Unbound is OUT
The Memphis Library Foundation is bringing the library to you!
MPL Unbound is finally out!
Last year, our team was approached about an exciting new project designed to expand MPL’s services further and reach across the city of Memphis. Fully funded by the Memphis Library Foundation, MPL Unbound is a brand new magazine that will highlight articles from librarians, focus on library-centric topics and happenings in Memphis, and provide Memphians even more access to information.
Here’s what Mark Fleischer, the Editor in Chief and originator of the idea for this magazine, thinks about the magazine and its future:
From initial concepts to a finished first issue, this project has been one year in the making, and we couldn't be more excited to finally unveil our creation to library patrons and to the public. This new magazine further extends one of the Memphis Public Libraries' core purposes in meeting the public where they are and literally putting the library in the public's hands. Many libraries in the U.S. have publications of some kind, but we are confident that the scope of this magazine, produced by a public library system, may be the only one of its kind in the country. This effort is a tribute to the creativity and ingenuity that is a continuance of the Memphis spirit of invention, to the Memphis Public Libraries and Keenon McCloy's mantra of "programming to your passion," and to the boldness of the Memphis Library Foundation's Christine Weinreich in making this happen. This is not only an exciting time for us as a library, but for our library community and for the public, a vital step forward in upholding the publics' trust in an institution dedicated to providing free access and reliable resources and information to all, which is perhaps more critical than ever in our service as a pillar of democracy.
Once the idea was approved, Fleischer gathered a crew of editors for the magazine who gave time and expertise to bring this vision to life. The same crew of editors built the framework for the magazine from the ground up - from choosing a title, naming section headings, finding an intended audience, choosing font sizes, etc. There was even a particularly rousing meeting where the editorial team furiously debated the merits of Verdana versus Helvetica (we ended up going with Verdana, well, actually Helvetica….or was it Verdana…?).
After the framework was built, it became time to start generating content. There were tons of interviews to schedule and then lengthy transcripts to comb through. There were numerous articles to write and then countless grammatically-inclined eyes needed to pass over them. It truly takes a village, which you can see represented in the magazine masthead and the contributors page.
Though the schedule was tight and the process unfamiliar, the editorial team pulled together some truly incredible work for the inaugural issue. We’re so thankful to them for their hard work and excitement for this project - it would not have been possible without even one of them. And we want to especially thank Mark Fleischer, whose passion drove this project forward.
But don’t let us spoil the fun for you! Look for a physical copy in your library branch soon or check it out online by clicking here. We’re so excited to share this project with you and bring more issues to you in the future!
With gratitude,
The Memphis Library Foundation Team