The Journal of Web Librarianship is an international, peer-reviewed journal published quarterly by Taylor and Francis, Inc. Information about subscriptions may be found on the Taylor and Francis web site.
The Journal of Web Librarianship focuses on all aspects of librarianship as practiced on the World Wide Web and mobile devices, including both existing and emerging roles and activities of information professionals. The journal strives to find a balance between original, scholarly research and practical communications on relevant topics in web librarianship. Web services and systems librarians are encouraged to contribute, as are librarians working in public services, technical services, special collections, archives, and administration.
Submissions
The Journal of Web Librarianship welcomes articles covering topics including but not limited to:
- library apps, mobile web sites, and other topics related to mobile devices
- library web page design and redesigns
- web project management
- usability testing of library or library-related sites
- cataloging or classification of web information
- international issues in web librarianship
- library integration with other web sites
- future aspects of web librarianship
- user behavior on the web
- search behaviors
- social networking site trends
- the connection between the web-at-large and library web resources
The journal accepts empirical studies providing objective evidence related to current web-related challenges for libraries, including usability test reports, user survey results, and analyses of web statistics. The journal will also consider case studies of cutting-edge web projects in all types of libraries and best practices based on library experiences, literature, tutorials, and literature reviews.
Other types of articles such as interviews, bibliographies, and comparative reviews may be welcome, but please contact the editor in advance
Peer Review Policy: All articles and communications published in the Journal of Web Librarianship have undergone both editorial screening and anonymous, double-blind peer review. In almost every case, articles are reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers.
Journal Contents
The Journal of Web Librarianship publishes scholarly research articles, practical communications, contributions from columnists, and a review section. Both scholarly research articles and practical communications are peer-reviewed.
Scholarly research articles are usually 15-30 typed pages; contain original research or in-depth analysis of the literature; and feature a traditional structure for peer-reviewed journal articles.
Practical communications may include tutorials, case studies, and descriptions of practical solutions to common problems. The length of practical communications will vary by topic, but should generally be at least 6 typed pages.
The Review section is designed to present readers with brief evaluations of published materials on emerging technologies and topics related to professional practice. Materials selected for review are consistent with the above scope of the Journal of Web Librarianship. Please email Jody Condit Fagan for more information about the reviews section.
JWL currently offers three columns:
- Global Connections, by Candice Kail, highlights a different non-U.S. web site or web project each issue.
- Social Eyes, by Lisa Carlucci Thomas, presents librarians with an exploration and discussion of new social tools and current trends. The column will address both practical and innovative uses of social technologies that will improve the quality and efficiency of library services. Under the leadership of Lisa Carlucci Thomas, Social Eyes will incorporate the conceptual with the practical: to expand awareness about social technologies by framing the narrative around specific issues and considerations which are directly relevant to today's libraries. examines social technology issues, web sites, challenges, and trends. Due to the timely nature of this column, pre-prints are available for free, online.
- Web.tech.lib will focus on the intersection between emerging web technology trends and libraries as social places – from a systems perspective. Core technology issues will be discussed in terms of the impact they have on libraries and their patrons. Columnist Erik Mitchell, Assistant Head for Technology Services at Wake Forest University, will present low-barrier methods for thinking about connections between patrons, the web, and libraries, and emphasize the role of librarians in negotiating these areas. Due to the timely nature of this column, pre-prints will be available for free, online.
Jody is Associate Professor and Content Interfaces Coordinator at James Madison University.
Her first book, Web Project Management for Academic Libraries, was published at the end of 2009 by Chandos Press (co-authored with Jennifer A. Keach). She has published numerous articles in such journals as Information Technology
and Libraries, Reference and User Services Quarterly,
and The Electronic Library.
Her research interests include web interface design, specifically for library systems, and usability.
She is a member of the American Library Association (ALA), the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA). Since 2006 she has served as Chair of the American Library Association Poster Session Committee. She holds the Master of Library Science from the University of Maryland,
College Park, and the Master of Arts in History from Southern Illinois University,
Carbondale.
Email:
jweblib@gmail.com
Mailing address:
Jody Condit Fagan
Carrier Library 1704
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Lisa Ennis and Nicole Mitchell, Review Editors.
Email: jwl.reviews@gmail.com
Lisa Ennis is the Systems Librarian & Assistant Professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham's Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences. She received her M.A. in History from Georgia College & State University (94) and her M.S. in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee (97). She is A+ certified and has published widely on both library and technology topics.
Nicole Mitchell, MLIS, MA, is Reference Librarian and Optometry Liaison, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Sarah Beasley, MA, MSIS, Manager, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Film & Audio
H. Frank Cervone, MA, MSEd, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Information Services, Purdue University Calumet.
Chao-chen Chen, PhD, Professor and Chairperson, Graduate Institute of Library and Information Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Hsueh-hua Chen, EdD and MEd, Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Christina M. Desai, MA, MS, Associate Professor/Reference Librarian, Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Lisa Ennis, MA, MS, Systems Librarian, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Pat Ensor, MLS, Director of Library Services, University of Houston - Downtown
Linda Hartig, PhD, Reference Librarian, Carroll College, WI
Joseph Janes, MLS, PhD, Associate Dean for Academics, Information School, University of Washington
Judy Jeng, PhD, Evaluation Consultant, NJVid, and Adjunct Faculty, San Jose State University
Steven Johns, MLS, Public Services Librarian, Des Moines Area Community College
Candice Kail, MLIS, Senior Writer/Editor, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
Brian S. Mathews, MA, Associate Dean for Learning & Outreach, University Libraries at Virginia Tech
Nina McHale, Assistant Systems Administrator at the Arapahoe Library District
Erik T. Mitchell, Assistant Professor at the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland College Park
Margie Ruppel, MLS, Reference & ILL Librarian, University of Southern Indiana
Remigiusz Sapa, PhD, Associate Professor, Institute of Library and Information Science, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
Alastair Smith, MA, Senior Lecturer, School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington
Susan Sharpless Smith, MLIS, MA, Head, Information Technology, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University
Amanda Spink, PhD, Professor, Information Technology, School of Information Systems, Queensland University of Technology
Liwen Vaughan, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario
Sarah C. Williams, MS, MLS, Life Sciences Data Services Librarian, University of Illinois
Ian H. Witten, PhD, Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Waikato
Martha Yee, PhD, Cataloging Supervisor, UCLA Film and Television Archive
Q. What is the mission of the Journal of Web Librarianship?
.
To provide a publishing forum for high-quality, professionally written articles about web librarianship. To be useful to all information professionals striving to learn more about web librarianship, from mavens to newcomers.
.
Q. What is Web Librarianship?
- Any traditional library activity that is now practiced in the virtual space known as the World Wide Web.
- New and emerging forms of librarianship practiced in the web environment
Q. What types of articles will the journal publish?
.
The journal will feature both original research and practical communications. Case studies, descriptions of practical solutions to common problems, and tutorials are most welcome. Interviews, bibliographies, and other types of articles may be welcome, but please contact the editor in advance.Tables of contents and abstracts for issues of Journal of Web Librarianship can be found on the Taylor and Francis website. For full text, please sign up for a subscription!
JWL Editorial Blog (no longer updated)
Podcasts hosted by Deanna Christina Sukkar, MLIS, Seattle Public Library:
Podcast with Joe Janes (approx. 6MB)
Podcast with Jody Condit Fagan (approx. 5MB)
Each podcast is approximately 5 minutes.