I am very ambivalent about this. By no means do I want to add a publish or perish component to my already lengthy responsibilities. But I do find that the limited voice of the practicing public librarian in professional literature to be a problem. While there are many exciting things happening in academia at this point, and the academic librarian’s experience is valuable, the academic and the public library are not the same. When it comes to specificity, our differences are heightened.

As a former academic and a teacher of research methods, I am aware of how academics can investigate the public library and contribute, but there is something lacking when we read research that is not steeped in the insider information of those with direct experience.  I would like to see more primary research and the experience of the public librarian more present.

I recognize time is a huge factor. Without the mandate, even those with the desire to publish can find writing pushed to the wayside as other tasks seem more pressing. For many locations, publication can be considered part of professional development.  It can also be considered community service and it certainly serves as a means to advertise your library. Perhaps if thought of in these ways, time might be more easily made for the task.

A larger problem that I have encountered is that many public librarians I have spoken with feel unworthy of the task. Because they manage small, rural libraries, because they do not have experience, because they lack a degree or because their job title is not administrative, some very talented and knowledgeable librarians think they have nothing to offer. This is simply untrue.

I am a published librarian. More than this, I am an editor and a peer reviewer for two library publications and I can share with you in no uncertain terms, you can do this. Write. Submit. There are many who can benefit from your experience. The public librarian voice needs and deserves to be heard.

What is the worst that can happen? You get an email or letter that says, ‘We’re sorry we can’t accept your work.’ This is far less stressful than dealing with the problem patron. As the Nike slogan goes, “Just do it!”

The post Share, Write, Publish first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

But all librarians use writing to do more than remind patrons of fines. To keep up with the latest, you have to go back to the basics of stringing words together to make your meaning clear. Writing is all over new technology, so much so that we don’t even think about it or notice it until it’s glaringly unprofessional or outright unhelpful. Still not convinced good writing is useful anymore? Consider this:

Writing is the backbone of all communication. The ways of getting and staying in touch with people seem to be multiplying every day, but all are just variations on the written word. If you don’t have strong writing skills, it will show quickly and across any social, electronic, or print media you might use.

The way you write shapes the way you speak (and vice versa). Writing is a way to think “out loud” before you say anything. Strong writing skills indicate strong analytic skills, which translate to better problem-solving. The more you practice, the quicker those skills come to you, and the easier it is to share them as your brain gets used to its new, improved rhythms.

Writing connects you with your core audience. Even if you pride yourself for never lapsing into text speak and have no idea how to reply to a tweet, your writing should connect you with the people you want to find. You should be able to engage with your intended public in a way you all understand, because your writing has better staying power than your speech and can help you remember what works and what does not.

Writing brings ideas to life. Think of writing as blueprints for ideas. Before anything can be built, plans need to be laid out, assessed, discussed, and tweaked to perfection. Writing gives you the same abilities to further your own projects with your peers, superiors, and patrons alike. It sets out a space to exchange details and the big picture in ways that you can all connect and communicate to others who can help you along the way.

Resource

Boomerang Respondable: Personal AI Assistant for Writing Better Emails (free)

The post Essential Librarian Skill: Writing first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

What is fan fiction? Originally a niche hobby shared through zines and in-person conventions, it is the act of creating a story based on already-established characters and worlds portrayed in literature and film. Some “fan fics” even focus on fictionalized narratives about real-life celebrities. Now, there are seemingly endless resources online where writers can share their work. These range from communities on more general blogging sites like LiveJournal and Tumblr to dedicated sites about specific fandoms such as Fiction Alley (Harry Potter). Some authors are even profiting off their work through Amazon’s new Kindle Worlds service, dedicated exclusively to the self-publishing of fan fiction.

According to a recent School Library Journal article, many teens use fan fiction as a creative outlet to improve their writing skills, make friends, and explore new emotions and experiences. One of the advantages to new sharing platforms such as Figment and Wattpad is that they integrate a social experience of providing feedback for others’ work, similar to traditional social networks like Facebook. Creating new stories about characters they already love can give teens an added incentive to keep writing and honing their crafts, in addition to providing what can sometimes be a much-needed escape from real life. Developing this skill and finding acceptance in the online world can boost a teen’s self-esteem as well. The hobby is not without controversy, though.

Some experts, including famous authors like George R.R. Martin, have voiced concerns that young writers should be using their creativity to concoct stories from scratch, as opposed to letting others create their worlds for them. There is also the issue of copyright and just how much of these already-published characters and plot lines can be manipulated under fair use. Finally, despite the fact that most fan fiction sites allow users as young as thirteen to post their work, not all fan fiction is appropriate for teens thanks to explicit sexual content, language, and even violence.

Many public librarians feel the pros of fan fiction outweigh the cons and have capitalized on this trend by creating fan fiction programs or clubs in their libraries. Still, others are wary. Should fan fiction be welcome in general writers’ groups? Should it be promoted through specific events that specially cater to that type of writing? The questions are endless.

Have you done anything to address this growing phenomenon in your library?

The post Fan Fiction: No Longer Underground first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Never in all of my years strolling through the stacks of my neighborhood library branch did I think that, one day, I would see my name on the spine of a book housed on those very shelves.  As it happens, I recently had the unique experience to co-author a local history book with a good friend of mine.  This volume, which hit the streets as of President’s Day 2013, chronicles the nearly 250 year history of the Perry Hall Mansion, the very first residence built in what today is known as Perry Hall, Maryland, my home town.

The book itself it an illustrated history of this significant historic residence, and is part of the “Images of America” series put out by Arcadia Publishers of South Carolina.  This chronicle consists of over 200 images, personal accounts of surviving residents, and original source documents to vividly tell the story of Perry Hall Mansion.

Having now gone through the process of writing and editing a book, I can definitely tell you that it required a good bit of time and a lot of hard work.  My co-author Sean Kief and I spent a lot of time in identifying the best images to include in this book.  Both of us wanted to ultimately have a volume that was at once both informative and yet accessible to readers of varied interests.  Some people are often turned-off by the prospect of reading non-fiction, with history books in particular often seeming too dense for the typical reader.

As it happens, both my co-author and I have strong connections to public libraries.  Sean himself worked part-time during high school at BCPL’s Loch Raven branch, and his mother has worked for many years in the administrative offices for the system.  I truly believe that the strong links that he and I both shared with our local libraries were invaluable in offering a perspective on what would actually make a book readable and even enjoyable for public library customers.

Now that the book has actually been published – after nearly one year’s worth of research, writing, and editing – our attention turns to the process of making the general public aware of the book itself.  Here again, my co-author and I have been keen on making sure that public libraries have a central role in this process.

Later this year, we will be conducting a book talk and signing at the Perry Hall branch of BCPL.  There couldn’t be a more ideal venue for this sort of event, given that Historic Perry Hall Mansion, Inc. (the volunteer preservation group that Sean and I both help to lead) donated a series of three oil paintings of the mansion to the branch upon its opening in 2009.  Both of us will also be participating in a local author’s event hosted by the nearby Harford County Public Library, to be held at its Bel Air, Maryland branch.

Years of visiting, working, or even volunteering at public libraries can indeed offer the experience and perspective required to create the sort of books that might have appeal for the reading public.  If nothing else, it certainly doesn’t hurt to find a topic that appeals to your local community, write a compelling narrative, and then perhaps even help your library to advance its mission of giving readers what they want.

The post Lessons Learned from a Newly Published Author first appeared on Public Libraries Online.