By Sandra Hughes-Hassell, JRLYA member editor
Welcome to the Journal for Research on Libraries and Young Adults. Beginning with this issue, JRLYA will move to a dynamic publication schedule. As soon as a manuscript has met our rigorous review criteria, it will be published online.’ The JRLYA advisory board believes that moving to a continuous schedule will allow YALSA to provide high quality, original research from scholars in our field in a more timely manner.’ This change also aligns with YALSA’s use of electronic and social media to communicate, collaborate, and educate its members.’ As new manuscripts are added to JRLYA, they will be publicized in YALSA E-News and via YALSA’s social networking tools.
In this issue of JRLYA, we are pleased to publish two papers which focus on the theme of multiple literacies, specifically visual literacy and media literacy.’ In their paper “The Cover Story,” Annette Goldsmith, Melissa Gross, and Debi Carruth use compositional analysis and semiotics to investigate how the US jacket of Adele Minchin’s 2004 young adult novel, The Beat Goes On, reflects the novel’s HIV/AIDS content. ‘ ‘ Paul Mihalidis develops an argument for media literacy education as the pedagogical foundation for the learning commons model for school libraries in his paper “Media Literacy and Learning Commons in the Digital Age,” highlighting the Chelmsford High School Learning Commons in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, as a vibrant central space in a school for just this type of integrated learning.
JRLYA is currently accepting manuscripts for upcoming issues based on original qualitative or quantitative research, an innovative conceptual framework, or a substantial literature review that opens new areas of inquiry and investigation. Case studies and works of literary analysis are also welcome. The journal recognizes the contributions other disciplines make to expanding and enriching theory, research and practice in young adult library services, and encourages submissions from researchers, students and practitioners in all fields.
The Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults uses the Chicago Manual of style endnotes. For complete author guidelines including example citations, please visit the author guidelines. While submissions average 4,000 to 7,000 words, manuscripts of all lengths will be considered. Full color images, photos, and other media are all accepted. Please direct any manuscripts, questions, or comments to Sandra Hughes-Hassell, Member Editor, at yalsaresearch@gmail.com.