Quick memory refresher:
All smiles and enthusiasm, I walk into the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library and offer to donate a couple copies of my children's book Collinsfort Village. The head librarian demands some credentials, namely reviews in the major library magazines. I explain that the book was submitted but none of the magazines reviewed it. She says she'll let me know.
Oh boy, did she:
"Dear Mr. Ekaitis,
Collinsfort Village will not be added to the collections of the Rancho
Cucamonga Public Library. There are no reviews available from
standard review sources such as School Library Journal, The Horn Book
or Booklist to support its inclusion. While we may sometimes include
unreviewed books in our collection, Collinsfort Village does not fall
under other criteria in our selection policy such as inclusion in
"best seller" lists, literary merit or perceived need.
The copies of the books will be available on my desk at the Archibald
Library if you would like to have them back.
Rxxxx Txxxx
Principal Librarian
Rancho Cucamonga Library Services"
I perused the catalog, hoping to fathom the library's decision and, well, they're right. Confessions of an Heiress by Paris Hilton oozes with literary merit as will her harrowing jailbird epic that's already garnering 7- and 8-figure advances, and I DO perceive the need for The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie and ANYTHING Madonna writes for children.
A children's librarian in Glendale, California says it's standard operating procedure for metropolitan and urban libraries, including Glendale. He and his colleagues can add the works of unknown authors, including mine, to individual branch collections, but books won't be considered for system-wide acquisition without at least one professional review.
Rialto to Glendale is a much longer drive than Rialto to Rancho Cucamonga, but it'll be worth it. He's working on booking me for "Authors, Artists and Friends," the library's evening-with-an-author program.
See any of you there?
All smiles and enthusiasm, I walk into the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library and offer to donate a couple copies of my children's book Collinsfort Village. The head librarian demands some credentials, namely reviews in the major library magazines. I explain that the book was submitted but none of the magazines reviewed it. She says she'll let me know.
Oh boy, did she:
"Dear Mr. Ekaitis,
Collinsfort Village will not be added to the collections of the Rancho
Cucamonga Public Library. There are no reviews available from
standard review sources such as School Library Journal, The Horn Book
or Booklist to support its inclusion. While we may sometimes include
unreviewed books in our collection, Collinsfort Village does not fall
under other criteria in our selection policy such as inclusion in
"best seller" lists, literary merit or perceived need.
The copies of the books will be available on my desk at the Archibald
Library if you would like to have them back.
Rxxxx Txxxx
Principal Librarian
Rancho Cucamonga Library Services"
I perused the catalog, hoping to fathom the library's decision and, well, they're right. Confessions of an Heiress by Paris Hilton oozes with literary merit as will her harrowing jailbird epic that's already garnering 7- and 8-figure advances, and I DO perceive the need for The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie and ANYTHING Madonna writes for children.
A children's librarian in Glendale, California says it's standard operating procedure for metropolitan and urban libraries, including Glendale. He and his colleagues can add the works of unknown authors, including mine, to individual branch collections, but books won't be considered for system-wide acquisition without at least one professional review.
Rialto to Glendale is a much longer drive than Rialto to Rancho Cucamonga, but it'll be worth it. He's working on booking me for "Authors, Artists and Friends," the library's evening-with-an-author program.
See any of you there?
