Spectrum Editorial Director Time Requirements & Fun Factor

After the Boston meeting I begin the third year of my second term as AALL Spectrum editorial director. It’s been a blast! And, it’s time to let someone else have fun.

Read the announcement here (application deadline June 1) which leads to the job description.

A few folks have asked about how much time I spend on AALL Spectrum and what I’ve thought of the job.  Well, on average, I spend 10-20 hours per week on Spectrum related activities and I’ve had a blast.

That time gets spent on a weekly conference call with the editorial staff, Ashley St. John, Marketing and Communications Manager, and Julia O’Donnell, Director of Membership Marketing and Communications. The call typically lasts about 20 minutes; occasionally the agenda required just over a hour.

Those calls deal with:

• Reviewing article proposals, discussing how to respond to the proposal and when to schedule the article to be published;
• Member-to-member questions – choosing the question and later selecting the responses to go into the magazine;
• Selecting which library remodel or build to feature in the architectural issue;
• Discussing new formats for articles and the magazine

Other chunks of time get consumed:

• In writing my column, at least 4 to 8 hours per issue;
• In communicating with authors about how I’d like them to reshape their article;
• Selecting and promoting books to be reviewed in the blog – and then selecting the reviewer and communicating to those i didn’t select;
• Listening to members and reading the email lists and blogs for article ideas;
• During the annual meeting which includes:
  • A speaking stint at CONELL about writing opportunities;
  • Working the LLJ/Spectrum table during the CONELL marketplace to recruit authors;
  • “Booth duty” at the AALL membership booth during the no-conflict times in the exhibit hall;
  • Introducing the winner of the article of the year award at the LLJ/Spectrum author reception.

I truly enjoy this job. It gives me another chance to give back to the profession by writing and talking about law librarianship and working with AALL members and headquarters staff. 

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or post them to the blog.