The American Alliance of Museums, in partnership with its publisher Rowman & Littlefield Press, is seeking book proposals.
If you have an interest in writing on a timely topic for the museum field, we’d like to hear from you!
Format
Typically, books are around 75,000 words (250 double-spaced pages). Books can be published as a monograph or a collection of articles with oversight by a book editor. Most book authors take about 12-15 months after contract issuance to submit a manuscript.
Priority topics
Currently (in 2023-2024) we are especially seeking manuscripts that address the following topics:
- Change Management
- Collection Ethics
- Community Engagement
- Digital Strategy/Practices/Engagement
- Environmental Sustainability/Climate Change
- Financial Resilience
- Health and Well-being
- Leadership
- Museum Management Fundamentals
- Polarization
- Public Programs
- Social Value/Measurement/ Impact
- Exhibitions
- Workforce/Workplace Culture
Standing topics
Other topics and areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Audience Research and Evaluation
- Career Management/Development
- Collections Stewardship
- Curatorial Practice
- Development/Membership/Fundraising
- Diversity/Equity/Accessibility/Inclusion
- Education
- Exhibition Design/Planning/Practices
- Human Resources
- Media and Technology
- Museology and History
- Organizational Culture/Practices
- Public Relations & Marketing
- Visitor Engagement
- Volunteer Administration/Management
Submission Date:
Book pitches are reviewed once a year. The book pitches submission deadline is: October 6, 2023.
Process
Step One
Make a quick pitch on your book proposal topic and general issues it will address here:
Step Two
Within one week of the pitch submission deadline, AAM publication staff will review, select and notify submitters of pitch ideas to be developed as a formal book proposal.
Step Three
Submitters of selected book pitches will prepare a detailed proposal outline and submit within 4 weeks.
Step Four
The AAM Editorial Review Committee, comprised of AAM staff and museum practitioners, will review book proposals in December, and book proposers will be notified about publishing decisions and details or additional questions.
Step Five
Authors of selected book proposals enter into a contract with Rowman & Littlefield (not the American Alliance of Museums), who will work directly with authors on manuscript development, editing and production schedules.