Born May 3, 1939, in Cheboygan, MI; daughter of Lloyd (a teacher) and Lucy (a teacher) Gouine; married, 1963 (divorced, 1976); children: Michael, Ann. Education: Eastern Michigan University, B.S., 1961, M.A., 1963; Western Michigan University, M.L.S., 1976. Memberships: American Library Association, Humane Society of the United States. Addresses: Home: Mount Pleasant, MI. E-mail: smallwood@tm.net.

Writer, poet, editor. History and English teacher at public schools in Michigan, 1961-64; Western Michigan University, graduate assistant, 1975-76; Library of Michigan, public library consultant, 1976-77; media director and English teacher at public schools in Pellston, MI, 1977-97. Northland Library System, assistant library director, 1977; developer of a clearinghouse for educational materials, 1981-83; adult education teacher for area schools, Cheboygan, MI, 1985-86; Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Library, library consultant, 1998; Eric Hoffer Book Awards, poetry judge, 2014; NewPages, book reviewer, 2014--. Also book reviewer for Rain Taxi Review.

First prize, Byline magazine, 2004, for first chapter of a novel; first place award, Northern Lights short story contest, 2004; National Federation of State Poetry Societies Award, 2009; Eric Hoffer Award shortlist finalist for best new writing, 2010; Franklin-Christoph Poetry Contest Award, 2010; Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize quarter finalist, 2014; Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018.

WRITINGS:

• A Guide to Selected Federal Agency Programs and Publications for Librarians and Teachers, Libraries Unlimited (Littleton, CO), 1986.
• Library Puzzles and Word Games for Grades 7-12, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1990.
• Reference Puzzles and Word Games for Grades 7-12, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1991.
• Helpful Hints for the School Librarian, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1993.
• Recycling for Librarians and Teachers, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1995.
• On the Way to Wendy's (poems), Pudding House Publications, 2008.
• Lily's Odyssey (novel), All Things That Matter Press (Somerville, ME), 2010.
• Compartments: Poems on Nature, Femininity, and Other Realms, Anaphora Literary Press (Tucson, AZ), 2011.
• A Ceremony (chapbook), The Head & the Hand Press (Philadelphia PA), 2013.
• Water, Earth, Air, Fire, and Picket Fences (poetry), Lamar University Press (Beaumont, TX), 2014.
• Divining the Prime Meridian (poetry), WordTech Editions (Cincinnati, OH), 2015.
• In Hubble's Shadow, (poetry), Shanti Arts Publishing (Brunswick, ME), 2017.
• Interweavings: Creative Nonfiction, Shanti Arts Publishing (Brunswick, ME), 2017.
• Prisms, Particles, and Refractions, (poetry), Finishing Line Press (Georgetown, KY), 2017.
• A Matter of Selection, (poetry), Poetry Matrix Press (Lake Isabella, CA), 2018.
• In the Measuring, Shanti Arts, (Brunswick, ME), 2018.
• Visits and Other Passages, Finishing Line Press (Georgetown, KY), 2019.
• Thread, Form, and Other Enclosures, Main Street Rag, 2020.
• The Illusiveness of Gray, Kelsay Books, 2021.

