Art Plotnik Explained

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.^[1] Plotnik worked for the American Library Association for over twenty years.^[2] His photographs covering 23 years of librarians and librarianship are held at the American Library Association Archives.^[3]

Before working at ALA, Plotnik worked at the Library of Congress 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 selections.^[4]

Early life

Plotnik was born in 1937 to Annabelle and Mike Plotnik, Russian immigrants.^[5] Plotnik graduated from White Plains High School in 1955; he was voted "wittiest" in his class. He earned a BA at Harpur College and a master's degree in English at the University of Iowa, where he studied under Philip Roth.

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)

External links

• Official site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bertram . Cara . Library Life: The Arthur Plotnik Photographs . American Library Association Archives . 2018-07-18 . 2020-08-31.
2. Web site: The Art Plotnik photograph collection . American Libraries Magazine . 2018-07-18 . 2020-08-31.
3. Web site: Arthur Plotnik Photographs, 1969-1992 . The American Library Association Archives . 2020-08-31.
4. Web site: Arthur Plotnik . PenguinRandomhouse.com . 2020-08-20 . 2020-08-31.
5. Web site: Liebson . Richard . Coming-of-age novel reflects the American experience that was 1950s White Plains . lohud.com . 2019-02-19 . 2020-08-31.