ACRL International Perspectives on Academic and Research Libraries Discussion Group

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite chapter contributions to an upcoming edited volume, to be published by the Association of College and Research Libraries, entitled Research Intelligence in Academic Libraries: Enhancing Institutional Impact and Output. This volume will address the broad range of options available for building an in-depth picture of the impact of individual researchers, departments, and institutions, and for adding to and enhancing that impact. 

Research intelligence provides a robust framework for assessing institutional research output. Academic librarians are exceptionally positioned to leverage the full potential of research intelligence due to their expertise with key resources and their unique ability to evaluate research impact. This edited collection highlights strategies for librarians to maximize the value of essential research impact tools, offering guidance on bibliometrics and examining how citation analysis and other pertinent indicators can be effectively employed in research evaluation and project development. It will capture ideas for new services and augmented training in academic libraries.

The book will consider best practices for integrating analytics within academic research libraries: ideas for how librarians can coordinate with faculty and staff, collaborate with administrative research personnel, and contribute to successful research reporting through bibliometric analysis projects. It will offer news ways for librarians to use their familiarity with research intelligence to have institutional impact. 

Proposals are welcomed on the following topics. If you have an alternate idea or are not sure that your idea fits, please reach out!  

●       Bibliometrics: The Emergence of Analytics in Research Settings - Focuses on research intelligence in the context of bibliometrics, exploring the dynamics of publication metrics and citation analysis. Considers how bibliographic content informs the analytics process, with special attention to the extent to which well-known indices (e.g., h-index) can assess research output. Discusses bibliometrics in the current research landscape, how research librarians currently employ it, and the most significant academic library resources for its application.

●       Citation Analytics: The Utility of Publication Metrics for Academic Libraries - Looks at journal and citation metrics in the context of citation analysis, author profiles, and affiliation data, with relevant databases such as NLM-PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, select web-based or AI-specific platforms (Google Scholar and OpenAlex), and specialized research intelligence platforms (Esploro, SciVal, and Academic Analytics). Explores how librarians can use these resources to better interpret and inform research impact.

●       Journal Analytics: Getting the Most from Source Metrics - Focuses on key indicators such as impact factors (Citescore and SNIP) and journal rankings (Quartiles) and the best resources available for these purposes (Scimago, Scopus Sources, Clarivate Journal Citation Reports, Cabell's, etc.). Demonstrates how academic librarians can best apply their knowledge of these tools to serve their institutions.

●       Analytics for All: Research Intelligence and Information Professionals - Focuses on methods for integrating librarian expertise within institutions and incorporating analytics in a routine manner. Topics might include:

·        disciplines that can benefit from integrating analytics

·        administrators who might need affiliation data

·        how analytics tools can support departmental publishing practices

·        which librarians may be best suited for analytics outreach

·        focused agendas for optimizing library roles

·        cost-effective ways of getting the most out of available resources

Key Dates and Criteria

Chapter Proposals (300–500-word description + brief author biography) Due: September 15, 2026

Proposals Notification: by October 15, 2026

Full Chapter Submission Deadline: March 15, 2027

(4,000–6,000 words, excluding references)

Peer Review & Editorial Feedback: April 1 – May 1, 2027

Revised Chapter Submission: July 1, 2027

Submitting a Proposal

Please submit your proposal (300–500 words) and a brief (100–150 words)

author biography to the corresponding editor:

Dr. Dan Stuart: daniel.stuart@ttuhsc.edu

We look forward to receiving your proposals and to collaborating on a

volume that advances this essential-and too often overlooked-dimension of

institutional research.

Warm regards,

Dr. Dan Stuart (Lead Editor)