LSU Press Has Won Pulitzer Prizes For Books of Both Poetry and Fiction

LSU Press Has Won Pulitzer Prizes

For Books of Both Poetry and Fiction

By Melani Johnson

Many South Baton Rouge Residents might have noticed the LSU Press Building along the university’s sorority row and wondered what goes on there -- Is that where they print everything?

Actually, LSU Press is a non-profit book publisher and an academic arm of Louisiana State University. Founded in 1935, LSU Press is a member of the Association of American University Presses and it is one of the oldest and largest university presses in the South.

It is also noteworthy that LSU Press was founded during the Great Depression and that it has been publishing outstanding books ever since.

“It really is saying something for the people of our state that in the depths of the depression they funded the formation of what is today one of the finest university presses in America,” said Mary Katherine Callaway, director of the LSU Press. “It is the only university press that has won Pulitzer Prizes in both poetry and fiction.”

To Educate and Enlighten

The press mainly publishes scholarly, general interest and regional books as part of the university’s mission to disseminate knowledge and culture. “Our main goal is to educate and enlighten people about the state we all live in,” explained Callaway.

LSU Press receives around 1,500 submissions each year and only publishes 60 of those submissions. “It’s a hard elimination process, but it really is a lot of fun!” said Callaway.

LSU Press receives some subsidy from the university, but it is actually a not-for-profit operation that is somewhat self-finding. Fundraisers throughout the year also help to raise money for LSU Press.

An example of the fundraising activities will occur on Tuesday evening, August 24^th. From 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. when the LSU Press will hold a fundraiser at Bistro Byronz. Guests can enjoy great food and 20 percent of their bill will be donated to the press.

Treasurers of LSU

Books from the current 2010 Fall season will be on display including a promising fictional novel from LSU Press’ Yellow Shoe Series titled, My Bright Midnight by Josh Russell. The novel is about the complications of loyalties to country, to friends, and to those we love. Also featured this fall is the much-anticipated Treasures of LSU, published this year in celebration of the university’s 150^th anniversary.

Treasures includes 160 color photos that detail the numerous and diverse riches found throughout the Baton Rouge campus and beyond. “Pictured in Treasures are things such as the beautiful live oak trees, the Frank Hayden sculptures, various buildings and other high lights of the LSU campus,” explained Callaway. The book educates people about the area while being very entertaining at the same time.

“I went to LSU and studied art history,” said Erin Rolfs, LSU Press Marketing Manager. “But I was stunned to see all the amazing artistry that I had no idea existed on the campus. It really is an amazing study.”

Over 1000 Titles

Of course the public is encouraged to attend the fundraiser. The LSU Press staff and advisory board will be at Bistro Byronz to help answer questions about the press and how people can acquire books the press publishes. Everyone in attendance will be able to purchase books on site as well as order from a backlist of over 1000 titles.

The LSU Press is not just on LSU’s campus or in the world of university publishing, but is a member of the community at large.

“The Press gives voice to all those things that makes our area unique,” said Rolfs. “It preserves and proliferates images of vanishing wetlands, the history of Creole and Cajun culture, the multifaceted social study of the southern way of life and literature, the beauty of our culture and the lessons we’ve learned from the mistakes in our past.”

For more information visit the LSU Press website www.lsu.edu/lsupress/