• 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 2009 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.

• You must send your query via our customized Online Query Form.

• 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 We do not publish academic research papers or vendor-written articles, and CIL is not a peer-reviewed journal.
  
• For 2009, we are also seeking case studies or best practices pieces in about the process of evaluating, specifying, and buying content collections and ILS solutions.

• 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!

SPECIAL CONTENT FOCUS & ILS SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES
NOTE: In 2009, the editors of CIL magazine are also looking for case studies and best practices about specifying, evaluating and obtaining content collections and ILS (Integrated Library Systems) solutions, if written by practicing library professionals. We are seeking specific articles in the various issues of the magazine. Consult this table for details, or submit your query using this form.

FEATURE ARTICLES (Issue Themes)

OVERALL THEME FOR 2009: Empowering & Transforming Libraries with Information Technology
Issue	Theme	Query Due	Article Due
January	The Virtual Library (Technology around a telepresence: virtual reference, virtual cataloging, serving remote or distributed users via technology)	September 30, 2008	October 20, 2008
February	Open-Sourced Libraries (Open source, open data, open access, open APIs: Services and solutions based on open platforms)	October 15, 2008	November 21, 2008
March	Libraries as Tech Labs (Helping patrons learn how to use technology or develop skills by providing access to software applications, computers, and other devices; includes media centers and gaming)	November 15, 2008	December 19, 2008
April	Library & Publisher (Libraries as content creators: Developing content collections, databases or information services, using web or other tech tools)	December 15, 2008	January 23, 2009
May	The Mobile-ized Library (Employing mobile devices to support library workers or patrons; or, delivering information services to mobile devices)	January 15, 2009	February 23, 2009
June	Libraries at the Core of the Enterprise (Enterprise content, enterprise search, KM and collaboration, or any tech topic with a strong special library or corporate information focus)	February 15, 2009	March 20, 2009
July/August	Helping Libraries Buy (Product reviews and comparisons, tips and tricks for library tech buyers)	March 15, 2009	April 24, 2009
September	Library as Data Center (Data collection, mining, management, migration, visualization, enrichment; research data repositories; and semantic web)	May 15, 2009	June 22, 2009
October	Libraries on the Web’s Cutting Edge (Blogs, pods, wikis, and social networking tools, anything Web 2.0 or even 3.0 if it's hot by then!)	June 15, 2009	July 24, 2009
November/ December	Lib Tech on a Global Scale (Developing or deploying Information technologies and solutions within highly distributed work groups, larget government agencies, multinational or global enterprises.)	July 15, 2009	August 21, 2009
In July 2009, we'll choose the themes for 2010. We'll post them on our Web site in August and print them in our September issue.
In 2009, Computers in Libraries magazine will also feature a monthly Content Focus and ILS Spotlight article on a specific topic. Consult the topic list for more details.

Send your proposal via our online query form by the dates noted above. After considering all ideas received, we will respond to each person who queried. 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 Computers in Libraries’ needs and style. CIL does pay small honorariums for feature articles. 

For Content Focus and ILS Spotlight articles, submit your queries using this special query form. We will be publishing only one article in each category. We will not consider articles written by vendors or PR agencies. Selected authors will receive a small honorarium.