Reference Services Review (RSR): Call for Papers

Reference Services Review

Call for Papers

Please spread the word and share this exciting writing opportunity with your colleagues, friends, and networks. We invite submissions for Reference Services Review (RSR) on a variety of topics ranging from teaching and learning to reference and user services.

Research in all types of libraries, archives, and museums are welcome.

Our articles cover all aspects of library & information science and we welcome a variety of methodologies from case studies to conceptual papers. We aim to highlight traditional areas of inquiry within information studies and education, as well as newer interdisciplinary perspectives like critical pedagogy.

Our aim is to raise questions, explore new frameworks, and propose solutions to the operational challenges faced by librarians and information professionals. We strive to advance fresh analyses and research to enhance user services in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

We are particularly interested in expanding our scope to include various types of papers beyond traditional research articles.

We welcome submissions in the following categories:

  • Viewpoint. Covers any paper where content is dependent on the author's opinion and interpretation. They offer critical analysis, propose new ideas, or challenge existing practices. This includes journalistic and magazine-style pieces.
  • Technical paper. Describes and evaluates technical products, processes or services.
  • Conceptual paper. Focuses on developing hypotheses and is usually discursive. Covers philosophical discussions and comparative studies of other authors’ work and thinking.
  • Case study. Describes actual interventions or experiences within organizations. It can be subjective and doesn’t generally report on research. Also covers a description of a legal case or a hypothetical case study used as a teaching exercise.
  • Literature review. This category should only be used if the main purpose of the paper is to annotate and/or critique the literature in a particular field. It could be a selective bibliography providing advice on information sources, or the paper may aim to cover the main contributors to the development of a topic and explore their different views.
  • General review. Provides an overview or historical examination of some concept, technique or phenomenon. Papers are likely to be more descriptive or instructional (‘how to’ papers) than discursive.

Submission Guidelines:

- Submissions should be original and not under consideration elsewhere.
- Manuscripts should follow the RSR author guidelines.
- All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure quality and relevance.

Important Dates:

- Submission Deadline: ongoing
- Notification of Acceptance: ongoing
- Final Manuscript Due: TBA
- Publication: TBA

For more information about RSR and the submission process, please visit our website. 
Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Sincerely,
The RSR Editorial Team

- Submit a paper for RSR: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rsr
- Join RSR's Peer Reviewer Pool: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/rsr#join-reviewers
- Visit RSR's website: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/rsr
- Follow RSR on LinkedIn