Endnotesis a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal that welcomes and encourages submissions from LIS students, early career professionals and researchers and first time writers. Endnotes encourages LIS students to consider their research papers and projects and convert them into journal articles. Part of Endnotes’ mission is to give first time contributors experience with the peer-review process.
Guidelines for Submission
Articles should range from 2,000 to 6,000 words and be written by LIS students or early-career library professionals. Endnotes welcomes research papers, technical papers, conceptual papers, case studies, and literature reviews. More information on these types of articles is available in our complete submission guidelines.
Those interested in discussing an article idea are encouraged to contact the editors at nmrtendnotesjournal@gmail.com to determine if the proposal fits the publication scope. Topics that might be appropriate for Endnotes include, but are not limited to:
Graduate students research and projects
Early career research and projects
Training and mentoring
Job searching or hiring
Developing leadership and management skills
Library instruction and assessment
Developing new collections or services
Working with specific community groups
Committee work and development – at your library or university, regionally or nationally
Reviews of new books or other educational materials such as websites
Submissions are accepted and published on a rolling basis.
For more information about Endnotes, including complete submission guidelines & previous issues, please visit https://journals.ala.org/index.php/endnotes/about. Please feel free to contact the Endnotes editors with any questions.
Expectations Once Submitted
If you submit an abstract, idea or manuscript to us, you will hear an initial response back from us within 1 month. If we like your abstract or idea, we typically give 3 months to complete the manuscript and submit the manuscript for peer review. We typically give 2-4 weeks to revise your manuscript between each peer-review evaluation for revision.
Greetings from the NMRT Communications Committee! Since many of us are working through our TBR piles during the COVID-19 pandemic, we thought it would be timely to share what we have been reading lately, in case you need suggestions for yourself or another reader.
Over the summer, I put in a hold request for this novel when I saw a lot of praise for it on social media, including the way in which Moreno-Garcia makes the racist, eugenicist views of main character Noemi Taboada’s antagonists explicit in the text, instead of using subtextual clues. The lengthy waitlist (37 weeks when I was added!) meant that I didn’t get to read it until September, when I devoured it over four days.
While I’m not a big romance or thriller reader, I read a lot of Mary Stewart’s books because my mom is a fan. Mexican Gothic started like a romantic thriller, ramped up into a gothic romance with Rebecca vibes, and then escalated to Shirley Jackson and weird horror heights. This isn’t a book for the faint of heart, but I thoroughly recommend it!
I grew up playing two instruments and have gotten into choir as an adult; I’m also a big fan of Murakami’s work, and music–Jazz, classical, opera, the Beatles–is woven throughout his novels. It was very interesting to see the different ways Ozawa (a true Maestro) and Murakami (a non-musician enthusiast) discussed composer’s oeuvres, conducting, and specific recordings.
While you don’t have to be a musician to appreciate the book and the way these two friends play off of one another’s train of thought, I think it does help to know a bit about creating and interpreting music. Currently, this is on a list of potential holiday gift ideas for one of my family members.
I’ll admit that over the past month I’ve been spending less time reading books in conventional formats and have become more interested in the new ways artists and writers from around the world are adapting their trade to webcomics specifically designed to be read on a smartphone. The Korean webcomic series Your Throne may be one of the perfect gateway series for this format, with detailed art matching the quality of most libraries’ graphic novel sections and a plot of fantasy intrigue that had me scrolling down on my phone faster than I had anticipated. What at first seems to only be a tale of spite and revenge by a spurned noble turns into a story of sympathetic perspectives from two women who share surprising common ground when it comes to experiencing pain at the hands of an overbearing imperial structure. Your Throne is readable for free online and on the WebToon app – a good recommendation to give to YA and manga fans who may not be in your library as much during the pandemic!
For those looking for a webcomic with fewer speculative elements, To Love Your Enemy is a contemporary romance with a lot to like for readers of young adult or new adult fiction. Yeonhee Bae is a mid-twenties woman who wants to turn over a new leaf as a college student and abandon her previous scamming career. However, a fellow student happens to be aware of her past – and she feels like she has to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t spill the beans with her new social group. Confusion, jealousy, and maybe even a slow-burn romance ensue? This was another series where I got invested quickly and was surprised at how much I liked the realistically flawed protagonist. The characters skew a little older than many mainstream comic series but still reflect the kinds of social situations common to many walks of college and young adult life. To Love Your Enemy is also free to read online and on the WebToon app.
