Library Partnerships with Writers and Poets

Libraries and writers have always had a close working relationship. Rapid advances in technology have not changed the nontechnical basis of that cooperation: author talks, book signings and readings are as popular as ever, as are workshops and festivals.
This collection of 29 new essays from nearly 50 contributors from across the United States presents a variety of projects, programs and services to help librarians establish relationships with the literary world, promote literature to the public and foster creativity in their communities.

A Michigan resident, Carol Smallwood has practiced in school, public and special libraries. Her primary interest is practical librarianship, and she is the author of journal articles and editor of numerous books.
Vera Gubnitskaia has worked as a library manager, consultant, and reference librarian in public and academic libraries in Russia and the United States. During her career as a writer and editor, she contributed chapters to several professional publications, edited multiple anthologies, and published book reviews. She is currently an art fellow at Crealde School in Winter Park, Florida.

Edited by Carol Smallwood and Vera Gubnitskaia
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 248
Bibliographic Info: 14 photos, bibliographies, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6539-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2922-3
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Foreword

Patti Gibbons 1

Preface 3

Part I: Partnerships

Academic Libraries Reach Out to Writers and Poets (Aline Soules) 5

From Fieldwork to Framework: Preparing for Library Outreach

to Writers and Poets (John Glover) 12

The Library as a Community of Writers and Readers (Stanley L. Klemetson) 19

Bridging the Gap: A Playwright, Sneak Peek and Production of a

Performance (Jen Park and James W. Phillips) 28

Librarian as Volunteer: United Way ReadingPals Program (Sarah Cissé) 35

Part II: Writers Groups

Hosting a Writing Club for Teen Writers at Your Library (Heather Botelho) 43

Writers Groups at the Library (Sarah Fisk) 50

Discovering the Personal and the Poetic Voice: Encouraging and Supporting Writers at the Public Library (Diana J. Lennon) 58

Part III: Author Talks

The Power of Words: Drawing Authors and the College Community

Together Through Author Talks (Laurel Erin Fennell and Alda ­Noronha-Nimmo) 65

The Latino Americans: 500 Years of History Grant Experience:

A Case Study in Cooperation (Alyssa Martin and Christopher Shaffer) 72

The Hugh C. Hyde Living Writers Series at San Diego State University: How One of the Nation’s Oldest Reading Series Found a Home in the Library (Markel Tumlin and Meagan Marshall) 79

Part IV: Festivals

Literary Events at Your Library: ­Best-Practice Tips for Happy

Writers and Patrons (Tina M. Metzger and Meg ­King-Sloan) 87

Cents and Sensibility: Planning the 14th Georgia Literary Festival (Melissa E. Johnson, Anna Caroline Harris, Karin Gillespie

  and Erin Prentiss) 95

Hosting an Author Festival (Sarah Fisk) 103

Part V: Collections

Papers and Prose: Touring Literary History with Students (Jennifer V. Mitchell) 111

The South Carolina Poetry Archives: A Case Study in Collection

Development, Outreach and Collaborative Growth (Jeffrey Makala) 117

Cooperation Between University Librarians and Faculty Writers

and Poets (Mantra Roy and Erin Vonnahme) 126

Part VI: Poetry

Poetry as the Scholar’s Art: An Interview with Poet Amy Newman (Julie L. Miller) 135

How One Library and One Poet Reached 1,200 Readers for National

Poetry Month (Diane Kendig and Laurie Kincer) 142

Rich Soil for Poetry in Rural Cajun Louisiana (Patricia Brown, Maura Gage Cavell and Ava Leavell Haymon) 151

Outreach Through Play, Creation and Inquiry: Classes and Workshops

at the University of Arizona Poetry Center (Wendy Burk, Sarah Kortemeier and Cybele Knowles) 158

Part VII: Classes and Workshops

Publication Talks and Book Review Workshops: Spotlighting Faculty

Publication, Emerging Authors and Book Reviews as an Effective

Personal Branding Strategy (Nina Q. Rose, Raúl Fernández-Calienes and Hagai Gringarten) 165

How Would You Use It? Designing a Library Workshop to Engage

Young Writers with Resources in Their Field (Karla Fribley) 172

A Workshop Is Learning by Doing (Rita Keeley Brown) 178

Part VIII: Outreach

Librarian Writer Supports Courageous Conversations, Critical

Multiculturalism and Communal Networks (Roland ­Barksdale-Hall) 185

Authors on the Inside: A Decade of Connecting Correctional Inmates

with Writers (Daniel Marcou and Patrick Jones) 194

A Campus or Library Lecture Series: The Perfect Outreach to Writers

and Poets (John C. Burns) 204

An Evolving Partnership: A Reading Series Finds a Home in the Library (Robert S. Means) 210

The Nevada Writers Hall of Fame: A History of Collaboration (Steven R. Harris) 220

About the Contributors 227

Index 233

“exceptionally well organized and presented…recommended”—Midwest Book Review; “This is an informative and readable book useful to librarians, writers, and press editors who want to bring writers and readers together.”—Jerry Craven, author of Women of Thunder and director of Lamar University Literary Press and Ink Brush Press; “Discover innovative ways to enhance the natural alliance between writers, poets, and librarians.”—Emy Nelson Decker, NextGen Public Services Manager, Georgia Institute of Technology Library; “A must-read for librarians looking to provide customized services for writers in their communities.”—Monica Dombrowski, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, Illinois; “Showcases practical applications for highlighting the significance and value of poetry and writing in the library.”—Amy James, Spring Arbor University; “The librarian’s go-to resource for building a community of writers in your service area.”—Amanda Toth, Public Services Librarian, Lane Public Library, Fairfield, Ohio; “Libraries should not be overlooked in an author’s marketing strategy. This comprehensive anthology offers field-tested ideas for writers and librarians to collaborate with publishers, universities, literary festivals, and workshops for under-served populations.”—Jendi Reiter, editor of WinningWriters.com Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers.