About the Journal

Please note the journal is not curerntly accepting submissions

Focus, scope, and objectives

Library and Information Research (LIR) is published by CILIP's Library and Information Research Group (LIRG). LIRG supports and raises the profile of library and information science research and its use by CILIP members and the wider community.  We provide relevant activities and publications for practitioners and researchers encouraging 'research into practice' and engagement with all stakeholders. Before 2003, LIR was published under the title Library and Information Research News.

We welcome submissions of research articles, reports and book reviews from both practitioners and academic researchers; and of course, we are always interested to hear your feedback on the journal. LIR has the following objectives: 

- To provide an overview of LIS research activity and developments worldwide;
- To publish research in such a way that it is accessible to, and usable by, the LIS community;
- To publish LIS research (including informal or in-house research) by practitioners;
- To publish practical case studies that illustrate best practice;
- To encourage reflective and evidence-based practice;
- To publish papers resulting from LIRG annual awards and prizes;
- To promote the use and understanding of quality research methods;
- To raise awareness of new tools, books and funding opportunities for research;
- To comment, and provide a forum for comment, on the state of LIS research.

Peer review process

The Editor-in-Chief will review all types of submissions of all types for style, content, scope, and other factors before acceptance. The Editor-in-Chief retains the right to reject or ask the author(s) for revisions when necessary.

Research Articles will undergo blind peer review with two referees consulted for each article, although in some cases the Editor may seek a third referee. Referees will usually be selected from the Editorial Board or LIRG Committee. In some cases it may be necessary to approach individuals not formally connected with the Journal. Please see the author guidelines for details of what is required from authors. 

All other paper types may be subjec to peer review as the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. 

Publication frequency

LIR is published twice a year: June and November. Articles will be made available online on a rolling basis as soon as they are ready for publication. 

Open access policy

Library and Information Research is an open access journal; all articles are accessible free of charge. There are no submission or article processing charges for articles submitted to LIR.

Authors are encouraged to deposit copies of their published articles in institutional or subject repositories. Repository records should cite the LIR journal website as the source of the original publication.

Copyright notice

Acceptance of the following terms is a precondition of publication in Library and Information Research.

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. 

Authors are able to distribute the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.

Attribution policy

Please cite and reference all sources appropriately according to American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition. See the APA Style website for more information.

Submissions containing sources that are not correctly attributed according to APA style are subject to rejection by the Editor-in-Chief.

Authors may submit papers again after the attribution concerns have been corrected.

Privacy statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for communicating with authors, reviewers and editors during the processing of submissions, notifying readers of new publications or announcements and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.