Authors Among Us - Children's Writers Who Are or Who Have Been Librarians
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Janice Del Negro |
| Authors Among Us - Children's Writers Who Are or Who Have Been Librarians |
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Featured Title by Janice
Del Negro
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Lucy Dove Purchase this book from Amazon.com |
| What influenced you to become a
librarian, or to work in a library? I sort of fell into it, and, with the help of a children's lit professor, never really left. Do you have a library/information science degree? From which school? MLS from SUNY Geneseo What kinds of library positions have you held and where? Chicago Public Library: branch and regioanl library children's librarian for about ten years; assistant director of youth services for five years. State Library of North Carolina: consultant for statewide children's services, three years. Director, Center for Children's Books: 7 years Faculty Member, Dominican University, Graduate School of Library and Information Science (current) How long were you a librarian? Twenty years Are you currently working as a librarian? Handling the CCB Collection was part of my work as Director of the Center and Editor of The Bulletin, although "librarian" was not my job title. Do you plan to continue in the profession? Once a librarian, always a librarian. Which came first in your life, your career as a librarian, or writing for children? Writing in general came first; library career next, followed by writing for children. Did your library work have anything to do with becoming a children's writer? Yes. Did your library work directly influence your work as an author? Ummm....maybe. It's more that library work introduced me to storytelling, which brought me to *telling* stories to children which led to writing stories for children. Did librarianship increase your knowledge of children's literature and influence the kinds of things you chose to write? Yes to the first part, no to the second. Did incidents from your library work ever make it into your books? Did you ever set any scenes in your books in the library? Not yet. What are the greatest benefits of being a librarian to you as a writer? Ha! Knowing how to find things. Are there any drawbacks to being a librarian and also a writer? Not enough time to read. :-) If you write while working as as librarian, how do you manage the time-juggling act? How does your employment impact on how much you write and when you do it? There is no such thing as free time. I get up very early in the morning or stay up very late at night and basically am in a constant state of sleep deprivation. Did you find any conflicts or job-related difficulties in being both a writer and a librarian? No. How do your library administration and colleagues view your authorship? Positively. Is it appreciated and encouraged? Yes. Are the library patrons aware of your writing? Yes. Do you feel that librarianship has specific benefits to you as a writer? Exposure to books and criticism. |
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Last Updated April 28, 2006