Carol Smallwood received her MLS from Western Michigan University and her MA in history from Eastern Michigan University. She is the author or editor of numerous books for Scarecrow, McFarland, Libraries Unlimited, Pudding House Publications, Peter Lang, and others. Some other credits include The Writer's Chronicle, Journal of Formal Poetry, Detroit News, Instructor, English Journal, and Michigan Feminist Studies. Her novel, Lily's Odyssey, appeared in 2010; she coedited the anthology Contemporary American Women: Our Defining Passages (2009), and she has a short story in Best New Writing 2010. A 2009 National Federation of State Poetry Societies Award Winner and a finalist for the 2009 Eric Hoffer Award for prose, she has experience in school, public, and special libraries and has served as a library consultant. Smallwood appears in Contemporary Authors, Who's Who in America, and is a member of the American Library Association. She received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Samples
- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the Author
- Reviews
Using a library's facilities to bring arts to the community is not only a valuable service, but also a wonderful marketing and outreach opportunity, a tangible way to show the public that libraries offer value, thus shoring up grassroots support. Editor Smallwood has combed the country finding examples of programs implemented by a variety of different types of libraries to enrich, educate, and entertain patrons through the arts. Her book shares such successful efforts as
- Poetry programs in the public library
- Gatherings for local authors at the community college
- Creative writing in middle schools
- Multicultural arts presentations at the university library
- Initiatives to fight illiteracy through the arts
The amazing creativity and resourcefulness found in each example provide practical models which can be adapted to any library environment, inspiring librarians looking for unique programming ideas.
Stacey R. Ewing
Robert Craig Bunch
Sue Samson
Sarah Naumann
Carol Luers Eyman
Heather Payne
Jennifer Mayer
Sandra M. Himel and Lance R. Chance
Greg MacAyeal
Jeri Weinkrantz Cohen
Heather Pippin Zabriskie, Natalie Houston, and Vera Gubnitskaia
Regan Brumagen and Beth Hylen
Larry Grieco
Kerol Harrod
Elizabeth Goldman and Sara Wedell
Nora J. Quinlan and Sarah Cisse
Allan Cho
Jack G. Montgomery
Florence F. Caddell
Angela Thullen
"In today's increasingly commercialized world, the need for a public space to celebrate the arts rather than the almighty dollar is greater than ever, making Bringing the Arts into the Library welcome, needed, and highly recommended!"
--Library Bookwatch
"This anthology presents a treasure trove of ideas from beyond the library world. Cultural institutions of all kinds, including libraries, museums, academic institutions, and performing arts centers, will glean programming ideas that are presented in succinct chapters scanning a broad realm of possibilities. Seasoned editor Carol Smallwood divides the book into five parts, and the book as a whole gives insight into the entire programming process."
— Reference & User Services Quarterly