Small Press Distribution

When the National Endowment for the Arts announced in its 2004 Reading At Risk study that the reading of poetry fiction and drama was declining, it didn't surprise many of us in the book world.

Whether you are a writer, teacher, bookseller, librarian, or simply (and gloriously) a reader, you can't help but notice that, while there are more great small press books than ever, there seem to be less people reading them, especially younger people.

Competition from the Internet and the wide array of entertainment available to this techno-savvy generation has resulted in less reading of books. However, according to another study by the NEA, many people participate in literary events. A 2002 survey of Public Participation in the Arts indicates that more than 95 million people read or listened to poetry, stories or plays at least once in a 12-month period-many between the ages of 18 and 24.

At SPD, we march forward optimistic about the future of "literary reading." Our New Lit Generation project will let younger readers know that there is an amazingly wide range of books by and for people from their own communities available from the more than 500 small presses carried by Small Press Distribution.

With New Lit Generation, SPD is reaching out to younger readers who are sophisticated, discerning, smart and idealistic.

We are also reaching out to the high school and college teachers who most influence their reading. We feel the books SPD carries offer a noncommercial perspective essential to a generation facing the considerable challenges young people face today. SPD writers and publishers share their idealism and invite young readers to participate in New Lit Generation online, in class, and on the actual pages of exciting new literary books.

Laura Moriarty is the Deputy Director of SPD. She has taught at Mills College and Naropa University and is the author of a dozen books of poetry and two novels. Her most recent book is the science fiction novel Ultravioleta.