The Case for Literary Polygamy

By Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver's Pond Press Staff)

Let me let you in on a little secret—a love affair with literature does not have to be monogamous.

Now, I know how it feels when books woo us. We fill bookshelves as monuments to our eternal passion, each shelf a pledge of a book’s permanent residence in our home. And yes, when an author’s voice hums from pages it feels like nothing else could ever be as sweet. With each page laid out like a promise it’s hard to resist letting yourself be claimed as a reader, for better or worse, till death do us part.

But to hold ourselves exclusively to literature in its pure, traditional form is similar to a reader restricting herself to a tried-and-true genre— nonfiction may, after all, still end up being the best, but when the world is so wide, a committed, enlightened reader knows she has a certain obligation to explore.

This summer, I challenge you to discover the different ways literature has evolved and augmented itself beyond the covers we once thought were boundaries.

Literary Magazines:

Literary magazines merge art and literature, and when combined, the two play-off each other to provide an enhanced experience than either could on its own. Literary magazines reject the idea that illustrations don’t belong in “serious” adult literature, and bring the visual back into the reading experience.

Typically, literary magazines call for submissions (art, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), the best of which the editors compile to create a cohesive whole. Some literary magazines to keep an eye on are Paper Darts, The Normal School, Conduit, and The Agriculture Reader.

Book Art:

Minneapolis is home to the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), and invites you to “get your hands dirty” by bringing the physicality of book production into the artistic realm. Through artistic involvement with the physical aspects of books—such as creating paper, pressing each letter on the page, sewing up the book’s spine, and adding embellishments in every way you can imagine— authors tap into the idea of each book’s experience, and how certain tactile materials and techniques alter that experience.

 

“Working with something as simple as an accordion fold whose panels explode in space as you lift it causes a book to physically become a piece of sculpture,” explains Betty Bright, one of the foremost book art scholars.

Stretching the book beyond its existence as a utility to embody something more is what makes it art.  With classes on the traditional crafts of papermaking, letterpress printing, and bookbinding to non-traditional explorations of book-as-art, transforming novels into sculptures and art installations, MCBA “celebrates and supports the limitless creative evolution of the book arts.”

The MCBA is located at the Open Book on 1011 Washington Ave S, and as the largest and most comprehensive book arts center in the nation, is a great resource for beginning to explore book art. If you don’t have time to sign up for a class, check out their shop and book art gallery.

Letterpress:

The traditional craft of letterpress was not considered art until the early 1900s when modern technology rendered it obsolete. Letterpress artists are the people who are still interested in carrying on the craft tradition, and are willing to devote their time and energy to literally build a book up from the ground.

This year I had two different experiences with a letterpress, and truly enjoyed the physical experience of placing words on a page. One poster-sized broadside requires hours of setting type, letter-by-letter, and arranging pieces called “furniture” around it like a puzzle to make sure nothing wiggles. It’s an incredibly interesting way to interact with words, requiring a slow pace and concentration. Pulling each letter out of its case and placing them one-by-one was a stark change from devouring the words of fiction novels or mulling over phrases in poetry—it was steady work and immensely fulfilling in the way that checking to-do list boxes can be.

After setting the type, the next step involves using a brush to layer ink over the letters. Each copy was different based on their unique density of paint, with its own distinct smudges and irregularities like freckles on the paper. Because work printed on a letterpress is typically done in much smaller quantities, there is something special about each copy—if you spill soda on it, you can’t pop over to Barnes & Noble to get a new one.

The MCBA offers letterpress classes, and I would encourage anyone interested to consider creating either a poster-sized broadside or a chapbook.

Spoken Word:

Spoken word blends the excitement and musicality of rap with the artistic intent of poetry, paying strong attention to rhythm, voice inflection, alliteration, and performance. Many spoken word artists are activists, tapping into the ability to reach large audiences by providing social commentaries and challenging listeners to action.

One of the things I like about spoken word is how it draws upon the history of oral tradition, sharing thoughts through direct communication and performance. Throughout history, speeches have been used to motivate the masses, and this inherent power is one of the reasons why it lends itself so well to activism.

Minneapolis has many spoken word events, from readings to performances, and a simple Google search yields many results. You can also turn to City Pages for spoken word events. Youtube is a great place to become acquainted with what spoken word is, and I would recommend looking up some of my favorites, Guante, Michael Lee, Katie Makkai, and Sage Francis.

In what other ways has literature extended itself? What is your experience with these variations on traditional literature?

