook and
other portable devices for delivering or accessing e-materials and
e-systems by patrons or library staff.
|
December 15, 2009 |
January 5, 2010 |
| April
|
Libtech to the Rescue
Share
your tale of survival—stories about how libraries coped with the
economic downturn by turning to technology to reduce costs, improve
services, garner community support, or support their communities. Also,
strategies and contingency plans for going forward, should finances
remain tight.
|
January 15, 2010 |
February 5, 2010 |
| May |
From Inside the Stacks to Outside the Box
Delivering
library services to mobile devices, remote user communities, or virtual
workgroups; case studies involving remotely hosted systems for
automation and library management; and projects employing third-party
cloud-based services such as outreach, training, collaboration, or
publishing platforms.
|
February 15, 2010 |
March 5, 2010 |
| June |
Working With What You’ve Got
How
you improvised or innovated library services by using your existing
technology platform (ILS package, content management system, server
software platform, native operating system) or merely by using common
applications. How you got the job done with APIs, open source software,
or do-it-yourself fixes. Also, stories about using SharePoint and
Vista.
|
March 15, 2010 |
April 5, 2010 |
July/
August |
How to Select, Buy, and Use Library Stuff
Short,
how-to articles on any subject related to specifying, evaluating,
developing, deploying, or customizing library products. Also, practical
advice on managing any library function by employing technology. Share
your tips, techniques, and tricks in five points and 750 words or less.
|
April 15, 2010 |
May 5, 2010 |
| September | Social Networking: Beyond the Apps
Using
social networking tools to achieve results; projects that incorporate,
integrate, or leverage social tools into overall library solutions.
Plus, how to evaluate the impact of library initiatives that use
Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc., as a platform and methods for
assessing the ROI or added value of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 initiatives. |
June 15, 2010 |
July 5, 2010 |
| October |
Architecting New Library Frameworks
Libtech
projects, case studies, and best practices for restructuring library
back-office functions and front-facing services, including
service-oriented architectures, user-centered site design projects,
evaluating hosted solutions; also larger scale efforts involving
multiple libraries in resource sharing; plus physical architecture:
"libraries as spaces." |
July 15, 2010 |
August 5, 2010 |
| November |
Digitization on a Mission
Stories
about digitization projects with an emphasis on special collections,
including museum objects; techniques related to digitization, such as
classification and tagging, discovery interfaces, and data storage;
plus large-scale and collective efforts to preserve library materials
and assure ongoing access and exposure to knowledge objects. |
August 15, 2010 |
September 5, 2010 |
| December |
Libraries Forever
Vision
statements on the future of libraries, including comments and analysis
on social, political, economic, and technical trends affecting library
development. Strategies for adaptation and change. Also, reports on
library advocacy projects, funding initiatives, and outreach efforts,
especially those that effectively employ technology as a means to an
end. |
September 15, 2010 |
October 5, 2010 |
| Any Month |
What’s Going On?
Nominate your library for our new "Libraries on the Cutting Edge" profile page or propose any story on any topic at any time!
|
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|
-- |
|
In July 2010, we'll choose the themes for 2011.
We'll post them on our Web site in August and print them in our
September issue.
|
Send your proposal via our online query form
by
the dates noted above. After considering all ideas received, we will
notify those whose articles have been accepted. If your article idea is
accepted
then we will send you Writers’ Guidelines and discuss the article with
you to ensure that your feature will fit
|
