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- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the authors
- Reviews
Foreword by Elizabeth McCracken
Information professionals and educators can help patrons find their own stories in libraries—not only as readers, but also as writers. Stories, whether fiction, nonfiction, or verse, often have research behind them, and libraries and archives constitute powerful resources that authors can tap into for adding historical background, telling details, dramatic tension, and unexpected ideas. Grounded in useful collections and information resources, libraries can welcome writers through informed programming and knowledgeable reference services, and in this book the authors point the way towards making it happen. Enabling programming and outreach librarians, reference staff, and educators to understand writers’ needs and showing how to address these needs through library services and resources, this book
- draws on specific writing situations to illustrate the role of librarians and library resources in inspiring and creating stories of all kinds, from novels and plays to poetry, memoirs, and nonfiction;
- provides dozens of prompts, writing exercises, and activities that libraries can utilize for outreach and programming endeavors such as NaNoWriMo and National Poetry Month;
- offers astute observations on the connections between research and writing and discusses a wide range of resources, both print and electronic, that can address writers’ information needs;
- presents select bibliographies on writing and writers’ lives integral to library collections that support a community of authors;
- demonstrates how to use reference interviews as part of the research process;
- suggests ways to cultivate a writing community at the library by hosting writing groups, staging author events, and other initiatives; and
- shares advice on recruiting volunteers by reaching out to writers and teachers within the community.
With ideas and advice on programming, reference, and collection resources, this guide will support libraries’ efforts to actively and thoughtfully engage with writers in their communities.
Foreword, Elizabeth McCracken
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Libraries and Writers
Chapter 1: All Past Years
Chapter 2: Life-Writing
Chapter 3: Making and Manners
Chapter 4: Amplifying Images
Chapter 5: Occupations
Chapter 6: Taking Measures: Scientific and Technical Subjects
Chapter 7: Place and Space
Chapter 8: Poetry and Verse
Conclusion
Appendixes
- A: Books and Other Sources on Writing
- B: Rhyme and Meter
About the Authors
Index
"Librarians and the information that libraries hold can be highly critical to the success of a written work, as creative writing always begins and remains grounded with facts. To that end, Hanick, Batemen, and Pierce provide an excellent perspective of the creative writing process in this new ALA Editions professional read ... Each chapter focuses on an aspect of creative writing, such as historical background, or technical subjects. The authors also provide a variety of activities and programs that could be implemented right out of the book. Of particular interest is how librarians can frame an activity to be a worthwhile experience for writers."
— School Library Connection
"Librarians will appreciate the fresh ideas and matter-of-fact text ... The work offers public and academic librarians a gateway into the creative process that also emphasizes the importance of supporting the writing community."
— Library Journal
"Regardless of one’s background in creative writing instruction, the writing prompts and resource lists throughout the book are a treasure trove of programming material. Mapping the Imaginary is an indispensable guide to understanding and supporting through library resources and programming the ever-growing population of creative writers, emerging and established, in our communities."
— Catholic Library World
"The book is a treasure trove of ideas for any librarian interested in writing-related programming, and the book’s chapters often combine concepts in interesting ways that are designed to inspire. For example, the chapter on 'Making and Manners' posits the notion that 'we are what we make, but we are also how we treat one another' ... I found the prompts and suggested activities to be fresh and engaging (though of course there are also some old favorites), and the resources and suggested reading lists are extensive and inclusive. This book belongs in the collection of any public or academic librarian serious about creating inspiring and engaging creative writing programming."
— Against the Grain