A unique graphic novel that is inventive and creative in its use of page space as it transitions between character events, thoughts, and dreams. My expectation going into the novel was the traditional block by block breakup of action and events. While there are elements of this “comic style,” Chris Ware is playfully imaginative in making story segments stand out. By doing this, I believe it allows Ware to create content that speaks to the event’s individual significance within the novel and the uniqueness of that particular conscious experience for the character. For example, a character’s childhood experiences expressed in a pixelated format or reading a detailed graphic novel within a graphic novel. Not something I expected, nor anticipated, and I enjoyed it.
Author Chris Ware provides a highly existential experience for the reader as it explores hopes/dreams, reality, the regret of characters. An immersion in the experience of humanity. While the novel doesn’t heavily focus on the life of Rusty Brown at this point. Woody Brown and Joanna Cole were two stories that resonated with me and left an impression. If you are a fan of graphic novels or looking to dabble in the genre. I highly recommend taking a look at Rusty Brown.
A thoughtful graphic novel that explores the interplay of family life in a family business against the progression of technology and modernity. A once vibrant and successful fan business that struggles to meet with the times and gradually loses ground to the upcoming and booming A/C unit. The stresses this places on the two brothers within the story, how they deal with an aging mother with mental illness, and eventually closing the family business.
Seth put a great deal of thought into this story, as it weaves back and forth in the timeline and how various events shape the story. A detailed exploration of the lives of both brothers, their interpersonal relationship would resonate with many readers. I didn’t expect a story about a family business to be compelling, but Seth packs a powerful, detailed storyline. Clyde Fans was an interesting read!
Other Words for Home, by Jasmine Warga, a 2020 Newbery Honor book, tells the story of Jude who moves from Syria to the United States with her mother. It is a beautiful story and perfectly matches my sentimental fall mood.
When I was in grad school I imagined myself working in special collections/archives or as a reference and instruction librarian in higher ed, maybe as an adult reference librarian at a public library. I never pictured myself fifteen feet in the air, searching for a single millimeter-thick congressional committee pamphlet among eighty of its friends.
Everyone who works in a library knows that space is always limited, whether for materials storage or patron use, particularly at academic libraries. I supervise the library offsite storage annex of a flagship state research university, which is one way of addressing item storage problems without simply reducing the number of items in a collection. In our case, offsite storage allows the seven libraries (main plus six branches) in the university system to keep a large quantity of older and lower-use material in environmental conditions that are better for long-term item preservation while reducing the footprint of the on-campus collections.
What I’m really saying is that I run a climate-controlled book warehouse. My parents like to tell people that I work in something like the ending shot of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it’s a bit more like the eponymous Warehouse 13 crossed with the Kamar-Taj library in Dr. Strange. The first thing many people mention when they walk in is the “book smell” but sadly I’ve gone nose-blind to it.
Row of high-density library shelving
The annex is a retrofitted warehouse building with high-density library shelving installed. We use Harvard-style storage, which means that instead of being sorted by call number or any type of content criteria material is sorted by size into ten different sizes of cardboard tray (picture half of a shoebox and you get the idea) and fourteen to eighteen trays placed on a shelf. Each tray has its own barcode and location within the building, and individual items (be they books, scrolls, VHS, LaserDisc, or the skinny little congressional pamphlets I mentioned earlier) have their barcodes in the catalog matched to the tray location. Inventory control is very important since we currently have 1.7 million items housed at the annex and are spec’d to hold nearly 5 million: if anything gets lost, there is very little chance of it being found!
As you might imagine, it’s also impossible to browse. Occasionally patrons want to come look for something, and I explain that it doesn’t work that way. We do have reading rooms if a patron wants to look at many items at once for research purposes, but for safety reasons the building is a locked facility and prior arrangement must be made in order to visit. Honestly, we’re in a warehouse park at the far edge of town so I’m impressed when people manage to find us. (Nearest landmarks: a grocery store and a gas station.)
To shelve trays above what can safely and reasonably be reached from the ground we use a specialized forklift with a shelved metal cart on the back. Both the shelf and the operator go up in the air while the battery compartment stays behind to act as a counterbalance. Wire guides in the floor help us lock in to a straight path when we go down the rows of stacks. I was tentative when I first learned to operate it, but now I cruise around with ease (and my backing and turning in my car has improved a lot, too!)
Raymond 5600 Order Picker
Despite the fact that the material out here is technically low-circulating, we do keep busy with a variety of tasks. This facility has only been open for almost four years after a long period of ad-hoc rented storage sites, and most of that time has been spent working to process and ingest material on to the shelves. Until the end of January, in addition to myself and one other full-time professional staff member we had a rotating team of temporary workers helping to clean, sort, and scan the material.