Let Yourself Blossom at Literary Events

By Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver's Pond Press Staff)

Because no one puts your book in a corner.

Minneapolis has one of the best literary scenes in the country, and spring fever has got us celebrating. While searing-cold weather might persuade us to hunker down at our desks and force our creative work to germinate, as writers, the time has come to blossom. A tulip is still a tulip when it’s inside a bulb, but one of the best parts of being an author is breaking through the egg-shell that separates your private writing life from the literary community.

As self-published authors, we are constantly made aware of the importance of marketing and actively reaching out to your book’s target audience, and there is no better (or more enjoyable!) way to connect with readers than literary events. Spending time with self-proclaimed bookworms and voracious readers is a way to develop genuine relationships with people who not only share similar interests, but oftentimes will enthusiastically ask for a signed copy of your book. There are many authors who attend events, as well, and because bibliophiles are the best kind of people, literary karma reigns— when you read the work of others, they will generally return the favor, and then pass it along to friends.

So get up off of that thing, stretch your stems, and let your petals unfurl, because you belong in this garden. Let spring lure you in, and challenge yourself to attend at least one of these events:

Ivory Tower Launch Party: Wednesday, April 25 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

The University of Minnesota; The Whole Music Club in Coffman Memorial Union

Writing is an exchange, art is an interaction, and this year Ivory Tower is hopping off the bookshelf. The 2012 edition of the magazine includes blank pages in the hope of continuing the conversation beyond the printed page, giving voice to the readers to respond and contribute their own creative work. Join the celebration of the magazine’s release with author readings, live music, artwork, free food, and a free copy of the 2012 edition. As the official undergraduate art & literary magazine for the University of Minnesota, Ivory Tower alumni include Patricia Hampl, Garrison Keillor, and the lovely ladies at Paper Darts.

Making Music: Dylan Hicks: Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The University of Minnesota; The Whole Music Club in Coffman Memorial Union

Come see Dylan Hicks perform for free. Hicks is a writer and musician and will release his first novel, Boarded Windows, this May through Coffee House Press. He will release his fourth album, Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene, as a companion piece.

Rain Taxi Reading Series featuring Amanda Nadelburg: Friday April 27 at 7:00 p.m.

The Soap Factory, 2nd St. and 5th Ave. SE, Minneapolis

Join Rain Taxi for an evening with Amanda Nadelberg, who will read from her second book of poetry Bright Brave Phenomena, newly released by Coffee House Press. Nadelberg is the author of Isa the Truck Named Isadore and Brave New Phenomenon.

Books & Bars book for May, Catch 22: Tuesday May 1, 8, and 15 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Various locations

Books & Bars revolutionizes the traditional book club by moving literary discussions into a fun and lively atmosphere. Now eight years running, with over 800 subscribers and over 1,500 likes on Facebook, Books & Bars reminds us that being a bookworm—despite what you may have been told in elementary school—is finally cool.

Coffee House Press’ Biblio Bash 2012: Saturday, May 5 from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Grain Belt Bottling House, 79 Thirteenth Ave NE, Minneapolis

With this year’s theme of A Literary Carnival!, attendees will experience an “atmosphere reminiscent of a county fair,” with popcorn, a sundae bar, and “booths” staffed with barkers. Biblio Bash is focused on engagement and participation, encouraging readers to literally interact with Coffee House Press authors and books, from staging dramatic interpretations to playing games. DJ Jacquie Fuller from 89.3 The Current will provide the music, and many activities, such as the Grammar Gauntlet (with Scrabble and Bananagrams) and a magnetic poetry wall, will be available.



Birchbark Books Reading Series: Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1917 Logan Avenue South, Minneapolis
This final reading of the season features performance poet Bao Phi, author of Song I Sing, and Ed Bok Lee, winner of the poetry Minnesota Book Award 2012 for Whorled.

Yoga & Wine Book Club: Saturday, May 12 starting at 3:45
Summit Lookout Park in Saint Paul, then on to Grace's house on Dayton Avenue
Yoga, wine, books, and s'mores— what more could you ask for? Start the evening out right with an hour of yoga in the park led by the wonderful yoga instructor Kim F. from CorePower Yoga. Once you've found your inner peace, gather at Grace's house for a potluck dinner around a campfire. The book being discussed is The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. Please bring a dish to share and a bottle of whatever you fancy! S'mores will be provided.

