CFP | Special Issue: The Graduate

2026-04-20

 

Call for Papers | Special Issue: The Graduate

Guest Editors | Emily Zinger; Kiran Mohammadi-Williams; Sudha Anand; Brinna Michael; Aaron Pahl; Ashley Thomas

This special issue of The Journal of Critical Digital Librarianship invites current students, recent graduates, and early career librarians to reflect on the transition from the classroom to the profession and the many pathways that lead to and through digital librarianship.  As this occupation continues to evolve from its origins in the 20th century 'digital turn,' what are the challenges and barriers facing those who are new to the field? Digital library roles continue to be characterized by highly specialized or niche job requirements while also asking librarians to have or develop divergent skills across multiple disciplines. 

How do we embrace what seems like disjuncture—between fields and methodologies, between the everyday tasks and the big picture vision, between exploring emerging technologies and centering community values—to more critically engage with our work? How do we understand the differences between the theories we are taught in class and the practices required to succeed on the job? 

We are interested in publishing articles, case studies, interviews, reflections, personal narratives, and creative works that provide critical approaches to topics including, but not limited to:

  • Current trends in LIS curriculum related to digital librarianship;
  • Impacts of library internships and capstones;
  • Recent experiences on the digital library job market;
  • Intersectional theories and methods across disciplines within a single job

Submit your abstract via this form

Submission Guidelines

  • Article (5,000-7,000 words)
    • Formal and/or academic tone and style
    • Clear structure
    • Clearly engages with the wider body of literature
    • Examples: original research, case study, literature review, systematic review, etc.
  • Interview (3,000-5,000 words)
    • Professionally colloquial tone
    • Structured, edited, and arranged for clarity
    • May engage with the wider body of literature
    • Examples: informational interview, moderated conversation on a specific topic, etc.
  • Reflection or Personal Narrative (1,000-3,000 words)
    • May use a colloquial tone
    • Semi-structured or unstructured essay
    • May engage with the wider body of literature
    • Examples: response to or commentary on an event/article/video/etc., narrative or commentary on a personal experience within the broader environment of digital librarianship, etc..
  • Media-Rich Perspectives
    • Ideas represented visually and/or aurally
    • May also include submissions that pair written text with non-textual elements
    • Clearly engages with the wider body of literature
    • Examples: podcast episode, video essay, digital zine, multi-media collage, infographic, etc.

While we are open to submissions in many formats, final submissions will need to be published or represented within the structure available via the publishing software. Compatible formats include, but are not limited to, PDF, JPG, MP3, MP4, CSV, and HTML. If you want to check in about a specific format, reach out to the editorial team directly.

Submission Process and Deadlines

  • May 29, 2026: Submit a proposed abstract (up to 250 words) via this Google Form
  • June 26, 2026: Guest editors announce accepted proposals
  • August 28, 2026: Submit first full draft via Online Journal Systems (OJS)
  • September 25, 2026: Guest editors use a form within OJS to record feedback and notify the author about next steps
  • October 30, 2026: If relevant, author submits a revised draft
  • November 20, 2026: Guest editors use a form within OJS to record feedback and notify the author about next steps
  • December 18, 2026: If relevant, author submits a final submission
  • January 15, 2027: Guest editors review final submission and notify author of final decision regarding publication; if submission is accepted, it is moved to copyediting and typesetting 
  • February 5, 2027: Special Issue is published

Focus, Scope, and Open Peer Review

The Journal of Critical Digital Librarianship is an open access and open peer review journal that publishes and builds community around cultural heritage digital library work. We focus on work that integrates feminist, anti-racist, postcolonial, queer, anti-ableist, and techno-critical frameworks. At each step along the way, authors have the opportunity to speak directly with guest editors via email and/or video call. While a central goal of our journal is to build community, JCDL only publishes final submissions that are within scope and contribute meaningfully to the field. Please be aware that acceptance of a proposal or draft does not guarantee final publication in the special issue. 

To see more about the journal and its peer review process visit the JCDL website. 

Code of Conduct

JCDL is committed to creating and supporting an inclusive, diverse, and equitable community of practice. Please see our full Code of Conduct.

Have questions about this special issue or the submission process? Unsure if your idea is a match for this call? Contact Emily Zinger, emz42@cornell.edu, to chat with the editorial team.