There are quite a few article scans for both interlibrary loan and document delivery every day; sometimes rush requests come through from the health sciences library for urgently needed medical articles. I’m not too squeamish but don’t really like looking at retractions of the eyelid, so my colleague and I have agreed to swap as they don’t enjoy the full-color dental texts. We also usually send out a bin or two of physical material going out to campus locations or ILL every day. For example, during one two-week period I’ve scanned materials including Watson and Crick’s paper on DNA, Mendeleev’s paper on atomic weights, and a lot of articles about dental implants. Previously, volume one of Nature from 1869 went out for class use in Special Collections! (It cost 4 pence per issue and had some great ads on the front page.)
Aside from ingestion and fulfillment activities, I also work on fixing and updating item location and policy information in the catalog, evaluate preservation needs, monitor pests (every month I send a selection of bugs caught in sticky traps to our conservators: usually huge spiders, a few crickets and a pill bug or two), and work on identifying items that may be good candidates for digitization. Theses and dissertations are a big part of this: there are copies at University Archives, but we house circulating copies. Once a thesis circulates, I attempt to contact the author for permission to include it in our institutional repository.
There have been some steep learning curves as I settled into the job, including ongoing issues with the cool storage area intended to house film and other more delicate material. Whenever it seems that the HVAC system has managed to stabilize the internal environment (50 F and 25% relative humidity, as opposed to the 65 F and 50% humidity main stacks), something goes wrong again. I know much more about both non-mechanized and mechanized climate control than when I began.
I’ve also really honed my communication skills. The annex is located five miles from campus, or about fifteen minutes’ drive, and we usually get materials and mail delivered once a day. Figuring out who to talk to about what, and how to go about it have been very important, as well as making sure that I am as clear and straightforward as possible with my outgoing communication. I can’t just pop over to talk to someone if a problem comes up, but I also don’t want to send a deluge of messages and clog up anyone’s inbox. We aren’t even on the same phone network as the rest of campus, so instant messages or internal calls aren’t an option either! (I’d like to get voicemail set up out here, someday…)
Currently, my library system is trying to have everyone work from home as much as possible due to COVID-19, so my colleague and I are working opposite half-day shifts at the annex, minimizing the areas we spend time in, and limiting building access beyond the normal limitations. We sanitize the high-touch surfaces of the lift when we’re done using it, and wear masks as much as possible inside the building.
Honestly, I think my job and facility are interesting. I get to wear a lot of hats and work with people from many different departments both within the libraries and within the university, but ultimately everything comes down to ensuring the ongoing accessibility of resources. If I’m doing my job well, most patrons will never need to know that the offsite annex exists.
Does your library have offsite storage? Have you ever thought about where something retrieved from remote storage came from, and how it got to you?
Author Bio: Maggie Halterman-Dess (she/her/hers) is the Library Annex Coordinator for the University of Iowa Libraries and a member of the NMRT Communications Committee, as well as Endnotes. She tweets @maggie_pie_ and posts pictures of her corgi, baking endeavors, and weird stuff in storage on Instagram @maggie.pye
The NMRT’s Nominating Committee is calling for nominees to run on the 2021 spring ballot for the following offices:
— Vice-President/President-Elect — Secretary — Leadership Development Director — Member Services Director
For more information on the positions visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/nm/officerposition.cfm
Help lead NMRT into an exciting future! All interested parties wishing to submit names for nomination, please contact the following individuals via e-mail:
The Alternative Voices Feature is meant to give a platform to librarians’ voices from underrepresented communities in the library field. The format of the feature is a journalistic question and answer format. It provides information that the librarian wants people to know about them, plus their thoughts on the current state of the field of librarianship. The feature will showcase one interview each quarter. This is on a volunteer basis.
Name – Nichelle M. Hayes Contact Information – nichellehayes@gmail.com City & State – Indianapolis, IN Position Title – Director of the Center for Black Literature & Culture Length of time in the library field – 9 Years
Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did you attend college? What degrees do you have? What programs (undergraduate or graduate) prepared you for your current position? Tell us about your position and what you do? What is your definition of diversity or equity or inclusion?
I received my Library Degree from Indiana University – Indianapolis. I have two Masters – Masters of Public Administration & MLS as well as a Bachelors’ both from Valdosta State University. I think my entire life has prepared me for my current position, which includes my love of literature and sharing knowledge in addition to genealogy and family history. The core of my identity is being a Black Woman. I’ve been advocating the advancement of our people for most of my adult life.