And be sure to check out the Rain Taxi Literary Calendar and Hazel & Wren Literary Calendar for continuously updated events in the Twin Cities!

Amazon, Apple, and the Big Six Clique: Frenemies Forever

By Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver's Pond Press Staff)

Lately, there has been so much drama in the publishing world that I can’t help but be reminded of Gossip Girl, and not in the guilty-pleasure, slipper socks and a tub of ice-cream, so-bad-it’s-good kind-of way. Because although I might secretly enjoy trashy television, the people responsible for the future of books are the last ones I want getting caught in catfights.

So I’m putting on my pumps and pulling out my web browser. Lady Bookworm here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of the publishing elite. As we all know, the Big Six Clique had ruled the school for years, and were quite comfortable at the top of the pyramid. Some of the smaller minnows in the pond may remember it as the Dark Ages, when an author had to pay for an agent to act as intermediary, and the gatekeepers kept the riff-raff out with dress codes and guest lists, but there was order, and there were books—lots of them.

And then Amazon arrived, wickedly enticing in price-slashed hussy wear, and suddenly the button-up-polo-and-headband hierarchy just couldn’t compete. Amazon sauntered about and the readers followed, eyes glassy from staring at computer screens, intoxicated by prices set shamefully low. But you can’t dismantle a dynasty without a lot of bloodshed, and the Big Six hasn’t forgotten whose playground it used to be.

Traditional “wholesale” pricing model had allowed booksellers to discount books as they wanted, before sassy Amazon strutted in at $9.99 per eBook. This if-you’ve-got-it-flaunt-it attitude (plus a ninety percent market share) hurt the Big Six Clique’s self-confidence—they’re not used to being passed over—and so they allegedly paired up with Apple and “agreed that instead of selling books to retailers and letting them decide what retail price to charge, the publishers would convert the retailers into ‘agents’ who could sell their books but not alter the publisher-set retail price” (Star Tribune).

Spotted— Amazon running to Uncle Sam and calling the Big Six Clique out for “agency pricing.” Even on the Upper East Side, no one likes a tattletale.

Now the United States of America, the Justice Department, and fifteen respective states have filed a lawsuit against Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Shuster (who have all already settled), and Macmillan and Penguin Group (who are taking out their earrings, pulling off their press-ons, and preparing to fight). The lawsuit calls the new agency-pricing model a “conspiracy to illegally fix the price of e-books,” and the Consumer Federation of America called it "a `slam-dunk' case of collusive, anti-competitive behavior.” And while it’s a nice story, not every handbag sporting “G” is a Gucci, and we know that wanna-be-Queens like Amazon aren't born at the top— they climb their way up in heels, with no regard to whom they have to tread upon to do it.

Maybe it’s because our government still has a soft spot for overthrows, but to me, this lawsuit seems like the Justice Department has their panties in a bunch for no good reason. Hachette has stated that “two years ago, Amazon effectively had a monopoly on the sale of e-books and e-readers, and was selling products below cost in an effort to exclude competitors.” Maybe I’m missing something, but when there’s a potential monopoly with ninety percent of the eBook market pimping out our books, why are publishers the ones getting sued?

This lawsuit may be robed in an American flag, but it allows Amazon to finally divide and conquer. The government asserts that raising eBook prices by two to three dollars has cost readers “more than $100 million in the past two years,” but the fact is that while there will never be a price too low for consumers, people working in the book business—from authors to independent bookstore owners—can only survive so long on emaciated profits.

And for some reason, it just doesn’t seem right that Hachette and Harper Collins must now pay $52 million in restitution to consumers in Connecticut and Texas, when, most likely, readers will never receive it. Can you imagine readers lining up with book receipts for a two dollar reimbursement? Well, maybe in Connecticut. Amazon called the settlement "a big win for Kindle owners, and we look forward to being allowed to lower prices on more Kindle books." And once the lawsuit has beaten the Big Six Clique down, you can bet your Hermes Birkins that Amazon fully expects them to come crawling back, content to pimp out books at whatever price Amazon demands, frenemies forever, or else.

But one thing about being on the top of the world… it gives you a long, long way to fall. Until next time, you know you love me.

xoxo, Lady Bookworm.

Leaping into spring

By Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver’s Pond Press Staff)

We have finally trudged through winter, and the air is laced with the excitement of springtime and new beginnings. Although the flowers and leaves have barely begun to yawn awake, spring enters with an undeniable energy, and as self-published authors you can use this feeling to propel your book forward. Spring events typically enjoy a higher rate of attendance than the other seasons, and there’s no better time to rejuvenate your book marketing.

