Associate Dean Beth Blakesley Named WSU Press Assistant Editor

WSU Libraries’ Associate Dean Beth Blakesley recently accepted another significant role as new WSU Press assistant editor. Since joining the press staff, Blakesley has taken on responsibility for evaluating book proposals, checking e-book files for accuracy, and editing parts of manuscripts, as well as shepherding two projects through the peer-review process.

“I felt sick when it was announced that the WSU Press was being closed, and the fact that WSU Libraries provided a new home for the press was wonderful news,” Blakesley said. “Being able to directly support this partnership has been very rewarding to me personally and professionally.”

With her phased retirement and other changes, Blakesley found she had time available for other duties. In December, she and WSU Libraries’ Interim Dean Trevor Bond discussed future personnel needs.

“After talking about ideas for the WSU Press, I spoke up and said I could assist with editing,” she said.

It’s a perfect fit for Blakesley; she has extensive experience with editing three library journals. Between 2012-2014, she served as editor of Library Leadership & Management, managing four issues annually, coordinating a group of column editors, and recruiting submissions and reviewers. At the same time, she was editor of Public Services Quarterly, performing the same job duties.

From 2015-2020, Blakesley served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Academic Librarianship, managing six issues annually, handling a high volume of submissions and a large reviewer pool, and coordinating column editors. She also co-edited the Information Literacy Instruction Handbook, published by the Association of College and Research Libraries in 2008.

“When I moved into library administration, I found that I had less time for research, but I wanted to remain active in information literacy instruction and assessment,” she said. “I found that I really enjoyed the editing and administrative duties.”