Project Cicero is looking forward to holding its annual book drive on the weekend of March 9-11. Now in its twelfth year, Project Cicero has placed 1.65 million books in 9,500 classrooms, reaching an estimated 400,000 children throughout the city. They receive donations from individuals and families from over 100 independent, public, and parochial schools each year, and have received generous contributions from many book publishers in fifteen categories. They appreciated the participation of YPG Cares at last year’s event, and would love for us to volunteer once again.

On March 9-11 at the Hotel Pennsylvania (401 7th Ave, at 33rd St.), Project Cicero needs YPG Cares volunteers to help move books, categorize topics, pack and unpack additional sets of books, and direct participating teachers as necessary. Please volunteer for a shift from 2-6 pm on Saturday, March 10, or Sunday, March 11. The project requires as many people as possible, so all are welcome. Please reply by March 1 so that we can prepare a headcount for our Project Cicero partners.

Sign up NOW at http://bit.ly/Project_Cicero_2012! If you have any questions, please e-mail Tara Abaring at tabaring@wiley.com. For more information on Project Cicero, visit http://projectcicero.org/ .

One out of every five individuals in the United States has a learning disability. 40 percent of high school students cannot read well enough to benefit from their textbooks. More than 14 million people in the United States are estimated to have low vision. These individuals read and learn differently. For these such individuals, Learning Ally (formerly Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic) is holding a marathon Record-a-Thon (www.recordathon.org), associated with the national program Read Across America, during which they will keep their recording booths 100 percent full in order to increase the production of accessible educational content.

In support of this event, YPG has been given access to Learning Ally’s New York studio (545 Fifth Avenue, NYC) from 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 3rd. Sign up below to stop by and join other YPG members to support the Record-a-Thon, learn more about the process of recording audio books, and even hop into a booth to do some recording that will benefit the blind and learning disabled. Email Becca at bworthington@publishers.org with any questions.

Sign up to participate in YPG Cares’ fourth collaborative event with the Center for Fiction on Saturday, February 11, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm. The Center for Fiction needs 8-10 YPG volunteers to help with the sorting, unpacking, and organizing of a huge donation (20,000 books!) that they just received for their NYC schools book drive. The sorting will take place at their offices (17 East 47th Street).

As always, this is a fun, social community service event with a group of fellow YPG volunteers serving the small-staffed CFF with a process that is important to the success of the Books for NYC Schools program! Please visit the CFF’s website for information about their organization: http://www.centerforfiction.org/.

Please RSVP to Mark Gottlieb (gottlieb.assistant@tridentmediagroup.com) if you would like to join.

Thank you to those of you who joined us for our last film club viewing and discussion of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Seuss. In honor of Valentine’s Day, our next book to film will be NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Knopf Books for Young Readers). The 2008 film by the same title was adapted for the screen by Lorene Scafaria. It is directed by Peter Sollett and stars Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. The viewing and discussion will take place on Wednesday, February 22nd at 7:00pm, location TBD.

RSVP to reserve your spot by filling out the form below. And don’t forget your popcorn!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to stay healthy, this is your chance! Back by popular demand after our first collaboration with Yoga Vida, please join us for a night of yoga—perfect for beginners—with fellow YPG members!

When: Tuesday, February 7th from 7:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Yoga Vida, located at 666 Broadway at Bond Street, 3rd Floor
How much: $7 covers cost of YPG class and unlimited yoga for the week. Free mat and towel rental included for YPG class. (If you’re not a first timer, you still get the $7 YPG discount for this class!)

Yoga Vida is committed to serving its students (many of whom are YPG members!) by offering an inviting environment and keeping yoga fun. Yoga Vida offers classes in New York City with Live Music, entertaining Theme Nights, Candlelit Yoga, educational Yoga Workshops, Private Yoga Lessons, and a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training Program.

