About the Journal
Nordic Journal of Information Literacy in Higher Education (NORIL) is a Nordic, diamond open access journal dedicated to information literacy in higher education. NORIL publishes original research and critically reflective, experience-informed accounts of practice concerning how students, educators, librarians and researchers find, access, evaluate, create, communicate, share and use information – and how these practices are developed through teaching, guidance and support. NORIL publishes a call for paper every autumn with publication in spring. In addition, NORIL publishes special issues for relevant conferences.
Information literacy is increasingly shaped by generative artificial intelligence, algorithmic information systems, misinformation, changing scholarly communication practices and new forms of knowledge production. Understanding these developments requires perspectives from library and information science, education, media and communication studies, the humanities, sociology, psychology and other disciplines. NORIL provides a forum in which these perspectives can meet.
NORIL welcomes contributions from researchers, librarians, educators, writing support professionals and others working with learning and knowledge practices in higher education. We particularly encourage Nordic perspectives, comparative studies and international contributions with relevance to Nordic higher education.
NORIL publishes peer-reviewed research articles and editorially reviewed practice articles, perspectives and debate articles, and book reviews in Danish, English, Norwegian and Swedish. All content is freely available immediately upon publication. We charge no submission or publication fees.
NORIL was founded in 2009 and hosted by The University of Bergen Library. From 2026, it is hosted by Stavanger University Library.
Focus and Scope
NORIL explores information literacy as an integral part of learning, teaching, research and participation in higher education. The journal aims to:
- advance research and theory on information literacy in higher education;
- support evidence-informed and critically reflective educational practice;
- strengthen dialogue and collaboration between libraries, academic disciplines and other learning-support services;
- examine how information practices are shaped by disciplinary, institutional, technological, social and cultural contexts;
- provide a forum for critical discussion of emerging challenges in the information environment.
Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
- the teaching, learning and assessment of information literacy;
- information literacy in disciplinary and professional contexts;
- critical, digital, media, data and AI literacy;
- generative AI, search technologies and algorithmic information systems;
- source evaluation, misinformation and epistemic authority;
- academic reading, writing, source use and research integrity;
- scholarly communication, open science and research data;
- information practices in knowledge synthesis and research support;
- collaboration between libraries, academic staff, writing centres and educational developers;
- inclusion, accessibility, multilingualism and equity in information literacy education;
- the changing roles and competencies of academic librarians;
- organisational, strategic and policy-related aspects of information literacy in higher education.
Submissions should clearly explain how their topic contributes to understanding information literacy, learning, teaching, research support or academic practice in higher education. Descriptions of library services or organisational initiatives should include critical reflection, a research or knowledge base, and insights that may be relevant beyond the authors’ own institution.
Submission Types
Research Articles
Research articles present original empirical, theoretical, conceptual or methodological research relevant to the scope of NORIL. Articles should state a clear purpose or research question, engage with relevant literature, provide a transparent account of the research design and methodology, and discuss the significance of the findings.
Research articles should be between 4,000 and 7,000 words, excluding references. They undergo an initial editorial assessment followed by double-anonymous peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
Practice Articles
Practice articles present and critically examine an educational initiative, method, service, collaboration or development project relevant to the scope of NORIL. They should do more than describe what was done. Authors should explain the context and objectives of the initiative, its research, theoretical basis or systematically developed professional experience, how it was implemented or evaluated, what was learned, and how the experience may be relevant to other settings.
Practice articles should be between 1,000 and 4,000 words. They are assessed by at least two members of the editorial team.
Perspectives and Debate
Perspectives and debate articles provide a well-founded argument, critical reflection or intervention concerning a current issue within the scope of NORIL. Contributions may address emerging developments, contested concepts, policy questions or changes in professional and educational practice.
Articles should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words and are reviewed by at least two members of the editorial team.
Book Reviews
Book reviews critically engage with recent publications relevant to information literacy in higher education. Reviews should do more than summarise the book. They should situate it within a broader scholarly or professional context, discuss its main arguments and contribution, assess its strengths and limitations, and consider its relevance to research, teaching, guidance or professional practice.
Book reviews should normally be between 800 and 1,500 words and are reviewed by the editors. Prospective reviewers are encouraged to contact the editorial team before submitting a review. Book reviews do not require an abstract or keywords.
All research and practice articles must include an abstract in English of no more than 250 words. The abstract of a research article should briefly describe the purpose or research question, research design and methodology, main findings, and contribution of the study. The abstract of a practice article should describe the context or problem addressed, the initiative or approach, its knowledge base, and the principal experiences or lessons reported.
Authors of research articles, practice articles, and perspectives and debate articles should provide up to six keywords in English and in the language of the article.
Editorial Assessment and Peer Review
All submissions undergo an initial editorial assessment to determine whether they fall within NORIL’s scope and meet its basic scholarly and editorial requirements.
Research articles that pass the initial assessment are evaluated through double-anonymous peer review by at least two independent reviewers. Reviewers are selected on the basis of their expertise in the subject area and are asked to assess the article’s relevance, originality, methodological or theoretical quality, clarity and contribution to the field.
Practice articles are assessed by at least two members of the editorial team. The assessment considers the article’s relevance, critical reflection, grounding in research or professional knowledge, clarity and potential value for readers in other contexts.
Submissions are accepted and reviewed throughout the year. Authors can follow the progress of their submission through the journal’s online submission system.
Open Access Policy and Copyright
NORIL is a diamond open access journal. All articles are freely available immediately upon publication, and authors pay no submission or publication fees.
Authors retain copyright and grant NORIL the right of first publication. Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC-BY 4.0), which permits sharing and adaptation provided that appropriate credit is given, a link to the license is provided, and any changes are indicated.
Indexing and Archiving
NORIL is indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and is approved as a Level 1 academic publication channel in the Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, Series and Publishers. The journal is preserved through the Public Knowledge Project Preservation Network (PKP PN).