Behavioral and Social Sciences Librarian

Instructions for Authors

The following instructions provide general information on the preparation and submission of manuscripts for Behavioral and Social Sciences Librarian. This page includes information on the anonymous review process, on creating tables and figures, on style, and on the recommended format for references. It also includes comments on originality, and on copyright. The Publication Agreement used by Haworth Press will give prospective authors more detailed information on copyright and the author's working relationship with the publisher.

SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS

Manuscripts should be submitted to the Editor via email or on diskette, preferably in Microsoft Word format. Send manuscripts to Necia Parker-Gibson, Editor, BSSL, at neciap@uark.edu

Instructions for Authors

1. ORIGINAL ARTICLES ONLY.

Submission of a manuscript to this Journal represents a certification on the part of the author(s) that it is an original work, and that neither this manuscript nor a version of it has been published elsewhere nor is being considered for publication elsewhere.

2. MANUSCRIPT LENGTH.

Your manuscript may be approximately 5-50 typed pages double-spaced (including references and abstract). Lengthier manuscripts may be considered, but only at the discretion of the Editor. Sometimes, lengthier manuscripts may be considered if they can be divided up into sections for publication in successive journal issues.

3. MANUSCRIPT STYLE.

References, citations, and general style of manuscripts for this Journal should follow the Chicago style (as outlined in the latest edition of the Manual of Style of the University of Chicago Press). References should be double-spaced and placed in alphabetical order. The "scientific" style (also known as the "author-date" style) of citation (as opposed to the "humanities" footnoting style) is required. Thus, use the author-date citation in the text (e.g., Smith 1999) and use the full name form (e.g., Smith, Jane M. 1998) in the reference list at the end of the manuscript. See more examples starting on page 616 of the 15th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. Also see http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/guides/styles/chicago_style.shtml

If an author wishes to submit a paper that has been already prepared in another style, he or she may do so. However, if the paper is accepted (with or without reviewer's alterations), the author is fully responsible for retyping the manuscript in the correct style as indicated above. Neither the Editor nor the Publisher is responsible for re-preparing manuscript copy to adhere to the Journal's style.

4. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION.


Margins: leave at least a one-inch margin on all four sides.
Cover page: Important -- include a cover page with the manuscript indicating only the article title (this is used for anonymous refereeing). Second "title page": . Include the title again, plus:

5. SPELLING, GRAMMAR, AND PUNCTUATION.

You are responsible for preparing manuscript copy which is clearly written in acceptable scholarly English, and which contains no errors of spelling grammar, or punctuation. Neither the Editor nor the Publisher is responsible for correcting errors of spelling and grammar: the manuscript, after acceptance by the Editor, must be immediately ready for typesetting as it is finally submitted by the author(s). Check your paper for the following common errors:

Also, check the accuracy of all arithmetic calculations, statistics numerical data, text citations, and references.

6. INCONSISTENCIES MUST BE AVOIDED.

Be sure you are consistent in your use of abbreviations, terminology, and in citing references, from one part of your paper to another.

The following spellings and capitalizations should be used: Internet; Web sites; Web pages, etc.

All citations and references must be verified by the author(s) against the original documents.

7. PREPARATION OF TABLES, FIGURES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

All tables, figures, illustrations, etc. must be "camera-ready." That is, they must be cleanly typed or artistically prepared so that they can be used either exactly as they are or else used after a photographic reduction in size. Figures, tables, and illustrations must be prepared on separate sheets of paper. Always use black ink and professional drawing instruments. On the back of these items, write your article title and the journal title lightly in pencil, so they do not get misplaced. In text, skip extra lines and indicate where these figures and tables are to be placed (please do not write on face of art). Photographs are considered part of the acceptable manuscript and remain with Publisher for use in additional printings.

8. ALTERATIONS REQUIRED BY REFEREES AND REVIEWERS.

Many times a paper is accepted by the Editor contingent upon changes that are mandated by anonymous specialist referees and members of the Editorial Board. If the Editor returns your manuscript for revisions, you are responsible for retyping any sections of the paper to incorporate these revisions (if applicable, revisions should also be put on disk).

9. TYPESETTING.

You will not be receiving galley proofs of your article. Editorial revisions, if any, must therefore be made while your article is still in manuscript. The final version of the manuscript will be the version you see published. Typesetter's errors will be corrected by the production staff of The Haworth Press. Authors are expected to submit manuscripts, disks, and art that are free from error.

10. ELECTRONIC MEDIA.

Haworth's in-house type-setting unit is able to utilize your final manuscript material as prepared on most personal computers and word processors. This will minimize typographical errors and decrease overall production timelag.

NOTE: Authors are advised that no revisions of the manuscript can be made after acceptance by the Editor for publication. The benefits of this procedure are many with speed and accuracy being the most obvious. We look forward to working with you on this, knowing we will be able to serve you more efficiently in the future.

11. REPRINTS.

The senior author will receive two copies of the journal issue and 10 complimentary reprints of his or her article. The junior author will receive two copies of the journal issue. These are sent several weeks after the journal issue is published and in circulation. An order form for the purchase of additional reprints will also be sent to all authors at this time. (Approximately 4-6 weeks is necessary for the preparation of reprints.) Please do not query the Journal's Editor about reprints. All such questions should be sent directly to The Haworth Press, Inc., Production Department, 37 West Broad Street, West Hazleton, PA 18201-3821. To order additional reprints (minimum: 50 copies), please contact The Haworth Document Delivery Center, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580 1-800-342-9678 or Fax (607) 722-6362.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright ownership of your manuscript must be transferred officially to The Haworth Press, Inc., before we can begin the peer-review process. The Editor's letter acknowledging receipt of the manuscript will be accompanied by a form fully explaining this. All authors must sign the form and return the original to the Editor as soon as possible. Failure to return the copyright form in a timely fashion will result in delay in review and subsequent publication.