AAM Press

The American Alliance of Museums, in partnership with its publisher Bloomsbury Publishing, 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 2026-2027) some topics of particular interest for manuscripts are:

Advocacy
Audience & Visitor Experience
Career Development
Collections Stewardship
Curatorial & Interpretation
Development & Advancement
Facilities & Operations
Financial Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability
Exhibitions & Experience
Leadership & Governance
Learning & Engagement
Marketing & Communications
Technology & AI
Workforce/Workplace Culture

Submission Date:

We review book pitches once a year. The book pitch deadline is October 5th, 2026.

Process

Step One

Step Two

Within two weeks of the pitch submission deadline, the AAM Editorial Review Committee 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 Bloomsbury Publishing (not the American Alliance of Museums), who will work directly with authors on manuscript development, editing and production schedules.