SLJ Author Guidelines

The editors of School Library Journal welcome original manuscripts to consider for feature articles or columns.

Types of Submissions:

• Features: Manuscripts for feature articles should be 1,500-2,500 words in length on any topic relating to the collaborative and leadership roles the librarian (or library staff) has with educators, as well as articles relating to youth librarianship in school or public libraries. Features should be written in an easily accessible, conversational style that is free of academic or professional jargon.
• Up for Discussion: an 1,800-word column on aspects of book selection. The honorarium is $300, paid upon publication.
• What Works: an 850-word column that describes, step-by-step, a successful library program that could be easily and inexpensively replicated by a librarian. The honorarium is $175, paid upon publication.
• Make Your Point: an 850-word opinion piece on any issue affecting librarians or library service. The honorarium is $175, paid upon publication.
• Educator's Resource Kit: A 1,500-word column providing library media specialists with the insight, strategies, and resources they need to cultivate their collaborative and leadership roles in the school.
• Learning Quarterly: A new quarterly installment of SLJ focusing on the most challenging, hot-button issues in education. Learning Quarterly offers hands-on strategies and solutions for librarians on how to collaborate with teachers and administrators to meet those challenges, and will include commentary from administrators on how they've met specific challenges by working with school librarians. The 2003 schedule for Learning Quarterly is: February-Professional Development; April-Assessment/Evaluation; September-Reading; and November-Instruction/Standards.

Procedures:

• Editing: SLJ editors reserve the right to edit and revise accepted manuscripts for clarity, accuracy, and length. For style questions, we suggest that you look at The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook and back issues of SLJ. Please avoid footnoting and, when citing a book within the text, please put the name of the publisher and year of publication in parentheses immediately following the title. For example, Lois Lowry's The Giver (Houghton, 1993).
• To submit a manuscript:Send double-spaced submissions via e-mail (Word documents are preferred) or mail. In your cover letter and manuscript, please include your name, address, title, place of employment, daytime and evening telephone numbers, fax number, and e-mail address.
• Notification: We will notify you by postcard or e-mail when we have received your manuscript. You can expect a decision regarding publication within two to three months.
• Author photographs: If your manuscript is accepted, we will request a color head shot and a brief biography for our contributor's page. Digital photos are preferred.
  

Tips:

• Although most of our readers are educators, submissions should be written as though intended for a general-interest magazine audience, rather than an academic journal.
• We encourage writers to include anecdotes and specific examples of their programs and concepts.

Where to send manuscripts:

• Send What Works submissions to Debra Lau Whelan, Senior News and Features Editor, dlau@reedbusiness.com
• Send Up for Discussion submissions to: Luann Toth, Senior Book Review Editor, ltoth@reedbusiness.com
• Send all other submissions to Rick Margolis, News and Features Editor, rmargolis@reedbusiness.com

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  Thank you for your interest in School Library Journal.