EDITOR

• Free Michigan Material for Educators, Hillsdale Educational Publishers (Hillsdale, MI), 1980, 2nd edition, 1986.
• Exceptional Free Library Resource Materials, Libraries Unlimited (Littleton, CO), 1984.
• Free Resource Builder for Teachers and Librarians, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1985, 2nd edition, 1992.
• Health Resources Builder, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1988.
• Current Issues Builder, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1989.
• An Educational Guide to the National Park System, Scarecrow Press (Metuchen, NJ), 1989.
• Michigan Authors, 3rd edition, Hillsdale Educational Publishers (Hillsdale, MI), 1993.
• An Insider's Guide to Libraries: Internet Resources and Tips, Linworth Publishing (Worthington, OH), 1997.
• Free or Low-Cost Health Information, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1998.
• (With Sharon McElmeel) WWW Almanac: Making Curriculum Connections, Linworth Publishing (Worthington, OH), 1999.
• (With others) Internet Sources on Each U.S. State: Selected Sites for Classroom and Library, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2005.
• Educators as Writers: Publishing for Personal and Professional Development, Peter Lang Publishing (New York, NY), 2006.
• Thinking Outside the Book: Essays for Innovative Librarians, foreword by Joy M. Greiner, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2008.
• (With others) Contemporary American Women: Our Defining Passages, All Things That Matter Press (Somerville, ME), 2009.
• Librarians as Community Partners: An Outreach Handbook, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2010.
• The Frugal Librarian: Thriving in Tough Economic Times, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2010.
• Writing and Publishing: The Librarian's Handbook, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2011.
• Library Management Tips That Work, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2011.
• (With others) Mentoring in Librarianship: Essays on Working with Adults and Students to Further the Profession, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2012.
• (With Melissa J. Clapp) How to Thrive as a Solo Librarian, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2012.
• (With others) Marketing Your Library: Tips and Tools That Work, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2012.
• (With Elaine Williams) Preserving Local Writers, Genealogy, Photographs, Newspapers and Related Materials, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2012.
• Pre-& Post-Retirement Tips for Librarians, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2012.
• (With others) Women on Poetry: Writing, Revising, Publishing, and Teaching, foreword by Molly Peacock, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2012.
• (With others) Women Writing on Family: Tips on Writing, Teaching, and Publishing, Key Publishing House (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2012.
• (With others) Continuing Education for Librarians: Essays on Career Improvement through Classes, Workshops, Conferences, and More, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2013.
• (With Linda Burkey Wade) Job Stress and the Librarian: Coping Strategies from the Professionals, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2013.
• (With Kim Becnel) Library Services for Multicultural Patrons: Strategies to Encourage Library Use, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2013.
• (With others) Time and Project Management Strategies for Librarians, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2013.
• Bringing the Arts into the Library: An Outreach Handbook, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2014.
• Creative Management of Small Public Libraries in the 21st Century, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2014.
• (With Kerol Harrod) Library Youth Outreach: 26 Ways to Connect with Children, Young Adults, and Their Families, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2014.
• (With others) How to STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Libraries, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2014.
• (With others) Writing after Retirement: Tips by Successful Retired Writers, Scarecrow Press (Lanham, MD), 2014.
• The Complete Guide to Using Google in Libraries, Vol. 1: Instruction, Administration, and Staff Productivity, (Lanham, MD), Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.
• The Complete Guide to Using Google in Libraries, Vol. 2: Research, User Applications, and Networking, (Lanham, MD), Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.
• Women, Work, and the Web: How the Web Creates Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Rowman & Littlefield (Lanham, MD), 2015.
• The Library's Role in Supporting Financial Literacy for Patrons, Rowman & Littlefield, (Lanham, MD), 2016.
• (With Lura Sanborn) Library Volunteers Welcome!: Strategies for Attracting, Retaining, and Making the Most of Willing Helpers, McFarland, (Jefferson, NC), 2016.
• (With Lura Sanborn) Teaching Technology in Libraries: Creative Ideas for Staff, Patrons, and Students, McFarland, (Jefferson, NC), 2016.
• (With Lura Sanborn) Gender Issues and the Library: Case Studies of Innovative Programs and Resources, McFarland, (Jefferson, NC), 2017.
• (With Vera Gubnitskaia) Library Partnerships with Writers and Poets: Case Studies, McFarland, (Jefferson, NC), 2017.
• (With Vera Gubnitskaia) Homeschooling and Libraries: New Solutions and Opportunities, McFarland & Company, Inc. (Jefferson, NC), 2020.

