Alden Library will host its ‘So You Want to Write a Book’ workshop on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
The workshop is a part of the Libraries’ Spring 2019 Research Workshop Series and will feature a panel of Ohio University faculty who have recently published, or are in the process of publishing their own works.
While the panel members will briefly share their own experiences, the event will be largely a Q&A between the panel and the audience.
Jessica Hagman, Social Media Coordinator and Scripps College Subject Librarian, planned the event.
Hagman hopes that those who attend will learn what kinds of questions they should ask their publishers and editors along the way.
“There are a lot of other people on campus who are either writing books or planning on writing books at some point in their careers, so I thought it might be useful to have a session where people can just ask questions about the process,” Hagman said.
During the workshop, Hagman will live Tweet from Alden Library’s Twitter account so people who are not able to attend can learn more about the procedures involved in publishing a book.
“I’m really looking forward to hearing more about the process from people from different disciplines,” Hagman said.
Carla Williams, the Music and Special Projects Librarian, is in the publishing stages of her first book, titled Traité d’accompagnement, a translation and transcription of a piece of music from the 1700s.
“It became very clear to me that I needed to share it with others, so I decided to turn it into a book,” Williams said.
The length of the book publishing process depends on a person’s particular project and the press, Williams said. She has been working on the publication of her book for multiple years.
“It has kind of surprised me low long it takes to make it through all the different steps to get something published,” Williams said.
Williams emphasizes the fact that there are writers who will guide and mentor those in the beginning stages.
“There’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of time, but it’s really an enjoyable process,” Williams said.
Dan Harper, Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture, has teamed up with Katy Mathuews, Head of Collections Assessment and Access for the Ohio University Libraries, to write Academic Library Makerspaces: A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation.
What started as a the publication of a short opinion piece on the future of library design turned into an offer from an editor to extend it into a book. The book brings together two relevant and timely topics: makerspaces and the future of libraries.
“This little sort of kernel has grown into something really big for us,” Harper said.
Harper and Mathuews are in the beginning publication stages and will travel to Australia to present on the topic of their book this week.
Other panelists include Mathuews and Laura Harrison, Associate Professor in Higher Education and Student Affairs in the Patton College of Education.
“I would say to people that if it’s an interest they have, they should definitely pursue it,” Harper said.
