FAQ: Writing for Computers in Libraries

• Who is eligible to write for CIL?

Any working library professional who has an article idea is welcome to query. Of course it helps if you are comfortable writing and if you have published previously. Vendors and PR contacts however are not eligible to write for CIL. We are exclusively “by librarians, for librarians.” 

• Do I need to have prior publishing experience?

Prior publishing experience is not a prerequisite for getting published in CIL. We are more concerned with the valuable experiences and information you have to share than we are with your past publishing record. 

• What is CIL all about? What does it cover?

You can easily understand the magazine by studying our mission statement: 

CIL's mission is to provide librarians and other information professionals with useful and insightful articles about the technology that affects them, their institutions, and their patrons.

We aim to publish interesting stories, case studies, and opinions that are of professional value to people working with technology in public, academic, special, and corporate libraries, as well as archives and museums.

CIL is written by librarians for librarians, and it's about technology all the time. 

• I want to write an article. What do I do?

Please, do not write and send in a finished article! We have a query process that we use to get all our feature articles. Use our handy Online Query Form. to tell us who you are and what your article would be about.

• How long after sending my query will I have to wait to hear if my article idea has been accepted?

Allow one to two weeks to hear from us.   

• Does my article idea have to fit one of your themes?

No. Don't let our list of themes restrict you. You may submit a query on any libtech topic at any time by using the "Any Other" option on the topic list in our query form.  

• I’m a vendor who wants to get my product written up. What should I do?

CIL does not accept features written by vendors.  Consult the advertising kit for sponsored content opportunities.

Please direct your press releases and product announcements to: News Editor, Computers in Libraries magazine, Information Today, Inc., 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055 or e-mail them to cilnews@infotoday.com. 

• Can I submit a paper for the Computers in Libraries Conference here?

No, this is not the right place, but click here for more details on the conference or to submit a speaking proposal when the call for papers is open.

• Exactly who are the CIL readers that I’d be writing for?

CIL’s readers are just like its writers—librarians working with technology in any library environment. 

• Is CIL a peer-reviewed journal?

No, CIL is not a peer-reviewed journal. 

• Can I make simultaneous submissions to other magazines?

Please do not send simultaneous submissions to other magazines.

• How do you choose the articles you publish?

We choose the articles based on how well they relate to a given theme, and how interesting we think they will be for our readers.

We also take into consideration the quality of the writing in the query, the submitter’s experience in the area they want to write about, and the type of library/work situation (trying to include articles about all types of libraries and information centers). We look for writers who demonstrate that they really know CIL magazine, what it’s about, and what our style is. 

As with any writing submission, the first rule of thumb is “Know your audience!” Your idea needs to be on target for our readers, our content, and our style. 

• How should I send my query?

You must send your query using our online form.

• Do you pay for articles?

CIL makes honorariums for most pieces. Features usually pay between $150 and $225 (when authors are allowed to be paid; some work situations do not allow this). Authors will receive payment after their article is published. We also routinely send a few copies of the magazine to each feature author, so they can prove to everyone that they have become famous.

• Can I share my work by putting it on my Web site?

We do give authors permission to post their articles on their own personal or organizational Web sites, 90 days after the article is published in the magazine.

• Wow, all of this sounds too good to be true! You mean you might really publish my article?

We can’t publish it if you don’t send it! So send us a query today!