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]

a small headshot of plotnik an older white man standing outside and smiling
Art Plotnik

Before working at ALA, Plotnik worked at the Library of Congress and was a staff writer and reviewer at Albany’s Times-Union.[1] 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

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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.[5] 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.[3][5]

Works and Publications

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  • Aaron Schmink's first crazy love (2018) ISBN 9781092112154
  • Better than great : a plenitudinous compendium of wallopingly fresh superlatives (2013, with Richard Waterhouse) ISBN 9780792788027
  • The Elements of Expression : Putting Thoughts into Words (2012, with Jessica Morell) ISBN 9781936740246
  • Spunk & bite : a writer's guide to bold, contemporary style (2005) ISBN 9780375722271
  • Elements of authorship : from lonely honk to roar of the crowd (2000) ISBN 9780595001194
  • The urban tree book : an uncommon field guide for city and town (2000) ISBN 9780812931037
  • Honk if you're a writer : unabashed advice, undiluted experience, and unadulterated inspiration for writers and writers-to-be (1992) ISBN 9780671778132
  • Man Behind the Quill, Jacob Shallus (1987) ISBN 9780911333589
  • The Elements of Editing: A Modern Guide for Editors and Journalists (1982) ISBN 9780585059853
  • Library Life--American Style: A Journalist's Field Report (1975) ISBN 9780810808522

References

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