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Write for LIScareer.com
We publish brief, practical career advice articles. We currently typically publish 2 articles per month, 10
months per year (no publication in Jan and July). If you are interested in contributing, please read these
author guidelines and look at the upcoming articles and previously published articles on your topic.
Then please contact the editors with your proposal.
Author Guidelines
Proposal: Please send a proposal before sending a finished article. To propose an article, please
email the editors. Please use a subject like "Proposed LIScareer Article" so that your message is
not mistaken for junk mail. Briefly describe your proposed topic and your qualifications for writing
about that topic. If possible, please provide a very brief writing sample. If you have already begun
writing your article, please send an excerpt.
If you don't hear back from an editor in two weeks, please email us again to be sure we received your
proposal.
Writing Style: Articles should be 1000-2000 words in length, and should written in a practical, direct,
conversational style. If you describe your personal experience, please generalize so that your advice
could apply to others. Use subheadings to break the text up into smaller, easy-to-read sections.
Audience: Advice should be geared toward, but not limited to, MLS students and newer librarians and
information professionals. The site is primarily directed at U.S. librarians, but we welcome and
encourage articles from international librarians and information professionals.
(Note: we publish articles by library/information professionals for library/information professionals;
please do not send general business/career articles.)
"About the Author" Statement: Please include a 2-3 sentence biographical statement at the end of
your article. Include a link to your website if you wish.
Submission Format: When we schedule your article, we will assign you an editor. Please email all
contributions to your editor as a Microsoft Word file if possible. (If you are unable to send a Word file,
you may send as a plain text file or as the text of an e-mail message.) If possible, please use Arial 12
pt. font and single-spaced paragraphs. Use as little formatting (underlining, etc) as possible (the
plainer, the better). We strongly recommend that you do not use tables.
Deadlines: Deadlines are usually the first of each month.
Compensation: Authors are not paid for articles. (More about our funding here.)
Copyright: We request one-time electronic rights to publish your article on the website. The copyright
for the article will remain with you (meaning you may reprint your article elsewhere in the future; if you do
so, please mention that it was first published at LIScareer).
Our suggested citation format for your LIScareer article is: Last Name, First Name. "Title." LIScareer,
Month Year.
We publish original articles; please do not submit articles that have been previously published
elsewhere.
Topic Suggestions
Articles should focus on library and information science career management. Browse the site for topic
ideas, see the list below, or suggest your own topic. Think about what you would have liked someone
to tell you (or were glad someone did tell you) when you began your career, or what you've learned that
you'd like to share with others. Articles should focus on advice for individuals.
Topics may include (but are not limited to):
Please contact the editors if you have questions about writing for LIScareer.
Editors:
Priscilla K. Shontz, editor
Richard A. Murray, assistant editor
Tiffany Eatman Allen, assistant editor
We publish brief, practical career advice articles. We currently typically publish 2 articles per month, 10
months per year (no publication in Jan and July). If you are interested in contributing, please read these
author guidelines and look at the upcoming articles and previously published articles on your topic.
Then please contact the editors with your proposal.
Author Guidelines
Proposal: Please send a proposal before sending a finished article. To propose an article, please
email the editors. Please use a subject like "Proposed LIScareer Article" so that your message is
not mistaken for junk mail. Briefly describe your proposed topic and your qualifications for writing
about that topic. If possible, please provide a very brief writing sample. If you have already begun
writing your article, please send an excerpt.
If you don't hear back from an editor in two weeks, please email us again to be sure we received your
proposal.
Writing Style: Articles should be 1000-2000 words in length, and should written in a practical, direct,
conversational style. If you describe your personal experience, please generalize so that your advice
could apply to others. Use subheadings to break the text up into smaller, easy-to-read sections.
Audience: Advice should be geared toward, but not limited to, MLS students and newer librarians and
information professionals. The site is primarily directed at U.S. librarians, but we welcome and
encourage articles from international librarians and information professionals.
(Note: we publish articles by library/information professionals for library/information professionals;
please do not send general business/career articles.)
"About the Author" Statement: Please include a 2-3 sentence biographical statement at the end of
your article. Include a link to your website if you wish.
Submission Format: When we schedule your article, we will assign you an editor. Please email all
contributions to your editor as a Microsoft Word file if possible. (If you are unable to send a Word file,
you may send as a plain text file or as the text of an e-mail message.) If possible, please use Arial 12
pt. font and single-spaced paragraphs. Use as little formatting (underlining, etc) as possible (the
plainer, the better). We strongly recommend that you do not use tables.
Deadlines: Deadlines are usually the first of each month.
Compensation: Authors are not paid for articles. (More about our funding here.)
Copyright: We request one-time electronic rights to publish your article on the website. The copyright
for the article will remain with you (meaning you may reprint your article elsewhere in the future; if you do
so, please mention that it was first published at LIScareer).
Our suggested citation format for your LIScareer article is: Last Name, First Name. "Title." LIScareer,
Month Year.
We publish original articles; please do not submit articles that have been previously published
elsewhere.
Topic Suggestions
Articles should focus on library and information science career management. Browse the site for topic
ideas, see the list below, or suggest your own topic. Think about what you would have liked someone
to tell you (or were glad someone did tell you) when you began your career, or what you've learned that
you'd like to share with others. Articles should focus on advice for individuals.
Topics may include (but are not limited to):
- why should one be a librarian;
- career options;
- a description of your position or type of job;
- "a day in the life" (description of typical day in your type of position);
- alternative careers;
- switching careers;
- personal career goals & skills assessment;
- library school education;
- choosing an MLS program;
- selecting classes;
- distance education;
- the value of the MLS;
- what you did/didn't learn in library school;
- other formal education;
- continuing education;
- self education;
- staying relevant;
- finding jobs, job ads & resources;
- the job market;
- resume writing;
- cover letters;
- references;
- interviewing;
- marketing yourself;
- assessing potential employers;
- negotiating contracts or salaries;
- resigning a job;
- dealing with termination;
- getting experience;
- how non-library experience can help you;
- adapting to your organization's culture;
- time management;
- stress management;
- project management;
- running meetings;
- coping with change;
- dealing with or writing performance reviews;
- tenure track environments;
- communication styles and skills;
- working with difficult supervisors, co-workers or employees;
- attitude;
- social skills;
- developing a professional image;
- professional work behavior;
- professional online behavior and image;
- netiquette;
- professional associations;
- discussion lists;
- how to make the most of conferences;
- networking opportunities;
- how to network;
- how professional involvement benefits you as a librarian;
- how to mentor others;
- how to find a mentor;
- what makes a good mentor;
- leadership skills;
- supervising others;
- developing leadership skills in non-supervisory positions;
- getting promoted;
- managing others;
- publishing opportunities;
- how to write;
- how to submit an article or book proposal;
- how to review books;
- how to keep up with professional issues;
- information overload;
- technical or computer skills;
- public speaking skills;
- writing skills;
- organizational skills;
- instructional/teaching skills;
- work/life issues;
- balancing family and career;
- burnout;
- self-employment;
- unemployment;
- and more.
Please contact the editors if you have questions about writing for LIScareer.
Editors:
Priscilla K. Shontz, editor
Richard A. Murray, assistant editor
Tiffany Eatman Allen, assistant editor
LIScareer.com
Career Strategies for Librarians
Career Strategies for Librarians