Art Plotnik

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]

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

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

• 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