Hi everyone,
The only thing I have left to finish on a manuscript under contract — and it’s a biggie — is to compile a list of books I read for research before, during, and after the writing process. I already have a sizable list of online references as well as titles from my own library, but I needed more.
Early this week I queried Kathleen O’Dell, Community Relations Director for the Springfield-Greene County Public Library District, to see if I could ask for help in the search for authoritative, recently published texts on my subjects.
I sent a list, which Kathleen passed along to reference librarians at The Library Center on South Campbell. Two days later, Tammy Flippen, Anna Mattonen, Jana Dimond and circulation assistant Leanne Burgess presented me with a stack of wonderful reference books, with more on the way from branch libraries! I couldn’t believe it! They used their expertise to aid me in writing a new book for children. It not only saved me time, I probably wouldn’t have found all the sources they did.
Librarians are famous for going that extra mile to give personal service to patrons, but this was above and beyond anything I could have asked for. It’s my book, but here’s a splendid example of how we rarely write alone. It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a lot of helping hands to make a book!
With sincere thanks to all,
David
Children's Author David L. Harrison's Blog 