This is a little bit of a departure from what I usually blog about, but I think it’s a subject that’s important to most writers.
I was out late Tuesday night (past my admittedly-early bedtime) at a town hall meeting in Matthews, North Carolina, arguing against my library branch being closed.
Libraries were listed in with our county’s discretionary spending. Somehow, business incentives/development had inched ahead of libraries in the list of priorities.
I don’t like meetings. I don’t enjoy public speaking—or being filmed while doing it. But I was happy to speak out in the hopes of keeping my library branch open.
I’m going to again run, below, a post I wrote on the usefulness of libraries for writers. They’re not only useful for writers—they’re essential to the entire community.
14 Reasons Why Libraries are Writers’ Best Friends
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to become a better writer. That’s a good thing because most writers don’t have a ton of money to throw around.
The library has all the resources a writer needs. It’s always been one of my favorite places on Earth. Here are the reasons why libraries are writers’ best friends:
Research
*Researching your book: Libraries have computers with internet capabilities. They have books and periodicals on a multitude of different subjects. They also have research librarians/information specialists who can help you with research and find reference materials to help you in your search.
*Researching your genre: You can easily check out a dozen recently-published books in your genre. It’s a quick way to see what publishers are looking for.
*Need help with grammar and writing style? The library will have reference books to help you. My favorite style book is Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It’s been around for ages.
*Books on the writing craft? Different libraries have different books, but there are some that will be in nearly every branch: like On Writing by Stephen King, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
*Some libraries will have subscriptions to helpful periodicals like Writer’s Digest.
A Place to Write
*Has your house gotten crazy? Kids/spouse driving you nuts? Is a coffeehouse too expensive? The public library is a great place to write.
Help With the Submission Process
*Looking for an agent? Look at the acknowledgements page in one of the recent releases in your genre. Agents are nearly always thanked.
*Another great way to find agent and editor names is by using Writer’s Market and Literary Market Place. Using these books at the library means saving lots of money—these books are expensive.
*Need help quickly summing up your book in a query letter? Look at back cover copy of novels in your genre.
*Don’t have email and you need to email some queries? You can set up a Gmail or Hotmail account that can be accessed from a computer at your local library.
Promotion
*Libraries are major book purchasers. Find out which libraries have your book. Go to WorldCat.org, which searches libraries for content worldwide. You just plug in your book’s name, hit the search button, and find the results. For a listing of public libraries, go to Public Libraries.com. You’ll get physical addresses, phone numbers, and websites (from which you can get the library’s email address).Send the acquisitions librarian an email or postcard with your cover photo, ISBN number, title of the book, publisher’s name, your name, release date, short summary, and any good review snippets.
*The librarians at my local branch are my friends, too. They’ve been incredibly supportive—my book is nearly always checked out of the library or on request because of their generous recommendations of my book to patrons. They’ve also put my book on a display with other regional authors.
*If you’re looking for a place to give a writing workshop or talk, your library usually has a meeting room that’s perfect for your event. Many of them will allow you to sell your book as well (it’s nice to give a donation to their Friends of the Library program if your signing is for-profit.)
*Libraries also provide locations for writing groups and book clubs to gather. For some writers, meeting with other writers and readers is a great way to network and find support and encouragement.
There are many expensive paths a writer can take toward professional development. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Writing shouldn’t have to cost more than the pen and paper you’re writing on.
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Have you checked the pulse of your local library? Could it potentially be facing a budget cut or closure? Please consider a donation of time or money to your branch, if it’s struggling, or speaking out in a public forum to state the importance of the library to you and your community.
Elizabeth – What a good thing you did to speak out to keep your local library open. Since I was a very young person, I’ve always loved libraries, too. You’re quite right; they are very good “friends” of writers, too. I couldn’t imagine being a writer or blogger without my local library.
Libraries are sometimes parents’ only option for exposing their children to books and reading. Even when parents have the means to buy books, libraries are wonderful places for children to learn to love reading.
Folks, Elizabeth is right. If you have the chance to support your library, please do so.
Hi Elizabeth .. this is an amazing post .. and I’m so pleased I read it this time!
You’ve really nailed what the library holds and how it can be accessed ..
