Editorial Policy
School Library Monthly will make every effort to encourage the participation of its readership in developing the contents of the magazine. It is our feeling that thousands of creative ideas for teaching multi-literacy/inquiry skills as well as strategies and information about developing exemplary school library programs are already in use all over the country, and it is our genuine desire to serve as a vehicle for the distribution of these successful teaching ideas. Toward that end, we will welcome unsolicited manuscripts and contributions to all columns and departments, as well as unsolicited feature articles. Naturally, the publishers will continue to develop large portions of the content based on long experience in developing and implementing school library programs, but we truly want to serve as a national forum for the exchange of ideas. Be assured that we will make every effort to publish your ideas and activities, on the theory that if they work well for you, they will work well for other school librarians.
We must, of course, retain the right to make editorial changes to manuscripts in order to ensure that they conform to our format. Editing will, however, be done judiciously and we will try our best to remain true to your ideas. Whenever possible, we will publish your ideas and activities unedited. Always, your contributions will be properly attributed to you.
Submission Guidelines
Send manuscripts to dlevitov@abc-clio.com accompanied by an email Word attachment. A very short vita of the author should be included with home address and contact information (email address, phone number).
In-text citations and reference lists, where appropriate, should conform to the bibliographic style of the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, latest edition). See also the Writer's Guidelines (PDF) and the Citations Style Guidelines (PDF). Bibliographic citations should include at least the following information:
- Print: author(s), title, publisher, year of publication.
- Periodical Articles: author(s), title of article, name of publication, issue/date of publication, page numbers.
- Video/CD/DVD: title, length, publisher, year of publication.
- Internet Sites: site name, site address (URL).
Format Guidelines for Columns
The following format guidelines for each section of School Library Monthly should help you prepare submissions.
Into the Curriculum: Learning plans can range from 300-900 words, more if needed, up to 1,400 words maximum. The activities included in this section will be fully-developed and in lesson-plan format, using the SLM Learning Plan template (PDF). All necessary reproducible teaching aids (KWL charts, templates, guidelines, etc.); line illustrations and/or illustrative photographs; and description of ways of assessing student performance of objectives should be sent with the lesson plan upon submission.
Features: Approximately 1,500-1,800 words. Feature articles should be about some aspect of the school library related to instruction or program practice.
Advocacy: Approximately 1,000-1,800 words. Articles related to advocacy for the school library. Share how you have recruited others to be advocates for your program. Provide ideas for using PR or marketing to gain attention and support for the school library.
Notes from the Field: Approximately 1,200-1,400 words. This column is for Ideas/activities/information that can help school librarians with professional growth and making links to students, teachers, and the community through learning and teaching as well as program management.
Keeping Current: Approximately 1,000-2,000 words. This column provides information on current initiatives and research of importance to school library professionals, helping readers to stay current.
Key Words in Instruction: Approximately 1,000-2,000 words. The article should deal with a topic (key word) as it relates to instruction and teaching practice via the school library and should incorporate current research.
School Library Monthly warmly welcomes all of your contributions. Make it your magazine.
NOTE: For SLM Style Guidelines, see Citations Style Guidelines (PDF).