My current position – I’m the Founding Director of the Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) ~ Indianapolis Public Library. The CBLC is a fixed and permanent space in a large urban area with a collection and programming focused on the African Diaspora. The CBLC is Black 365 days a year. We are both windows and mirrors for people who are a part of the African Diaspora and those that are not. I am responsible for programming, shaping the collection and promotion of the space. It’s been exciting, rewarding, and challenging! My dream job that I never imagined I would have. www.indypl.org/cblc
Definition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity – The librarian profession should reflect the patrons that they serve.
Equity – Black people of color started the race three laps behind and were hobbled. Policies have to be instituted to bring us to the same level as white people in the profession. We have increased needs because of systemic racism and white supremacy for the last 400 years and counting.
Inclusion – Black people should be represented in every area of librarianship, Library School, Management, Librarians, Directors, etc. DEI should be intentional and sustained. These repairs will not happen overnight.
Before you became a librarian, what were you thinking about doing professionally or academically?
Librarianship is a second career for me. I was previously a Human Resource Professional. I worked as a Generalist and in Recruitment and Selection.
What are some of your hobbies, and are you still finding time for these activities with your busy schedule?
I have a few hobbies. Gardening is something that I’ve picked up during the quarantine. I’m growing flowers and vegetables at my home. I’m enjoying the process of planting, nurturing, and watching things grow. Nature is beautiful and fascinating. I’ve jokingly said that this summer, I’m traveling from my front yard to my backyard. My flowers are primarily in the front with the veggies in the back. I also enjoy genealogy. Although honestly, it’s more than a hobby. As an African American descendant living in America, it’s important to know my history so that I have a firm foundation. I make time for my hobbies because it helps to nurture and restore me. I use it to refill my pitcher. I always try to remember that you can’t draw from an empty pitcher.
What can prospective librarians be doing right now to prepare themselves for a career in this field?
Consider the work you would enjoy doing. Try not to limit yourself to positions with Librarian in the title. Look more at using your skills in different positions. Research organizations that have a culture that meshes with yours. Be a lifelong learner. There’s always a new program or software that needs to be utilized.
Is there anything more that you would like to see NMRT or ALA as a whole do as a method to ensure the promotion of diversity and alternative voices?
I think that ALA should look internally as an organization to see who is in leadership as well as on staff. Does leadership reflect our community? I’m excited that Tracie D. Hall has become Executive Director in addition to Wanda K. Brown as President and Julius Jefferson incoming President. It’s important to have diverse voices in leadership and other positions. ALA needs to take a hard look at diversity, equity, and inclusion in libraries and library schools (students and staff). After taking that hard look, determine why diversity is lacking. I will say that it’s not about getting more Black and Brown students in Library School. It is about having an experience and professors and curriculum that nurture those students. And that also goes for libraries. If you have Black and Brown staff members leaving in droves or not advancing, there is a problem with YOUR institution, not the individual.
When you were growing up, did you feel that the libraries accurately reflected the community you lived in?
Growing up in the Midwest, I was blessed that my neighborhood branch did reflect me. The first Librarian that I can remember was Mrs. Ruby Anderson. Mrs. Anderson was a kind, soft-spoken woman who always seemed to be in the library when I visited. She worked with me to find books and to listen to my book reports for summer reading. Her care and attention were critical to me. It helped to cement my love of libraries.
How do you think the field will change most dramatically in the next several years?
This is an exciting and compelling question. My hope is that the use of technology will allow us to reach more people. I think that it’s important for us to understand that the “digital divide” is real. How do we bridge that divide? Lending more computers, tablets, and or hotspots. Do we make technology as accessible as water or air conditioning? Is that too radical a statement? I hope it won’t be in the future.
If you had to attribute your success to one skill or trait, what would it be?
I would say the primary trait that I attribute to my success is my ability and desire to continue to learn, soak up information, and apply and or share it.
What is your favorite genre?
Mystery & Detective! Love them. One of my favorite authors is Barbara Neely and Walter Mosely. I also really enjoy the late Sue Grafton.
Do you have a blog/website?
Yes, I do https://thetiesthatbind.blog/. I talk about genealogy and keeping families together across space and time.
Is there anything else you might have wanted to mention or something I should have asked? Write it down and answer it!
I am active in BCALA. I’ve found it to be a wonderful organization. I’m excited to start serving as Vice-President at the end of the month. I encourage everyone to join a professional organization for development and support. Also seeking out a mentor and offering to mentor someone else. Mentorship is important.
