In the Library with the Lead Pipe

Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal during our January open submission window. We look forward to reviewing all the proposals!

For our next open submission window: we will decide that based how many proposals we accept from this round. Based on previous years it is likely to be August 2026.

"Disabled patrons often engage in labor to manage others’ discomfort, navigate inaccessible environments, and advocate for their needs. This labor includes emotional and cognitive efforts to avoid being perceived as disruptive or burdensome, to explain one’s disability, or perform normativity..."

"This paper specifically reports on how dysconscious ableism affects disabled patrons in public libraries, using firsthand accounts to explore how ableist norms inform library environments and interactions."

Open to submissions throughout January 2026.

Submission information: www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/submission-g...

Submission form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

"This paper specifically reports on how dysconscious ableism affects disabled patrons in public libraries, using firsthand accounts to explore how ableist norms inform library environments and interactions."

"Drawing on critical theory and ethnographic methods, the paper uncovers pervasive, oppressive experiences and challenges within library environments."

Lived Patron Experiences of Dysconscious Ableism in Public Library Spaces by William N. Myhill

Two weeks left to submit!

Open to submissions throughout January 2026.

Submission information: www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/submission-g...

Submission form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Policy in Brief We expect all submitted drafts to be by human author(s). We encourage authors to contact us if they have concerns or need support. We do not accept content produced or edited by generative AI. This includes (but is not limited to) data analysis, generated text, images, or translations. We also do not allow generative AI during the peer review process. Disclosure question you will be asked during the submission process: Did you use a generative AI tool to draft or edit this manuscript, analyze data, or create images? (If you only used it during the brainstorming or outlining stages, select no. If your use continued beyond the pre-writing stage, we encourage you to submit your manuscript elsewhere; we will not review it.)

Updated AI policy, in effect starting with the January 2026 open submission window

www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/ai-policy/

Policy in Brief We expect all submitted drafts to be by human author(s). We encourage authors to contact us if they have concerns or need support. We do not accept content produced or edited by generative AI. This includes (but is not limited to) data analysis, generated text, images, or translations. We also do not allow generative AI during the peer review process. Disclosure question you will be asked during the submission process: Did you use a generative AI tool to draft or edit this manuscript, analyze data, or create images? (If you only used it during the brainstorming or outlining stages, select no. If your use continued beyond the pre-writing stage, we encourage you to submit your manuscript elsewhere; we will not review it.)

Updated AI policy, in effect starting with the January 2026 open submission window

www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/ai-policy/

In just over an hour I'll discuss AI Editorial Policies with @bpfiedler.bsky.social & Imogen Clarke as part of the Library Publishing Coalition's Panel. (Representing @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social & @ubiquityopen.bsky.social.)

9am Pacific / 10am Mountain / 12pm Eastern / 5pm UK

Hope you'll join us!

And our next open submission window is January 2026

See submission guidelines here - pay attention to the sub-pages with information about journal style, our AI policy, and our open review process.

Some brief updates about the journal:

Our last article of the year came out last week.

We're now working with authors for the spring/summer batch - lots of exciting pieces in the pipeline!

We're also working to move to a more stable platform - look for more information about that in a few months.

"Should [not] “We find that this behavior undermines our fundamental human dignity” [be] sufficient to inform the conversation?...

While it may not be possible to steer the broader institution or society, it is possible to act in an informed manner to provide more inclusive and welcoming spaces"

This is the first time I've been cited, what an honour to have it be about a topic as important as this one! An excellent read.

"This is partially a story of my own cowardice and partially a cautionary tale about employee retention, but perhaps more importantly, it is a story of institutional cultural ineptitude."

"This article speaks to the cultural context of the harm that racism and colonialism cause for Indigenous peoples that they encounter in institutions of higher education, including libraries."
www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2025/more-th...

Coming out Wednesday, George Gottschalk talks about "More Than Sage Smoke and Mascots: How Well Do You Know Your Indigenous Patrons and Employees?"

"Neuroinclusive: Practices, processes, and policies that create welcoming and safe spaces for people of all neurocognitive functions"

"While we’ve had successful conversations about changing hiring practices, we also know that it can be tricky convincing people to stop an interview practice that has always been done – or worse, has become almost a hazing ritual."

Appendix A and B include best practices for neuroinclusive hiring, from rewriting job postings to rethinking how you structure on-site interviews.

"While we’ve had successful conversations about changing hiring practices, we also know that it can be tricky convincing people to stop an interview practice that has always been done – or worse, has become almost a hazing ritual."

This is an excellent article.

When I had time to reflect in my finalist interview, I noticed that I thrived when I had my questions in advance (all of them during the screen), but was a deer in headlights outside of my prepared presentation...

I'm thrilllled this research is finally out there! Library hiring prob isn't the worst out there, but as a field we have a long way to go when it comes to being inclusive of neurodivergent job candidates.
TY Lead Pipe for being such a wonderful group to publish my first peer-reviewed article with!

"... best practices are better implemented as the default so that all candidates, regardless of whether they are neurodivergent or neurotypical, can benefit without the added burden of disclosure at potential personal risk."

Are We Implementing Neuroinclusive Hiring Practices?: An Investigation for Academic Library Positions by Liz Bellamy, Alex Flores Glosson, James Glosson, Mary Oberlies, Michael Runyon and Paul Showalter

"Knowledge workers are obligated to maintain and preserve these [biomedical] materials because of their epistemic and cultural value, in spite of their awful, nonconsensual origins. We wanted to create an ethical and methodological framework that enabled the divestment of stolen human biomatter..."

I’m looking forward to more dev on the OP platform w @mdalmau.bsky.social & Sean Purcell bc they’re both brilliant writing partners. The @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social & outside referee experience was a model for generous peer review. Now to get Part II out there in the world!

Thanks @plach.bsky.social ! The open peer review process w/ @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social was constructive & generative-the best peer review experience. Writing w/Sean Purcell was an inspiration & of course, @kalanicraig.bsky.social, forever my work spouse. Looking forward to part 2 of the article.