How public libraries create authors

The ever-rising number of novels being published makes the task of cultural mediators in selecting and highlighting certain titles a vital one. Such mediators oversee entry into the literary field and therefore play a role in attributing the symbolic status of authorship that the mere fact of publication in itself is not enough to create. The article demonstrates that public librarians have a role to play in the process of attributing author status, including spotting new talents and following and encouraging their careers. Furthermore, by inviting authors to speak at events, libraries contribute to defining authorship not only in terms of creation, but also of reading.
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