Call for chapter proposals - Supporting Today's Students in the Library

Supporting Today’s Students in the Library: Strategies for Retaining and Graduating International, Transfer, First-Generation, and Re-Entry Students

For publication with ACRL Press 

Proposal submission deadline: June 5, 2017  

Editors Ngoc-Yen Tran & Silke Higgins invite the submission of chapter proposals for a book on how academic libraries are addressing the unique struggles of international students, transfer or commuter students, first-generation students, and re-entry or older-adult students. The book will focus on strategies for retaining and graduating these student populations by exploring methods for overcoming barriers, discussing best practices for engaging students in research and information literacy topics, as well as providing a variety of services that support students beyond the classroom environment.

New and completed research and case studies are welcome, provided any new studies can be completed within the timeline explained below. Chapters based on completed research must not be previously published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere.

We are seeking proposals for two types of chapters in support of the aforementioned student populations:

1. Research or case studies on:
1. Who are our students
2. What are their struggles
3. What are their needs
2. Research or in-depth case studies on the application of learning theories (such as Social Cognitive Learning Theory or Educational Gaming Theory). Topics might include:
1. Best practices for instruction, outreach, and/or collection development
2. Overcoming language barriers
3. Overcoming barriers to access
4. Developing meaningful relationships with peers and faculty
5. Balancing school, work, and general life responsibilities

Submission procedure: Please submit chapter proposals of up to 500 words, a short author’s statement, a writing sample, and a list of previous publications if applicable to lib.learning.theories@gmail.com by June 5, 2017. If you are proposing new, uncompleted research, please provide a tentative timeline that includes a date for completion, evidence of institutional approval, if appropriate, as well as any additional dates you believe are relevant. Authors will be notified of acceptance by July 1, 2017.  

If there are multiple authors for a chapter, please submit author statements for each author and at least one writing sample. However, writing samples from multiple authors may be submitted if it is felt that doing so will create a better representation of the group’s work.  

Note: This initial stage requires a 500 word description, so just planning out your article now is fine. Final manuscripts of between 1500 and 5000 words will be due September 30, 2017, with drafts and edits staggered earlier throughout the year as best fits the schedules of the author(s) and editors. All chapters will undergo peer review by a subject matter expert prior to publication.  

For additional information, contact the editors:

Ngoc-Yen Tran, Academic Liaison Librarian, San Jose State University, yen.tran@sjsu.edu

Silke Higgins, Academic Liaison Librarian, San Jose State University, silke.higgins@sjsu.edu