Call for Papers - Fall 2026 Issue of The Political Librarian

For its Fall 2026 issue, The Political Librarian seeks articles exploring the intersection of emerging technology and the political challenges and opportunities facing libraries and memory institutions. Artificial intelligence, surveillance, algorithmic bias, paywalls, disinformation, and “enshittification” are just some of the forces reshaping how information is mediated between libraries and memory institutions and the communities that they serve. 

Emerging technologies have repeatedly challenged libraries and other memory institutions to rethink their activities and evolve in their functions. While some have viewed emerging technologies as early as radio as a threat to usage, libraries and memory institutions have instead found ways to leverage the possibilities of emerging technologies and incorporate them into their offerings. Now, however, rather than presenting an alternative source of information and engagement, emerging technologies are offering capacities to potentially obliterate the values and identities of libraries and other memory institutions, encouraged by a political environment already threatening to libraries and memory institutions. 

We encourage pieces that wrestle with the political, policy, legal, theoretical, conceptual, and practical impacts of emerging technology for libraries as cornerstones of democracy. This issue will be the first of a series tackling the multifaceted challenges of technology, democratic society, and memory institutions. 

The Political Librarian welcomes submissions from all levels of information, memory, library, and cultural heritage professionals, administrators, educators, researchers, policy analysts, and stakeholders.

Submissions of complete papers of any length are welcome and should conform to the journal's style and formatting guidelines at the time of submission. Authors are encouraged to review recent issues when preparing their paper.

Submissions of complete papers for the Special Issue will now be accepted until October 15, 2026 and should be submitted through the journal site.