Date: July 6, 2015
To:
RUSQ Editorial Advisory Board, RUSA Board of Directors
From: Barry Trott, RUSQ Editor
Subject: Editor’s Annual Report
EDITOR’S REPORT
Editorial Board Members
The following individuals served as members of the 2014-2015 RUSQ Editorial Advisory Board:
Jenny Bossaller, Heidi Jacobs, Kate Kosturski, Scott Seaman, Carol Singer, Nicolette Sosulski,
Laurel Tarulli, David Tyckoson, Chiang Wang, and Neal Wyatt.
Highlights
Nine feature articles were published in Volume 54, along with 30 columns. We published 10
pieces from committees of RUSA. RUSQ’s review sections featured 111 book reviews.
Individuals who have made substantial contributions as reviewers of reference books or
professional materials for RUSQ were recognized at the 2015 RUSA Awards Ceremony and
Reception.
Of the published columns and feature articles, eight had a strong public library focus, eleven had
a strong academic library focus, two focused on other library types (archives) and seventeen
were equally applicable to all library types.
Manuscript Flow
Thirty two original manuscript submissions were received between June 1, 2014 and May 31,
2015. This represents a 25% increase over last year. In terms of these manuscripts, the following
publication decisions were made: 12 were accepted as feature articles; 2 were returned to authors
indicating that resubmission would be welcome pending major revision; 11 were rejected; and 6
were passed on to column editors for consideration. One piece is still out being reviewed. This
37% acceptance rate is consistent with the rate for the past several issue years. In addition, two
revised manuscripts were received during this period and both were accepted for publication as
feature articles. I have articles scheduled through 55:3 at this point.
Other
RUSQ promotional efforts continue to go smoothly, with Marianne Bravermann of RUSA Office
sending out both a publication announcement and a follow-up email two weeks after publication.
In March 2015, RUSQ moved from its original host, MetaPress to OJS. The move was
necessitated by the closure of MetaPress. The transition went relatively smoothly, although at the
time of this report, authentication procedures have yet to be established, making the journal
effectively gold standard open access. The RUSQ Board and the editor have suggested to the
RUSA Board that this may be a good time to move the journal from green standard open access
(current four issues limited to subscribers) to full open access. Discussions and plans related to
that possible move are underway. The move to OJS should allow RUSQ access to usage
information that will help us better understand how readers use the online journal.
In order to increase the value of the journal to readers and the library profession as well as to
encourage more substantive submissions of feature articles to the journal, the RUSQ Board
revised the scope of the journal this year. The new scope encourages submission of not only
empirical research but also theoretical and historical research and essays. The new scope is
included below:
Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSQ) is the official journal of the Reference and
User Services Association of the American Library Association.
The purpose of RUSQ is to disseminate information of interest to librarians in areas such
as:
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Reference services
Collection development
Readers’ advisory
Resource sharing
Technology for reference and user services
Information literacy and instruction
Other aspects of user services
The scope of the journal includes all aspects of library services to adults in all types of
libraries.
In response to the nature of our rapidly evolving field, the journal publishes empirical
(quantitative and qualitative), theoretical, and historical research and essays as peerreviewed featured articles. Through its many columns, reports, and reviews the journal
also publishes an array of useful professional information.
As part of the scope revision, a subcommittee of the Board also revised the RUSQ referee form
to better reflect the new scope and to allow for more precise manuscript review.
All members of the current Board accepted appointments to new three year terms, 2015-18.