Recently I was thrilled and honored to discover that my books, the historical novel Once upon a Mulberry Field and the Vietnam travelogue Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, have been included in the collections of the libraries at my alma maters, Ohio University and UC Berkeley.
It gives me tremendous pleasure to know that my books are now on the shelves in those old haunts where I spent a big chunk of my college days, and that they’re there to serve the research needs of current and future generations of students and professors. It feels like a wonderful way of giving back.
Using the World Catalog, I also found out that one or both of the books have been added to the library catalogs of other colleges and universities as well: Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, UC Irvine, Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, Tulane, Brigham Young, Temple, Iowa State, San Diego State, University of Nebraska, Colorado State, University of Montana, Northern Illinois, Coe College.
The biggest surprise came when I discovered that the books have also traveled overseas and now reside on the shelves of libraries in foreign countries: public libraries such as the British Library and the National Library of Australia; and academic libraries such as the ones at the University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies), the Australian National University, the University of Alberta in Canada.
When I published Once upon a Mulberry Field in 2014, people asked me if I was hoping to make a lot of money from it. “That’s not my primary goal,” I’d try to explain. “What motivated me to write was the desire to share my story with as many readers as possible.”
Fast-forward to the present day, I’m still not rich or famous, but I’m so happy that the libraries, both public and academic, have provided me with a chance to reach readers I never dreamed I could reach. And for that I’m most thankful.
Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Weekend!
Jim,
I am so very for you. I know these 2 books were very special to you. Congratulations you have so much to be proud of and receiving the recognition you deserve.
Thanks so much, Kathie! And Happy Travels wherever you may go!
OK, Chinh,
When is the follow up, “Today Upon a Mulberry Field” going to formulate in your creative head ? Your audience is chanting for more !
Thanks so much for your creations.
John Laycak
Hi, John! So nice to hear from you. I’m working on something new, but you know me: I’m a very slow writer, and getting slower with old age! Thanks again, John.
Glad your works are getting the recognition they deserve! Quality literature does have a life that survives us!
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement, Steve!
Very good news indeed. Congratulations.
Thanks, Roland! So good to hear from you. Hope everything’s going well with you.
Congratulations, Jim! I can imagine how that must feel. I will see to it your book is on the shelf in the Digos City library (Mindanao, Philippines).
Hi John, how have you been? Are you and Nida over in the Philippines now? It would be wild to have my books travel that far. Thank you kindly for your support.
We break ground on our house in baranguy tres de mayo on June 8th. We plan to move in summer 2020. Your book is already in the library in Digos, along with most of the books in my library. Very soon after I arrive there I will visit Once Upon A Mulberry Field and my other books. I have my own copies of your books.
I will tell Nida you thought of her, and we will have to get down your way and visit.
Wow. Big move, John. It sure would be nice to see you and Nida before you leave. I’m tickled pink that Mulberry Field is already in the library in Digos. Thank you very much.