RSVP by filling out the the form below:

If you have ever loved a book so much that you want everyone else to read it, then please sign up to be a giver in the United States’s first million-book giveaway on April 23, 2012, as part of World Book Night!

Check out the 30 selected books here, and if you love one (or several) of them, click here to sign up to be a giver. You’ll be selected based on the passion of your responses. All that is expected of you in return is that you spend a few hours on April 23rd handing out free copies with other YPG members to bench-sitters in Bryant Park, or patrons of your favorite coffee shop in Brooklyn, or patients at a nursing home in the Bronx or a hospital in Queens…or to anyone, wherever you want.

The deadline to sign up to be a giver for World Book Night has been extended to Monday, February 6! For more information, go to www.us.worldbooknight.org.

Tweet about it, post it on Facebook, harass your friends, etc.–World Book Night is aiming for a passionate army of 50,000 book givers across all 50 states in a single night. We’re all in this industry because we love books. Let’s join World Book Night and show the world exactly how much we care about what we do!

On Wednesday, February 8th, come show your Story Love with YPG Cares! From 7:00-8:30pm, YPG Cares will be holding our fourth volunteer event for the Story Pirates at the Drama Book Shop (250 W. 40th Street) to hand-write positive editorial feedback on the short stories local NYC schoolchildren have submitted during the year.

Story Pirates (http://storypirates.org/) is a nationally respected arts and creative writing organization founded in 2003 to celebrate the words and ideas of young people, to promote literacy as a vital part of early childhood education, and to preserve the spark of youthful creativity often lost in the transition to adulthood. Based in NYC and LA, Story Pirates has grown to reach hundreds of thousands of children in over 100 schools across the country.

YPG Cares is a regular supporter of the Story Pirates initiative called Story Love, which is a program that promotes the idea that every child has a story to tell. Their mission statement is to provide loving and encouraging feedback on every story that is submitted to them throughout the year, and they need editorial-savvy YPG volunteers to help.

Email Becca at bworthington@publishers.org with any questions.

Please RSVP using the form below:

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On Saturday, October 15, 2011, a group of 16 YPG Cares volunteers from 9 AAP member publishing houses and a handful of literary agencies took part in New York Cares Day 2011 for the second consecutive year. The event also marked the first birthday of YPG Cares, a service initiative that gives YPG members volunteer opportunities to support literacy-related causes in NYC.

New York Cares Day is New York City’s largest day of volunteer service, an annual event intended to revitalize and beautify classrooms and playgrounds for over 100 NYC public schools. This year, YPG Cares’ site was The Brooklyn International High School (BIHS) in downtown Brooklyn. The high school serves 380 students from 40 different countries that have only been in the US for less than four years. BIHS was recently profiled by NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and is the subject of the book, The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens by Brooke Hauser, published by Free Press/Simon & Schuster. YPG Cares Team Leader Kara Taylor also organized a generous donation from Simon & Schuster to provide a copy of this book for each participating YPG Cares team member.

After checking in and receiving t-shirts, YPG Cares went right to work. The group’s assignment was to paint over the aging brown walls of the school library with a vibrant sky blue color. Volunteers took up brushes and rollers and quickly began to transform the large room into a brighter, more welcoming space. YPG members old and new swapped publishing stories and painting tools in a friendly and collaborative environment. Time flew by, and the group was so productive that the job was finished in just a few hours. Volunteers then enjoyed the beautiful fall weather during a well-deserved outdoor lunch break. Several members remained at BIHS to help work on a series of murals featuring quotes about literacy and creativity on the school hall walls, while others commuted home after a morning of service and fun. All in all, new connections were made and a school was made more beautiful, making YPG Cares’ involvement with New York Cares Day another great success.

If you’re interested in participating in a future YPG Cares event, contact Becca Worthington at bworthington@publishers.org.

This article was contributed by YPG member Maree Hamilton. If you are a YPG member and would like to contribute articles on publishing-related topics for our site, please contact Stephanie Bowen at sbowen@randomhouse.com.

