Arthur Plotnik (1937 - August 28, 2020) was a photographer, journalist, author and librarian, known for being the editor of ''American Libraries'' magazine for fifteen years.
Plotnik worked for the
American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members a ...
for over twenty years.
His photographs covering 23 years of librarians and librarianship are held at the American Library Association Archives.
Before working at ALA, Plotnik worked at the
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
and was a staff writer and reviewer at
Albany’s Times-Union.
Two of his books ''The Elements of Editing'' and ''The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words'' were
Book of the Month Club
Book of the Month (founded 1926) is a United States subscription-based e-commerce service that offers a selection of five to seven new hardcover books each month to its members. Books are selected and endorsed by a panel of judges, and members c ...
selections.
Early life
Plotnik was born in 1937 to Annabelle and Mike Plotnik, the son of Russian immigrants.
Plotnik graduated from White Plains High School in 1955; he was voted "wittiest" in his class.
He earned his BA at
Harpur College
The State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University or SUNY Binghamton) is a public research university with campuses in Binghamton, Vestal, and Johnson City, New York. It is one of the four university centers in the State ...
, and earned his master's degree in English at the
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is org ...
where he studied under
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth (March 19, 1933 – May 22, 2018) was an American novelist and short story writer.
Roth's fiction—often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey—is known for its intensely autobiographical character, for philosophicall ...
.
Works and Publications
* Aaron Schmink's first crazy love (2018)
* Better than great : a plenitudinous compendium of wallopingly fresh superlatives (2013, with Richard Waterhouse)
* The Elements of Expression : Putting Thoughts into Words (2012, with Jessica Morell)
* Spunk & bite : a writer's guide to bold, contemporary style (2005)
* Elements of authorship : from lonely honk to roar of the crowd (2000)
* The urban tree book : an uncommon field guide for city and town (2000)
* Honk if you're a writer : unabashed advice, undiluted experience, and unadulterated inspiration for writers and writers-to-be (1992)
* Man Behind the Quill, Jacob Shallus (1987)
* The Elements of Editing: A Modern Guide for Editors and Journalists (1982)
* Library Life--American Style: A Journalist's Field Report (1975)
References
External links
Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plotnik, Art
2020 deaths
1937 births
American librarians