Librarian's Guide to Writing for Professional Publication

Book excerpt: Professional publication can take your career to the next level. Use this guide to learn the best ways to share your expertise and show commitment to the profession through publishing. Even if you're not yet confident about your experience, ideas, or writing skills, more than likely, you're ready to consider publishing. This practical guide will supply the encouragement and direction for you to effectively communicate using the written word and start publishing, which will likely serve to boost your career. It explains the difference between traditional and self-publishing; supplies advice on picking a publisher and working successfully with a publisher; and provides useful information on copyright, open access publishing, and contract signing. While geared to all librarians, this book also includes text intended specifically for librarians on the tenure track and those who wish to experiment with new media. The book supplies writing templates that make it simple to write various types of communication, such as a letter to the editor, effective emails and memos, or compelling letter of recommendation; a news release, newsletter, or feature story; and conference proceedings, peer-reviewed articles, technical manuals or brochures. You'll also learn how to write a proposal for a book or journal article to submit to a publisher and how to turn your master's thesis or doctoral thesis into a published work. Any librarian who is serious about advancing their career will find this an invaluable resource.