Contributor to anthologies, including Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, 2004; Illuminations, Celestial Arts, 2006; Best New Writing: 2010, Hopewell Publications, 2009; Winter Tales II: Women on the Art of Aging, Serving House Books, 2012; Anthology of Grass Roots Poets, Green Fuse Poetic Arts Association, 2012; Entanglement, Scars Publications, 2013; Telling Our Stories: UltraShort Memoir, Telling Our Stories Press, 2013; Sweet Dreams and Night Terrors, Static Movement, 2014; Bones II, Quality Paperback Book Club, 2014; and Happily Never After, Fey Publishing, 2014.

Columnist for Detroit News, 1983-85, Entertainment News, 1988-89, Free Materials for Schools and Libraries, 1996--, and newspapers, 2003--. Contributing editor, Poeticdiversity, 2014--.

Contributor of articles, short stories, poetry, and essays to periodicals, including Instructor, School Library Media Activities Monthly, Aurorean, Boston Literary, Boston Poetry, Conceit, Contemporary American Voices, Iris, Writer's Chronicle, English Journal, English Journal, Lullwater Review, Lummox Journal, Poesia, Parnassus Literary Journal, Michigan Feminist Studies, Clackamas Literary Review, 13th Moon, Sierra Nevada College Review, Skylark, Westward Quarterly, and Book Report.

Carol Smallwood is a writer, editor, and poet who has forged three careers in her busy life. She has been an English teacher, then a librarian, and finally a writer and editor of her own books. Writing on the American Library Association Web site, Kelly Depin remarked on Smallwood's writing career: "Her earliest work was centered on practical issues that concerned both her and her fellow librarians. These ranged from guides to free resources for educators to collections of puzzles and games for curricular usage." From there, Smallwood has moved on to how-to books for writers and to her own poetry and novels. Smallwood once told CA: "Writing helps me think; it is a way of organizing. Michigan Authors was very inspiring because it allowed me contact with a great variety of writers. My aunt, Carolyn Andrews, was a talented writer and an accomplished storyteller. She and my grandfather, Charles Drust, were prime mentors."

Indicative of Smallwood's range as editor are Librarians as Community Partners: An Outreach Handbook and Writing and Publishing: The Librarian's Handbook. In the former title, Smallwood gathers sixty-six essays by thirty-four librarians to describe a variety of outreach programs. These include needs for special populations such as youths and seniors, local media, special collections, and book festivals, among others. Booklist reviewer Sara Marcus found these ideas "useful," but went on to note that the various authors offer "no guidelines for reproducing these successes or assisting readers in designing their own outreach." On the other hand, Library Journal contributor J. Sara Paulk commented that this handbook is not only "useful," but it also supplies "essential details of who did what, how it was funded, and the nature of follow-up." Further praise came from Reference & User Services Quarterly writer Margie Ruppel, who concluded: "This book is recommended for any librarian interested in pursuing outreach projects that extend the library's reach. It fills a gap in the literature by including examples of outreach from diverse types of libraries."

Smallwood focuses on advice about writing in Writing and Publishing. Targeted at librarians, the work provides ninety-two short essays by forty-seven published librarians. The work is divided into five sections, beginning with essays on why librarians write, and followed by the education and training of writers, finding one's place and voice in publishing both in print and online, and book promotion. Library Journal reviewer Sara Rofofsky Marcus felt that this collection's "wide range of topics ensures that any librarian can find at least one article geared toward her/his particular needs." Writing in Teacher Librarian, David V. Loertscher also had a positive assessment of this work, noting that it provides an "incredible array of topics and tips for those who would like to get started in the field."