There are many ways to harness the anticipation and downright wonder of the season, from cleaning to simply getting outside. Here are a few to help you jumpstart your spring: 

• Update your resume and author photo.

• Keep your contacts fresh. Go through your address book and find the contacts that you value. Send them a message for the pure sake of keeping in touch.
• If you’re feeling especially ambitious, hand-written cards go a long way.

• Get outside! Now that we are finally released from the bonds of indoor heating, take advantage of outdoor public spaces. Always carry a stack of books in the trunk of your car, and be prepared to set them out whenever an opportunity presents itself. From outdoor dining to relaxing at a park bench, being outside puts you in a public arena and widens your potential audience.

• Rearrange your writing space. Even something as small as adding a potted plant or facing your desk the opposite way can infuse your work space, and subsequently your writing, with new life.
• Take a moment to write outside.
• Decide on a topic and take a walk, intentionally taking the time to let your thoughts fully germinate.

• Back up your computer. When you are an author, you cannot afford to lose documents. If you haven’t already, the time is now!

• Schedule events. Readings at bookstores and libraries, book club gatherings, and panel discussions are all excellent ways to reach readers. Be creative with your venues and surprise your audience with out-of-the-ordinary events.

• Attend events. The great thing about authors is that you can bet on them being readers. Building a community is an important step to success, and if you want people to read your book, you should read theirs.
• Research reading series in your city and reach out to your local literary community by asking to participate.

In what ways has spring motivated you? 

Please email hanna@beaverspondpress.com – we love to hear from you!

Bookocalypse

By Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver's Pond Press Staff)

While I hate being lumped in with the Y2K-ers, and am wary of being bamboozled by the Mayans, I can’t help paying attention to the icy fear that spreads down my spine when I watch eReaders’ popularity steadily climb.

I know many of you have already started shaking your heads, full of pity that I could possibly blame eReaders for impending apocalyptic doom. But I’m not talking about any old apocalypse—my fears go much deeper than that. My friends, I fear a bookocalypse, the likes of which we have never seen before.

This isn’t a question of whether Amazon is evil, (we all already know the answer, anyway.) It is a matter of looking at cold, hard, electronic facts and calling upon George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 as expert witnesses.

More and more readers are turning to Kindles, Nooks, and other eReader devices for books. Books, which are vessels of knowledge, which firmly root us in our history and authenticate thought, become pliable when rendered electronic. Where a physical book reveals when it has been tampered with, altering electronic text is as simple as the click of a button. Widespread changes and adaptations can be implemented on multiple copies at once. Updated versions of books can be released instantaneously, and become accessible faster than a speeding byte.

As eReaders gain increased popularity, libraries have been forced to bend to accommodate their patrons’ needs. Many libraries now use OverDrive, a digital title distributor, to lend eBooks to the public. Some libraries are even stocking their shelves with eReaders, like the Ludenburg Public Library that has stocked its shelves with three Nooks, each holding 28 titles for patrons to check out. In 2011, 67.2% of all libraries offered eBooks.

But what will happen when libraries no longer are given sufficient funding to maintain and develop their physical book collections? In an age where state funding is stretched so tight that even elementary school music programs are getting cut to free up funding, libraries are falling quickly in the state’s list of priorities. Nearly 40% of American mayors plan to make cuts to library programs, and many public library branches have already been permanently closed.

It is not that hard to imagine a future where budgetary cuts force librarians to replace the acquisition of physical books with the acquisition of electronic texts. Physical books take up shelf space and have to “earn their rent,” while if a library housed electronic texts it could save a significant amount of money by requiring a smaller space to house them. Physical books require a certain amount of upkeep and care, especially the older rare books, and who is going to foot the bill when patrons are just as content to download the scanned image? Electronic texts are also cheaper to produce and purchase, and no matter how the bibliophiles might moan, it’s hard to fight for the values of a library’s ambiance when it comes with such a steep price tag.

And while some libraries might bend instead of fold, reestablish themselves in new, smaller spaces that house primarily electronic texts, who is to say that they won’t disappear forever? Libraries have long been community centers, offering free public services like job opportunity resources and access to computers and internet, and many citizens will be affected on both personal and professional levels if this space is lost. But although that is a tragedy, and my childhood would have been drastically different without my bike rides home from the library with a backpack full of books, the fact is that library shut-downs are the first step of a full-fledged bookocalypse.

