Editorial Policies

Focus and Scope

Library Resources & Technical Services (LRTS) was the official journal of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) from 1957 to 2020. In September 2020, it became a publication of Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. LRTS is a peer-reviewed journal that takes a critical approach to the questions and challenges facing librarians and libraries with regard to:

  • Collections
  • Scholarly communication
  • Preservation (including digitization)
  • Acquisitions (including licensing and economic aspects of acquisitions)
  • Continuing resources
  • Cataloging (including descriptive metadata, authority control, subject analysis, and classification)

LRTS publishes both research papers and thoughtful explorations of operational issues that have value and implications for other libraries. In addition, LRTS publishes editorials, book reviews, letters to the editor, and the annual report of the president of Core.

 

Section Policies

Articles

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed

Columns

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed

Features

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed

Notes on Operations

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed

Book Reviews

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed
 

Peer Review Process

All submissions will be rigorously reviewed in a double-anonymous process to insure that all published papers are of high quality. The editor and members of the editorial board will work with authors whose work is promising in order to improve methodology, analysis, or presentation. For the profession to thrive, beginning professionals, as well as experienced librarians, should address the most pressing issues we face. While the peer review process LRTS follows will meet the criteria for those in tenure-track positions, the goal of the journal is to present both reflective investigation of issues and pertinent exploration of practical topics. Papers on operations in libraries will be considered, as long as they communicate an evaluative approach to practice and a serious examination of the work’s impact on libraries in general. We do not limit the journal’s content to a narrow definition of research.

 

Become a LRTS Book Reviewer

Library Resources & Technical Services (LRTS), the official journal of Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, publishes a popular book review column that is wholly reliant on motivated reviewers. In an effort to continually grow this vital reviewer pool, we have developed a volunteer form to match individuals with books aligned with their interests. Writing book reviews for LRTS is fun and easy. Once you've completed the volunteer form, the LRTS Assistant Editor will contact you when they’ve identified a book for review that matches your profile. If you agree to review it, you'll have 2–3 months to complete your review, which will range from 800–1,200 words. We encourage you to consult our instructions for book reviewers as well as past book reviews to get a sense of style and structure.