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University
Of Virginia Library Becomes Co-Publisher Of Meridian
April
26, 2001-- The
University of Virginia Library is now co-publisher of Meridian,
the nationally recognized literary magazine from the U.Va. English
departments Creative Writing Program. U.Va.s English
department will maintain editorial responsibilities for the journal,
while the library will provide partial funding, production assistance
to the print and online versions, and office space in the soon-to-be-constructed
Mary and David Harrison Institute and Albert H. Small Special Collections
Library.
"We see this as part of
an increasingly fertile collaboration among the English department,
faculty in literature and foreign languages, and the library in
promoting poetry and other literary endeavors," said University
Librarian Karin Wittenborg. "The library has long been a supporter
of Meridian and a contributor to its Lost Classics
series and I look forward to expanding this relationship."
Meridian, a semiannual
journal first published in 1998, is edited by graduate students
in the writing program. English department faculty serve as contributing
editors. The magazine includes a vibrant mix of poetry, short stories,
essays, and reviews, as well as artwork and interviews with prominent
writers.
While the work of established writers
is always a feature of Meridian, the editorial staff is also
committed to showcasing gifted, emerging writers, says the magazines
faculty adviser, Jeb Livingood. Acclaimed writers featured in Meridian
have included poets Gregory Orr, Rita Dove and Alberto Ríos,
and fiction writers Russell Banks and Ann Beattie, among others.
Meridians "Lost
Classics" section contains previously unpublished work by renowned
authors. Items from the librarys Special Collections department
featured in "Lost Classics" have included poems by Robert
Frost and Jorge Luis Borges and, most recently, in the Spring 2001
issue, a manuscript by Washington Irving.
Despite its brief publishing history,
three poems first featured in Meridian were recently
selected for inclusion in the annual Best American Poetry series,
and another was included in the Pushcart Prize XXV. Three
stories from Meridian -- tying a record number for a single
magazine -- recently were selected for this years
annual New Stories from the South collection.
"We are eager to work with
the library on Meridian, especially considering the rich
literary holdings in Special Collections and the many other resources
there," Livingood said.
Contact: Melissa Cox Norris, (804)
924-4254
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