When information goes digital, we will lose that sense of permanency that books are bound together with, and will be hopelessly at the mercy of whoever is able to tap into and alter the files. Whether it is commercial businesses, hackers, or even our own government that gains control, there are many parties that could, and would, further their own interests by reigning over information. And that is not a power that I ever wish to see leave the hands of librarians. In the so-called age of information, search engines like Google arrange results based on selfish commercial interests, and the general consensus is that if you “found it online,” it must be accurate. In a world without libraries, what can we hold true?

George Orwell taught us that “He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.” So while other doomsayers might be stocking their shelves with canned goods, I am diligently packing my bookshelves til they swell at the seams. At least then when eReaders start saying that “2+2=5,” I’ll be ready with ammunition.

Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. They are engines of change, windows on the world, lighthouses erected in the sea of time.

             Barbara W. Tuchman

The Electrifying Community of AWP 2012 in Chicago

By Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver's Pond Press Staff)

This weekend, ten thousand bookworms invaded Chicago for the 2012 AWP Conference, and the sense of community was electrifying. It was not only a gathering in celebration of literature, but of the people who create it, who collect it, who wine it and dine it and take it to bed at night. Although I loved the panels and events, AWP was so much more than its itinerary, and the inspirational people I met overwhelm my recollection of the conference.  Although this is one of our lengthier posts, to accurately convey my genuine experience of AWP, I must write in portraiture, not in plot.

Victor David Giron, one of the most vivid individuals I met at AWP, is the founder of Curbside Splendor, an independent publisher in Chicago that publishes Another Chicago Magazine, and his involvement in community building was inspirational. Curbside Splendor is extremely grassroots and community-based, and began when Victor decided to self-publish his novel Sophomoric Philosophy in 2010, viewing it as an opportunity to “collaborate with other artists.” Through partnering with friends to publish his book, Victor realized he already had the infrastructure in place to “approach it as a real business,” and founded the company. With a focus on horizontal instead of vertical development that is also characteristic of the Chicago literary scene, Victor believes in the importance of community support and the value of “reading others’ work, instead of just wanting them to read mine.”

Victor with some of Curbside Splendor's books

In the first chapter of Sophomoric Philosophy the first-person narrator explains that he loves when authors describe Chicago “not through recounting its famous history or events, but through the stories of not-so-famous inhabitants.” I find it fitting that Curbside Splendor seeks to give its primarily Chicagoan authors a voice, and in doing so, provides an authentic glance into the heart of the city. However, what makes Curbside Splendor so engaging is the staff’s personal involvement with the literary community, interacting with the city itself. Victor owns the Beauty Bar on Chicago Avenue, which regularly hosts many reading series and literary events. Along with Victor, Jacob Knabb, the editor-in-chief of Another Chicago Magazine (who I didn’t personally meet, but enjoyed seeing on a panel), and Ben Tanzer (who I did meet, and can personally vouch for his coolness) are also very active in community events. Victor’s emphasis on literary events with a fun atmosphere, face-to-face interactions, and mutual support was inspiring, and reminded me that no matter where life takes me, I will always find friends if I tap into the literary community.

One of the most moving panels I attended was “In the Midst of Words I Wanted: A Tribute to Akilah Oliver,” in which Danielle Vogel read poetry from letters she had been writing to Akilah since she had passed on. Danielle was one of those rare luminescent people, and both her poetry and presence had an undeniable shine. Speaking in letter form, Danielle read, “Dear Akilah…we speak of you both as if you are here, and not. What tense is this?” She questioned, “How does one keep the present? I hold onto the tense but it shivers, this is vigil. The present perfect progressive, the present continuous.” Both Danielle and Akilah had been published by Coffee House Press, reminding me of how small a world it truly is.

Danielle signing my copy of her book Narrative & Nest

Akilah had been writing a book-length theory of lamentation, which she considered “a kind of gesture, the extended hand reaching out to a gathering of witnesses.” Danielle explained, “We read you to not only know the gifts of lamentation but also the importance of community, of coming together, bearing witness, and holding one another and ourselves in and out of language.” In listening to the commemoration of Akilah’s life, I realized that community was not only a way, as Danielle explained, to “let ourselves be buoyed even when we feel devastated,” but a way to defy the boundaries of death. Over a year after her death, Akilah’s energy existed at that panel in the present tense, not the past. If writers turn to literature for immortality, then it is within our communities that we can find the elixir of life. Akilah had written, “every identity is extended through a relationship with the other,” and through community we proliferate ourselves.