Smallwood also edited The Frugal Librarian: Thriving in Tough Economic Times. Here she collects thirty-four articles on what librarians need to do when money is tight and budgets are being cut. Essays address topics from how librarians can personally survive under such circumstances to finding means of alternate funding, including grants. "The concise essays are easy to read, sometimes personal, and highly practical," observed Melissa Moore in Voice of Youth Advocates. Moore further thought this work "will be particularly helpful to public and academic librarians." Computers in Libraries contributor Michelle Caffrey noted that "the book features on-the-job success stories of various libraries." Similarly, Reference & User Services Quarterly writer Sarah McHone-Chase commented: "Taken as a whole, the book is a solid, robust work that provides encouragement and support to its readers. The book engenders a sense of resiliency and creativity that will serve its readers well as they make tough decisions for themselves and their institutions in these hard economic times." Library Resources & Technical Services contributor Ruth A. Zietlow wrote: "I recommend the book for providing good suggestions and generating ideas for different libraries in different settings. It also provides a very good overview of challenges in library work for newer professionals." Information Today reviewer Gwen M. Gregory also had praise for The Frugal Librarian, noting: "This book contains interesting ideas for library programs and projects. Most articles fit comfortably into the 'how we did it at our library' genre, giving the reader a variety of ideas about ways to save money. Whether you work in a public, academic, special, or school library, something here is guaranteed to spark your interest."

Library Management Tips That Work serves up how-to advice for librarians and administrators. As Voice of Youth Advocates reviewer Shanna Swigert Smith noted: "This book offers a wealth of information for any informational professional, management or otherwise." Short chapters written by professionals detail various aspects of library management, including the role of the manager, the day-to-day operation of a library, the use of information technology, staff management, and public relations. Phillip Fitzsimmons, writing in Reference & User Services Quarterly, commented: "Library Management Tips That Workdelivers what its title promises. It is an anthology of well-written articles providing a range of very useful tips for library management."

Smallwood teamed up with Colleen S. Harris and Cynthia Brackett-Vincent to edit Women on Poetry: Writing, Revising, Publishing, and Teaching. The book gathers the advice of forty female poets in forty-nine essays that explore subjects from the writing process to getting published. Writer contributor Lee E. Cart commented on the sort of advice provided: "They give you checklists, worksheets and questions to ponder. They provide personal examples from their own writing lives to help you learn what they have learned." Lee added: "For like-minded readers, this anthology of essays will be right on target, with sound advice from women who have already traveled the numerous paths that lead to a fulfilling writing life. The book is a much-needed and long-overdue addition to any writer's bookshelf."

More advice to female writers comes in Women Writing on Family: Tips on Writing, Teaching, and Publishing, edited with Suzann Holland. Writing tips from a number of contemporary women authors is divided into eight sections, including personal and legal issues resulting from such writing, writing exercises, publishing, and marketing, among others. "Beginning women writers, particularly those interested in the memoir form, may find some guidance in this collection," observed Library Journal reviewer Stacey Rae Brownlie. Journal of International Women's Studies contributor Vera Gubnitskai commented: "There is no shortage of practical advice included in the anthology. ... Coeditors Carol Smallwood and Suzann Holland share a remarkable body of work between them."

Smallwood has also proved herself a poet of note with a number of poems published in periodicals and journals. She is the author of the poetry collections Compartments: Poems on Nature, Femininity and Other Realms, from 2011, and Water, Earth, Air, Fire, and Picket Fences, published in 2014.

Reviewing Compartments in Wilderness House Literary Review Web site, Carol Hawkins felt that "Smallwood's poetry exposes the active inner life of a curious observer." Hawkins further noted that in this collection, Smallwood "reveals the mind and heart of a poet who knows how to unravel mysteries with sensory details and probing questions." As the title suggests, the numerous poems in the collection are divided into a number of "realms" or categories, including verses about nature, femininity, society, science, home, school, town, and mortality. "Qualities of form, combined with the simplicity of content, convey a shared understanding, to make Compartments a good read," Hawkins added. "The personal becomes universal through images and sounds, and meaning moves closer, with each carefully constructed line." Smallwood's Water, Earth, Air, Fire, and Picket Fences is a collection of poetry about the classical four elements, to which the poet adds the picket fence to represent the reality of everyday life. A contributor on Story Circle Book Reviews Web site dubbed this a "vibrant collection of poems."