| Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Participation
Author/Title Questions
Teacher/Student Feedback
General Questions
What is the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund?
The Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund invests in programs that enhance
the
cultural life of communities and encourage people to make the arts and
culture an active part of their everyday lives. It funds efforts to build
audiences for the performing, visual, literary, and folk arts, and supports
programs to improve literacy instruction for adults and for the creation
and improvement of urban parks.
The Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund awarded Sarabande Books a three-year
grant of $71,284 to fund Go Write to the Source: Sarabande in Education.
Sarabande was given, along with many other organizations, a sizeable
grant to further the arts and culture goal of expanding audience through
leading cultural organizations. According to the 1998 Grantmaking Report
from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, the Fund "made grants
totaling $2.4 million to help nonprofit publishers of high-quality works
undertake new editorial and marketing strategies." The ten publishers
chosen by the Fund for these grants are described as "the best
in the field" and as having "well established track records
for artistic excellence and innovation."
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What is Sarabande Books?
Sarabande Books is a nonprofit literary press founded in early 1994
by Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner to publish poetry and short fiction,
genres which have been underserved by the for-profit publishing world.
Sarabande has established itself not only as a showcase for exceptional
literary works but also as an educational resource for writers and for
the general public. Sarabande is committed to being an "author-oriented"
press and to producing beautiful, lasting editions that honor good writing.
To learn more about Sarabande Books, visit our main Website at www.SarabandeBooks.org.
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How can I contact Sarabande Books?
For additional information about Sarabande Books or Go Write to the
Source: Sarabande in Education, please contact:
Nickole Brown
Sarabande Books
2234 Dundee Road, Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40205
Phone: (502) 458-4028
Fax: (502) 458-4065
E-mail: nickole@sarabandebooks.org
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What is the Sarabande in Education program?
The project entitled Go Write to the Source: Sarabande in Education
is an initiative designed to enlarge the number of readers of Sarabande
and other small press titles in the academic arena. The program targets
specific Contemporary Literature, Composition, and Creative Writing classrooms
at four-year colleges and universities. A pilot group of forty Kentucky
schools will be used to test the project during the first year. The second
year the program will be expanded nationally.
"Our goal is to build audiences for literature by helping publishers
who produce high quality works connect directly with readers through the
Internet, in book discussion groups at public libraries, and direct sales
in neighborhood convenience stores," said the Lila Wallace-Reader's
Digest Fund president Christine DeVita. "Not only are these publishers
known for their quality, but they are able to reach niche audiences, especially
diverse readers of all ages."
The idea of an interactive, educational Website generates widespread
interest among university and college instructors nationwide, but its
applications are largely unknown. Sarabande will create and test such
a Website, thereby offering instructors at four-year colleges and universities
new ways to use contemporary literature in the classroom. Sarabande
Books president and editor-in-chief Sarah Gorham predicts that direct
communication between contemporary authors and student readers via the
Internet will expand the academic audience for small press titles, and,
more importantly, enhance students' connection to contemporary literature.
Among its other benefits, Sarabande's initiative will serve as a model
for established and emerging literary presses contemplating the academic
market and the relevance of a Website.
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Participation
How do I become part of the Sarabande in Education
program?
This project focuses on Contemporary Literature, Composition, and Creative
Writing classrooms at four-year colleges and universities. The support package — including
password access to the discussion areas of this Website is available to professors who adopt a
Sarabande title. For a desk copy, and site password, call 502/458-4028, fax 502/458-4065, or e-mail us.
I do not teach Contemporary Literature, Composition,
or Creative Writing, but I still feel as if my students would benefit
from studying one of your authors. Can my class become part of the Sarabande
in Education program?
Yes, Sarabande in Education welcomes diversified areas of study
outside of traditional writing and literature programs. Women's Studies,
Cultural Studies (Hispanic and African-American), or Social History are
all areas which might be able to successfully incorporate one of our titles
into the classroom.
I am a teacher at a high school, but feel as if my
students are capable of handling college-level material. Can I become
part of the Sarabande in Education program?
Yes, some Sarabande in Education's titles might be quite suitable
for advanced readers at the high school level. Please note, however, that
a few of our titles might contain a level of difficulty and some controversial
matter that may pose a problem in secondary schooling. To receive a sample
copy of a title for review, simply contact us.
I would like my classroom to participate in Sarabande
in Education, but I can/will not be ordering books for the entire
class. Can I still participate?
No. This program is designed for total classroom participation, and Internet
access to our discussion areas is a benefit of adopting the title for
the entire class.
I am an individual who is not in a Sarabande in
Education class, but I am still interested in participating. Is this
possible?
No. While Sarabande would be happy to send you additional information
about authors, the program is for classroom study only.
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Author/Title Questions
I am interested in several of your featured authors,
but I cannot decide which one is best for my students to study. What
might help me choose an author for my classroom?
The best way to decide which one is best for your students would be to first
look at their author information. If you are still at a loss, contact Nickole Brown, Marketing
Director of Sarabande Books, by e-mail, phone (502) 458-4028 or fax (502) 458-4065 with your
questions/concerns.
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I would like to feature two or more Sarabande
in Education authors in my classroom? Is this possible?
Yes, providing the course load isn't too much for the class, there should
be no reason why you cannot adopt as many titles as you like. Just make
sure to plan well in advance to get the adequate amount of computer
lab time for your students and to schedule live author interviews.
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Despite having contact with authors on the net, I
would still like to schedule a live author reading at my university. How
should I go about doing that?
Contact Nickole Brown, Marketing Director of Sarabande Books, by e-mail,
phone (502) 458-4028 or fax (502) 458-4065.
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Teacher/Student Feedback
I have drafted a sample syllabus for one of the Sarabande
authors and feel as if it would be useful to other teachers. How can I
go about posting my syllabus?
Please mail a copy of your syllabus to Sarabande Books, Sarah Gorham,
2234 Dundee Road, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40205. We will take a serious
look at your syllabus, and if it is helpful, we will post it on our
Website.
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I have a suggestion/comment to make about the
Sarabande in Education program. How should I send that message?
The Teacher Lounge is an ideal place to talk about Sarabande in Education,
as the President, Editor, and Marketing Director are constantly checking
the message boards. If you feel it is a more personal concern, feel
free to e-mail us.
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I have completed a class with the Sarabande in
Education program and would like to post a comment/testimonial on
the site. How do I go about doing this?
Comments and testimonials are always welcome. Both the Teacher and Student
Lounges are good for comments, but we prefer that you e-mail or mail
them directly to us so that we can post it on a non-password protected
area of the site for all to read.
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