Publisher Guidelines and Information

(Updated March 2020)

Section Editor: Corey Seeman

Director, Kresge Library Services (http://www.bus.umich.edu/kresgelibrary/)

Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

cseeman@umich.edu / Mobile (734) 717-9734 / Work (734) 764-9969

About the Journal

Against The Grain is the journal for the Charleston Conference and is published six times a year.  

• URL: https://against-the-grain.com/
• ISSN: 1043-2094
• About the Journal: https://www.against-the-grain.com/about/
• Against the Grain is indexed in Library Literature, LISA, Ingenta, and The Informed Librarian.
• "Against the Grain (ISSN: 1043-2094) is your key to the latest news about libraries, publishers, book jobbers, and subscription agents. Our goal is to link publishers, vendors, and librarians by reporting on the issues, literature, and people that impact the world of books and journals."

Review Information

• General Section Information: Our goal is to have a column in each of the six issues over the course of the year.  The length of that column will be directly proportional to the number of reviews received (typically between four and six, but with the ability to grow if needed).

• Monographic Musings (books on librarianship) - We are reviewing books that cover a wide range of topics in librarianship and information management.  While many will be focused on collections and collection management, the titles reviewed may reflect the wide range of library topics covered at the Charleston Conference including: management, human resources, reference, information literacy, marketing, operations, patron engagement, etc.
• Reference Reviews (Library reference works) - Our goal is feature reviews for single or multi-volume reference works that are either available in print or electronic formats.  We are reviewing books that cover a wide range of subjects that would be found in reference collections.
• Reviews do not have a hard and fast rule in regards to a word count.  Keeping it between 500 and 750 is a good goal to follow.  If a review is shorter or longer, we can figure that out.
• Structure should be setup similar to the sample review.

• Bibliographic Information
• Reviewed by note (name, title, institution and email)
• Review elements

• Basic introduction to the topic
• Author's background
• A few examples (good or bad) of the work
• Overall statement of value

• The ATG Reviewer Rating (see below)

ATG Reviewer Rating

ATG Reviewer Rating should be one of these values (from highest to lowest): We created a reviewer value that will be consistent from book to book.  I came up with this rating to reflect our collaborative collections and resource sharing means.  I think it helps classify the importance of these books.  

• ATG Reviewer Rating:  I need this book on my nightstand.  (This book is so good, that I want a copy close at hand when I am in bed.)
• ATG Reviewer Rating:  I need this on my desk.  (This book is so valuable, that I want my own copy at my desk that I will share with no one.)
• ATG Reviewer Rating:  I need this in my library.  (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)
• ATG Reviewer Rating:  I need this available somewhere in my shared network.  (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it with three to five days via my network catalog.)
• ATG Reviewer Rating:  I’ll use my money elsewhere.  (Just not sure this is a useful book for my library or my network.)

To have a book considered for Reader's Round-up (Monographic Musings & Reference Reviews)

• Send an email to the section editor (Corey Seeman - cseeman@umich.edu)
• Send a print copy of the book to Corey and the address below or arrange to have an electronic copy sent (ideal during COVID-19 shutdowns).
• When the final print edition is finished, the section editor will be emailing the publisher contact a copy of the entire column.  This file will include all books reviewed during that issue.  
• If you do not receive a copy of the review, please reach out to the section editor.
• While we aspire to review all books that are requested, we cannot ensure that we will be able to review any books that are unsolicited.  
• Any questions should be directed to the section editor.

 Section Editor Mailing Address (for print submissions of books to review):

Corey Seeman

Stephen M. Ross School of Business

University of Michigan

700 East University Avenue, K4511

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1234