Be a Peer Reviewer

American Archivist is always on the lookout for peer reviewers. Are you a generalist, subject specialist, or expert in the archives field? Or in an allied discipline such as records management, library and information science, or public history? If so, consider becoming a peer reviewer for the journal!

Dozens of manuscripts are submitted to the journal every year and each manuscript submitted undergoes double-blind peer review by three readers who evaluate the submission and recommend acceptance, revision and resubmit, or rejection.

A rubric is used by peer reviewers to provide critical evaluation in ten areas:

• Statement of Problem or Purpose
• Relevance of the Topic
• Importance of the Topic
• Contribution to the Literature
• Organization
• Drawing and Building Upon Relevant Literature
• Methodology
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Mechanics

Peer reviewers are given a specific period of time in which to complete a review. Timeliness and respect for deadlines is essential to the process. Evaluations are compiled by the journal’s editor and submitted to the author. The identity of the peer reviewer is confidential.

We welcome constructive critiques of ideas and perspectives expressed in the published literature, but ad hominem attacks are not constructive and do not belong in American Archivist articles or peer reviews.

To become a peer reviewer, register your contact information here.

For questions, contact American Archivist Editor:

AMY COOPER CARY
Head, Special Collections and University Archives
Raynor Memorial Libraries
Marquette University
(414) 288-5901
AmericanArchivist@archivists.org