Call for Expressions of Interest for the role of Editor, An Leabharlann.

LAI/CILIP Ireland seeks an editor for its journal An Leabharlann: The Irish Library. The editor is responsible for the editorial content of the journal and is assisted by an editorial board, primarily in the reviewing of submissions. The editor manages the overall editorial process to bring issues to publication. The editor may occasionally invite authors to submit articles on a chosen theme.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest from individuals wishing to assume the voluntary role of Editor to be submitted by email to alan.carbery@ucc.ie by close of business on October 3rd, in the form of:

• A summary-focused curriculum vitae highlighting relevant experience in the area of publishing, copy-editing and/or editorial content reviewing (max. 2 pages).
• A maximum 500 word statement from candidates outlining their motivation and suitability for assuming the role, and their vision for the future direction of An Leabharlann.

Where multiple expressions of interest are received, a subgroup of the LAI Executive Council/CILIP Ireland will rank candidates’ suitability based on the submitted written materials. Questions related to the process can be directed to Alan Carbery, chair of the working group, at alan.carbery@ucc.ie. Submitters will be notified by October 28th 2022. It is envisioned that there will be a period of hand-over with the out-going Editor.

About An Leabharlann

An Leabharlann is the recognised professional association journal publication for LAI and CILIP Ireland, publishing articles on libraries, librarianship and related topics of interest to the library and information community on the island of Ireland. An Leabharlann is published twice a year, in March and October in digital format, and selected past issues can be viewed at https://www.libraryassociation.ie/an-leabharlann/. An Leabharlann is an important avenue for LAI and CILIP Ireland to promote, explore and strengthen professional connections north and south of the island. The publication is enabled by a committed team who work on a voluntary capacity to deliver the journal. It recognises the collaborative and collegiate nature of the Irish library community and is often the first place of publication for library professionals. An Leabharlann welcomes article submissions from early-career professionals and library and information staff across a wide spectrum of grades and roles.

Role description
The Editor will oversee the editorial process of the journal from article scoping, submission, referring and reviewing to copy-editing and type-setting. The Editor will plan, coordinate, review and edit content. The successful candidate will be able to decide which ideas should be pursued and which should get dropped to meet quality and accuracy standards. The goal is to provide exceptional, informative, and engaging content for publication. The Editor will regularly seek contributions from library and information professionals for publication and will encourage and foster diverse and inclusive contributions to the journal. The Editor ensures each issue of An Leabharlann meets the standard expected of a polished professional journal for the LAI and CILIP Ireland.

The Editor is chair of the editorial board. All submissions are received and reviewed by the Editor who then sends appropriate content to members of the editorial board for review.  The editor makes the final decision on all items appearing in the journal. The Editor role represents a significant body of work at critical points in the publishing year.  It is also a role that provides a high degree of satisfaction in terms of delivering on the aspirations of the LAI and CILIP Ireland.

Indicative responsibilities

• Coordinate the online publishing cycle and manage content areas
• Manage and coordinate the submission review process with the editorial board
• Set, review and revise publication standards and establish goals and expectations
• Suggest topic ideas in alignment with the journal’s audience’s preferences
• Oversee layout (artwork, design, photography) and check content for accuracy and errors
• Proofread, edit and improve articles or pieces
• Mentor first time submitters of articles in order to encourage them to complete the process of successfully publishing an article
• Work closely with the contracted graphic designer to ensure that each issue of the journal is produced to the highest standards in an efficient and timely manner
• Respect and articulate deadline requirements and ensure additional stakeholders (writers, reviewers, etc) meet the same
• Engage regularly with the executive councils of the Library Association of Ireland and CILIP Ireland, providing updates on the publication and exploring opportunities for future development of An Leabharlann on behalf of the associations

Requirements and skills

• Proven working experience as an editor or reviewer in a similar context
• Strong editing and proofreading skills
• Hands-on experience with MS Office is essential
• Experience with InDesign, Photoshop or other publishing tools desirable
• Excellent written skills in English
• An eye for detail along with critical thinking
• Strong organisational skills, including prioritisation of tasks.