I’m also putting Stephen Tremp’s post (link) about promoting authors’ books into the libraries .. which we can all do for friends .. keep the demand up …
http://stephentremp.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-free-promo-stuff.html
We’re in a dilemma in society .. budgets are haywire .. but education is essential – financial, literacy etc etc
Excellent read – opened my eyes to somethings … cheers Hilary
Our small library provides so many wonderful programs and a lot of them residents don’t even know about. I’ve tried to encourage our librarian to do a weekly feature highlighting one of the many programs so residents can better understand what’s available and how much they would lose if the library closed. One of the best programs is the summer reading program. It has been around forever and it’s one of the reasons I love reading now. Great post, Elizabeth. Libraries are very much needed for all of us.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Our county system (2 libraries) had to shut down for almost a week earlier this month due to budgetary issues. They also can’t buy many books; I approached them on carrying my new release, and they said “local authors usually donate their books.” Since the publisher of that book targets the library market, it’s tough to hear that it might not be carried in my own community.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I’m very attached to my local library and campaigned for funding during the last election. Alas, even though the levy passed, with state funding cuts, they’ve had to cut hours.
Hilary–Our economies and budgets are all in shambles–I just hope that the important things are seen as essential. So frequently schools and libraries seem to get shafted in budgets.
Thanks for sharing the link, Hilary–you’re right, it’s a great way of making clear how vital books are to us as readers.
Margot–You’re right–so many parents depend on the library to connect their children with books. I can’t imagine life without it.
Mason–Oh, I love that summer reading program. I think teachers do, too–the programs help keep the children reading and make them gain skills instead of losing them, while they’re out on break.
Linda–Sorry that you’re going through the same thing. I think we’re going to hear about state funding in June. I know the news won’t be good. Right now our branch is closed a couple of days a week, the hours are reduced, and volunteers have taken over areas that were formerly staffed by library workers.
Terry–Our acquisitions have bottomed out, too. It’s really a sad state of affairs.
That’s so sad! Good for you for standing up for your library. I hope it remains open!
As far as I know, my library is fine… but I do know a lot of libraries in the city of Philadelphia closed last summer. I hope that doesn’t reach into the suburbs! With all the Borders bookstores closed near me, the library is the only place my community now has for book browsing.
I visit the local library frequently. It’s a great place. I borrow (audio) books, and read papers and magazines. I used to go the more often when I was a student, with no kids to feed.
We even have a church ruin and some real skeletons (from 12th century?) in the public library, discovered in archeological excavations when the library was built. They just put a glass box over the skulls and bones and left them where they found them, for kids (and parents) to enjoy. I’ll post a picture som time >:)
Cold As Heaven
Sorry to hear your library is in danger of losing its funding! It’s a big issue, and it’s been hard, I think, for libraries to decide the best way to position themselves for the long term, given all the changes in the digital information landscape. But I love my local library. I get books there all the time, I write there. I couldn’t imagine a scenario without it.
Laura–You’ve made a good point. Now we’re losing bookstores *and* libraries. Not a good time for books.
Cold As Heaven–Exactly. I’m at the library every week and can’t imagine what would happen if it weren’t there.
Sounds amazing! Reminds me of the mummy displays in the British Museum…I found that all really interesting.
Bluestocking–I’m hoping that publishers will partner with libraries to ease the way into the digital future..with generous lending policies, etc. In many ways, I think libraries are even MORE important than ever, but in new ways.
Thank you for this, Elizabeth! I LOVE my library. Our local library seems to be thriving, but then I live in a college town and that is where the priorities are–on resources to teach and learn. It’s a good reminder though, that libraries across the country need resources and advocates because not all places are so lucky.
On top of all of these fabulous reasons, as a teacher, I’ve known a few kids who found sanctuary in the library. A free place with the books they love where they can escape the sometimes sad, sometimes horrific realities of their lives.
Hart–The sad thing is that it’s an affluent community. Such a shame that they think libraries are somehow expendable.
Hope you win that battle, Elizabeth!
they are also great places to help entertain and educate your children! The preschool programs are great, and the teen programs are real! and, as another reader said, they can provide a safe space for kids who need to escape (both emotionally and physically)!
Agreed!
Without all their free books I couldn´t have read the thousands of books I devoured when I was a working-class child. So I do all I can to support my local library – and I remember to TELL them that I appreciate their service.
I love my library for introducing me to authors I’d never heard of before. And even when I discover a neat looking book at the store, I don’t like to buy it until I read it at the library first. I only have so much money and space for new books. Better to save both for the ones I really want.
Alex–Thanks! I’m hoping so, too.
Jemi –You’re so right–I see those kids frequently, even in the suburban branches. I just can’t believe it’s come to the point of closing branches.
Professor Stacy–We loved the preschool programs. I felt like it was a wonderful way for my kids to socialize and learn how to behave in a group.
Jaleh–That’s the same approach I use–try it out at the library, then buy the book at the store. Great way to discover new authors and series.
Dorte–Exactly. Who can afford the huge amount of books that we *want* to read? Only the libraries.