So, you work in publishing, and it’s really neat, right? You’re surrounded by books and get to regale your family with stories about the time Sarah Palin’s husband called. But maybe a coworker one desk over reminds you of the four-year-old you used to babysit. Or you took the first industry-related job offered to you after college, even though it was in sales and numbers make your head spin.

It’s okay if you didn’t find your “place” on the first (or even second) try. But maybe now you’re ready for opportunities to expand your skill set, or just some good old-fashioned change. Whatever the reason, there are a few things you should keep in mind (and some that you should firmly banish). It may feel overwhelming at first, but it’s as easy as turning a page.

DO: Use (but don’t abuse!) your friends.

If you’ve spent enough time in a position to consider moving on, you know and are probably friends with various people in other departments and at other houses. They can be excellent sources for finding out what new positions are opening up, and more importantly, can often get your resume in front of the right people—that’s half the battle. Always be respectful when asking someone to recommend you, and make it clear that they should not feel obligated to do so. And use your best judgment when asking people within your company or imprint—especially if you’re not ready to tell your supervisors you’re considering other options. We publishing people are good with words, which means that news travels fast.

DO: Learn from Kate Middleton—patience is a virtue.

As with any entry-level job, some of the tasks that occupy your workday may make you want to quit and become a pineapple farmer in Hawaii. It’s quite a shock, too, if you’ve come straight from academia into a 9-5 job that can feel repetitive. Have patience! Even though it might only take a month or two for you to realize that you don’t want to stake your career in a certain area, there’s plenty to learn. Most importantly, you’ll demonstrate to future employers that you won’t cut and run when the going gets boring—it will be a red flag if you’ve only been in your current position a brief amount of time. Try to stick it out for at least one year.

DO: Know your crossover potential.

Don’t despair if you’ve been working in an area that seems unrelated to what you’d like to do. There’s a good chance you interact regularly with people from your desired department. Are you in marketing but long to be in editorial? Familiarize yourself with editorial tasks. Strike up a conversation with that assistant editor at the water cooler. See if there are side projects you can help out with. After all, book publishing is a collaborative industry, and most people won’t turn down genuine and enthusiastic offers for help. Perhaps you can read manuscripts that the editors don’t have time for, and try your hand at writing a reader’s report. Does publicity have a ton of books to mail? Is marketing making an author video and in need of some extra hands on deck while filming? Pitch in! Understand that it might mean dedicating a few evening or weekend hours of your own time, but you’ll gain additional needed skills.

DO: Be real.

When you start interviewing for other positions, be as diplomatic as possible with your current supervisor(s). Let them know that, while you find your current work interesting and challenging, a great opportunity arose and you’re being considered for another position. Most bosses will—and should—be supportive, especially if you’ve taken the steps to be respectful of their time and your responsibilities. You don’t want to feel like a double agent, peering suspiciously over your shoulder when people approach your cubicle. Try to schedule interviews before you need to be at the office or during lunch, let people know you’ll be out, and always make sure your time away from the office does not interfere with what your colleagues need from you. The job that’s currently paying you should always come first.

DO: Give ample notice.

While you don’t necessarily have to give your current supervisor as a reference, it may seem suspicious not to. Telling your boss you’re potentially leaving is nerve-wracking, and the timing of doing so can be a delicate balance between false alarm and inconveniently late. If you’ve given your boss as a reference, you should let her/him know (as with any reference). If you’re offered a position, whether or not you’ve notified anyone of the possibility, a minimum of two weeks’ notice is standard—anything less is disrespectful. Of course, if you’re switching departments within the same imprint, this time frame may work differently. Your current supervisor might be aware that you’re being considered throughout the entire process—it depends on your company’s policies. It’s not unusual for someone switching departments to stay in their current role until a replacement is hired and trained. In this case, be sure to discuss the handover guidelines with your boss and outline any expectations he/she has.

