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Is Library of America a library?
No, Library of America is not a physical venue. It is a nonprofit, mission-driven publisher created to help the public appreciate the illustrious achievements of the nation’s writers and to ensure that this writing continues to have a presence and prominence in our culture and around the world.
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Who chooses the writers to be published in the series?
Library of America has a network of advisors around the country that include some of the nation’s most distinguished scholars and writers. Ideas and suggestions are reviewed by these advisors and LOA’s editorial team to determine the feasibility and need for a proposed title.
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Why haven’t you published ______?
Library of America aims for inclusiveness, but there are often circumstances that prevent publication of a given writer or work. For instance, we may be unable to obtain necessary permissions from the copyright holder. Or, the writer in question may have only a small number of significant works that won’t fill an entire LOA volume. Or sometimes, we just haven’t gotten around to it—yet. The series is open-ended, which is to say we continue to add titles. We have a lot of work yet to do. If you have a specific writer in mind, feel free to e-mail us your suggestion.
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Does Library of America publish children’s literature?
Yes, our catalog of Books for Young Readers includes classic writing by Madeleine L’Engle, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Mark Twain.
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May I suggest a favorite writer/work of mine?
Certainly! E-mail us at info@loa.org with your suggestions. We are always happy to hear from readers.
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I would like to be published. May I send you a manuscript?
No. Library of America does not publish new material and does not accept unsolicited manuscripts.
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Does Library of America produce eBooks?
Yes, our first eBook was released in late 2011 and since then additional eBook titles have been released at the rate of two per month. Library of America eBooks are available in all major formats, including Kindle, Nook, iPad, Kobo, and Google Books. At present they are not available directly from the LOA Web Store but are sold via eBook vendors. To see the current list of titles, click here.
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Does Library of America produce audio books?
Yes, select LOA titles in sportswriting and crime fiction are available as audio books.
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Are Library of America books available as large print editions?
In order to best serve the needs of readers with print disabilities, we have partnered with an organization that specializes in alternative editions. Select LOA volumes are available through Learning Ally. Many readers needing larger print find that eBooks solve the problem, since type size on e-readers is adjustable. For more on eBooks, see two questions above, on this page.
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Are Library of America books available from online retailers such as Amazon?
Yes, our volumes are available from all major online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, and IndieBound.
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What is the difference between the books I see in bookstores with the black dustjackets and those in cream-colored slipcases?
The black-jacketed editions are produced for retail sale; the slipcased version is reserved for subscribers. The texts, binding, paper, and ribbon are identical, with the exceptions of American Earth and The Lincoln Anthology, each of which features a uniquely designed binding for the retail edition.