Comparative Analysis of Professional Journals
Two journals I have looked at recently are the Public Library Quarterly and College and Research Libraries. These are two very different journals, yet both have similarities.
The College & Research Libraries publication is bi-monthly and can be found online. It is peer-reviewed and is the official publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries. It is directed towards librarians and library staff specifically of academic and research institutions. The journal contains articles on topics relevant to college and research libraries. Some topics I found included work being done in acquisitions, how to help patrons locate what they are looking for, library management and leadership, expansion of, cataloging and maintaining collections, and assessments of libraries and researchers. Along with articles, the journal provides book reviews and an editorial. Occasionally, the journal provides a live online fora.
The other journal I looked at was the Public Library Quarterly. This is a peer-reviewed publication that is meant to help anyone working in a public library, and address issues and concerns of public libraries. The journal includes articles written by people in the field on topics related to public libraries. Some topics include print versus electronic materials, raising money for libraries, gifts to the library, news and announcements of current job openings, achievements, retirements,etc.,and new practices in libraries. The Public Library Quarterly has an area were readers can access webcasts as well on related topics. Also in the journal are book reviews and library events that are ongoing at the time of publication. Surveys are also published in order for financial issues to be addressed and to inform the library community of what is going on nation wide.
These two journals seem to be completely different just from reading the title. Their main difference is the type of libraries they are addressing. However, they have similarities as well. Even though the two journals are targeting different types of staff an librarians, the information provided is important to both libraries. Topics include library management, how to help the library function better and types of funding and ways to fund libraries. These topics apply to both academic and public libraries, even if the ways of funding or management of libraries is different. Both journals are set up the same with articles and book reviews that are informative to the field. They both want to inform librarians and library staff in order to better serve researchers and the community. Both of these journals are peer-reviewed. This is very important as well because both journals have been reviewed by people in the field who understand the topic. More editing has happened and the subjects have been reviewed in-depth.
At first glance, I thought I would only be interested in the College and Research Libraries journal. It is what I want to focus on, and seemed to pertain to helping me learn more about what is happening currently in academic libraries. I didn't think the Public Library Quarterly would be of any interest to me. But, as I looked at the journal, I realized that budgeting and engaging community, along with organization of libraries is important to me too, even if it isn't an academic library. It's really interesting and very useful to be able to look at two seemingly very different journals and find both to be related to what I am interested in.