DON’T: Forget to talk to Human Resources.

Respect the HR representatives! They usually have particular rules and processes, particularly when it comes to considerations for internal candidates. For example, some houses allow internal candidates to have one confidential meeting with their prospective employers before officially declaring candidacy. Once the candidates have decided whether or not they would like to be officially considered for the position, they must tell their current supervisors that they are pursuing the opportunity. Protocols like these are generally designed to avoid departments or imprints poaching other employees, or hiring under the table.

DON’T: Ignore your current workload.

Sometimes the desire to find a new and more interesting job can be all-consuming. While it may be okay to take a look at potential options occasionally during the workday (don’t be afraid to click that interesting link under the New Jobs section of Publishers Lunch!), save the more time-consuming parts of applications (cover letters, resume revisions, etc.) for your evenings and weekends. The last thing you want is to fall behind in your work directly before any potential reference requests.

DON’T: Trash talk/gossip.

When interviewing with fellow industry people, especially if you are already acquainted, it’s tempting to fall into more casual conversation. While this can be a good opportunity for you to connect on a memorable level, you’re still in an interview. Your main focus should be professionalism and explaining why you are well suited for a particular position. Avoid talking in a negative way about coworkers, clients, and/or authors. Take the opportunity to emphasize your ability to work effectively with all different personality types. Discretion is important in any job, but particularly in an industry that relies fairly heavily on positive media exposure.

DON’T: Leap before you look.

Switching jobs is stressful—exciting and thrill-inducing, too, but definitely stressful. Like moving within the five boroughs, doing it too often can take years off your life. Even if you’re feeling burnt out or frustrated in your current position, it’s important ideally to wait for something to open up that has the potential to make you happy (or at least satisfied) for some time to come. You don’t want to end up restless again in three months. To that end, think carefully about what is most important to you in a job and do your research to make sure a new opportunity will provide you that before you accept an offer. Does this potential new position provide comparable benefits? If it’s within the same house, will it match or exceed your current salary? (Use your previous experience to negotiate, if you can.) Does it seem like your new coworkers will be a good fit for you personality-wise? When you’re already in a secure position, there’s no rush to switch. Take your time and weigh your options. When the right position comes along, you’ll know.

Neither the Association of American Publishers (“AAP”) nor the Young To Publishing Group (“YPG”) represents nor endorses the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information displayed, uploaded or distributed through this website by any member, user, information provider or any other person or entity. Member-generated content published on this website reflects the views of the provider of the content, and does not constitute the opinion of the AAP, the Young To Publishing Group, or any of their respective members or divisions.

Do you remember the person in your life who inspired your love of reading and writing? Maybe it was a parent, or an older sibling, or a teacher. On Thursday, November 3, 2011, roughly twenty YPG Cares members from 9 AAP member houses gathered at the Drama Book Shop (at 250 W. 40th Street in Manhattan) to participate in the group’s third Story Love session with the Story Pirates—a group founded with the goal of awakening that very creativity in children throughout the country.

As part of Story Love, and tied into the AAP mission to promote reading and literacy, YPG Cares volunteers provide positive feedback on short stories penned by schoolchildren of various ages from around New York City. The Story Pirates (www.storypirates.org), an arts and creative writing organization founded in 2003, promotes literacy at the schools they visit through this “story love,” as well as by the improvisational performances they do based on a select few of the young writers’ pieces.

Since Halloween had just passed, many of the students’ stories focused on the Day of the Dead and other spooky themes, which made for engrossing reads (and some entertaining illustrations)! Comments from Young to Pub members focused on praising specific details of the authors’ stories, identifying elements of the story the reader would be interested in reading about further, and encouraging the young writers to keep honing their creative skills. Check out some photos from the event below:

If you’re interested in participating in a future YPG Cares event—from our continuing partnership with the Story Pirates to our volunteer work with other literacy non-profits—email Becca at bworthington@publishers.org.