I have had a few emails in recent weeks that began with something like “if you are still doing that LSW zine…” or “What ever happened to that LSW zine idea?”

The idea is alive and well. I still have every intention of having the first issue of the Library Society of the World zine ready for ALA Annual in July. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, try reading this earlier post, The LSW Zine: a Call for Rants, Manifestos, articles and artwork.)

Several people have already submitted finished contributions. For the rest of you, here’s a deadline: all submissions for the LSW zine are due on or before Monday, May 31.

In addition to the guidelines in that previous post there’s one other thing I’d like to mention. My wording in that post or people’s preconceptions about what a “zine article” would be may have made it sound like I’m just looking for snarky or satirical or “edgy” work. That’s really not true. I think most of us who work in libraries love libraries and library people, and if you have a story that is full of love and sunshine, I’d love to publish that story.

If you want to contribute, but aren’t sure what to write, I think what I’d most like to see right now are real-life tales of library work. What is it like to work in a prison library or to routinely handle manuscripts that are hundreds of years old or to have someone pull a gun on you at the circ desk? Think of something that is interesting about your work, and tell us a specific story about that.

Or don’t. Make a collage of 1970s punchcards found in the backs of old books. Interview people on the bus about their favorite librarians. Write the first scene of “LIBRARIAN!” the musical. I will exercise my discretion (such as it is) about what to publish or not publish, but I expect there will be room for just about everything. Leave a comment on this post or email steve at stevelawson dot name if you want in. And get to work: you have a month.