In a poem I recently wrote, I considered how life has an undeniable wildness, but we can control what moves in orbit around us. I feel extremely lucky to have met such inspirational literary-minded people from across the country at AWP, and am so grateful for the knowledge that I can augment my life with people like them by seeking out the literary community. AWP had all of the enjoyment of wandering around a bookstore, but I felt as if I was browsing through people, pausing longer with the ones I felt connection with, building community through shared ties with language and a poetic appreciation of each other. I’ve found that readers make excellent listeners, probably because they seek out writing, which is at its heart, an act of communication. In three days, I made connections that I will remember for a lifetime, and I already can’t wait until next year.

I met so many wonderful people at AWP, and I wish I had the blog space to capture a portrait of all of them and give each one the recognition they deserve. Some magazines that not only have amazing content, but are curated by truly amazing people, are Paper Darts, Mojo, and Sun’s Skeleton. Sarah and the Ugly Duckling Presse (I’ve included a picture of their cover designs here), Hazel & Wren (who make letterpress prints), and Katherine from Meridian Press all deserve a great deal of recognition for their beautiful work. I was very inspired by Kim Wyatt and the story of how Bona Fide Books built a literary community in Lake Tahoe, and it was great to meet Lis Korb. Dolly Lemke from the press Switchback Books publishes some impressive feminist poetry. JodiAnn Stevenson from Binge Press won my heart with her shining personality, cigarette girl outfit, and handmade chapbooks (see picture below!). I was also very pleased to meet Ellen Wade Beals of Weighed Words. Erin Eber, it was great to talk to you, and I am looking forward to working with PubSlush Press and wish you all the best! I’d also like to mention Lewis Warsh and Lisa, Dan, and Sarah from the Long Island University MFA Program, who I am so grateful to have met.

Also, thank you to the girl who joined in on Ivory Tower’s guerilla poetry reading on the Blue Line Saturday night. It was an experience I will never forget.




JodiAnn & Binge Press:

Ugly Ducking Books:

Bookworms: An Analysis

By: Hanna Kjeldbjerg

(Beaver’s Pond Press Staff)

Bookworms—we’ve all seen them. 


Usually identifiable by the book that accompanies them, bookworms can be spotted reading in bizarre places like restaurants, bars, and even while walking down the street. 


The librarians, the book-sniffers, the bibliophiles who somehow manage to wriggle book references into conversations—they’re everywhere, and have an insatiable appetite.

And while it’s easy to see why their gluttonous consumption of books has earned bookworms the status of parasite, where exactly did the name come from?

The Oxford English Dictionary’s first cited reference to a bookworm was in 1601, from Jonson’s Fountaine of Selfe-love.

“Perueted, and spoyld, by a whoore-sonne Booke-worme, a Candle-waster”

Defined as “one who seems to find his chief sustenance in reading, one who is always poring over books”, a bookworm as a bibliophile was mentioned again in 1717 before it’s definition was extended to an actual bug in 1855.

In 1866, Bookseller states:

“Book-worms are the larvae of a small beetle (anobium)…. I discovered that many of the volumes contained living bookworms.”

So although it was later discovered that certain larvae eat the paper or binding paste in books, and so were subsequently labeled “bookworms,” the original bookworm was a person, not a maggot.

Wikipedia explains that the book or paper louse, the wingless Psocoptera that doesn’t grow larger than 1 mm, feeds on microscopic molds and other organic matter in aging books, sometimes attacking bindings. Older books are more susceptible because starch-based binding pastes are more attractive to insects than modern glues and paper.

The silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and cockroach (Blattodea) will also eat the molds of degraded paper.

The bookworm moth (Heliothis zea or H. virescens) and its larvae actually are not interested in the books themselves, but the cloth binding only. And apparently, the “The larva (caterpillar) is very aggressive and will bite. It has been known to attack and consume other larvae of the same species.” But we all knew better than messing with bookworms, anyways!

Luckily for us, the most common species of bookworm looks like this, and I hear they only get grumpy when they’re hungry.

Pests who feed on books prefer warm, dark, damp, poorly ventilated conditions, and so book collections in libraries, museums, and archives are at the greatest risk. If you want to make sure that these bugs stay out of your collection, treat them well, and don’t let this happen to you!

Have you ever seen a bookworm?