WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
We—the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (formerly the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses)—are hundreds of small publishers creating print and digital books, magazines, online publications, chapbooks and zines, who have come together to do our work as publishers better and to organize around a shared set of beliefs:
—We believe that small literary publishers play a vital role in our culture by connecting the greatest diversity of distinctive writers to equally diverse communities of readers.
—We believe that literary publishing is an artistic practice that helps writers realize their artistic vision and readers discover their work.
—We believe that by increasing the organizational capacity of small literary publishers we contribute significantly to the vitality and vibrancy of our literary culture.
—We believe that being a member of our community means participating in an environment of mutual support with both rights and responsibilities.
—We believe in actively engaging those who share our passion for literature— readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, students, educators, funders, business leaders and others—to ensure that small literary publishers, and the work they help shape and make public, will continue to thrive.
CLMP celebrates excellence in both the how and why of what our publishers do: bring readers and writers of literature together in the true spirit of community.
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MISSION
CLMP ensures a diverse and vibrant literary landscape by increasing the organizational capacity of small literary publishers, advocating on their behalf, and working to bring multiple literary stakeholder communities together.
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HISTORY
Originally founded as the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines in 1967, CLMP—known today as the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses—exists to serve magazines, presses, Internet publishers, and chapbook and zine publishers mission-driven to publish literature. CLMP’s membership of more than 500 organizations incorporates a wide diversity of publishers: those with budgets of less than $5,000 to those of more than $1 million dollars; publishers working in large cities, rural areas, and every place in between; and representing an astounding array of aesthetic and editorial literary missions. CLMP has informed funders and other arts groups about literary publishing’s role in American culture, conducted research about the field, and ensured that literature has an active voice in the politics of cultural policy. Since 1997, CLMP has administered the New York State Technical Assistance Program [NYTAP] for NYS independent literary publishers, a series of outreach and organizational development services that serves more than 150 publishers annually.
CLMP’s core programs and services include: direct technical assistance (provided through workshops, one-on-one mentorships, and phone & e-mail consultations); www.clmp.org (CLMPs primary conduit to information and resources); through programs including roundtables, clinics, conferences and online discussions, CLMP provides guidance and instruction in such areas as marketing, audience development, business management and fundraising. Our recently completed strategic planning process, including deep board participation and engagement, focused on innovation and determined foremost that CLMP must improve its digital resources to remain relevant and useful to its constituents.
