Community Cookbook at Osceola Library in Central Florida
Osceola Library — a bustling library system nestled in county just south of Walt Disney World in Central Florida — has undertaken many publishing endeavors, from a youth literary magazine to patron self-published books. Currently, Osceola Library is taking submissions for their community recipe collection, “Osceola County Cuisine.” Residents of Osceola County are able to submit as many recipes as the want highlighting the flavors of the area.
The submissions guidelines for the cookbook does a good job to explain copyright to patrons interested in submitting a recipe. For example, it states patrons can submit a recipe with their own written instructions, even if the ingredient list is similar to a recipe in a cookbook or cooking website. They can also submit recipes created by friends or family members with their permission, as well as recipes in the public domain. To make submissions easy for patrons, they are allowed to scan hand-written family recipes that have been passed down.
Residents are encouraged but not required to include photos of their process and the finished dish. Community cookbooks not only capture the popular tastes of a community, they also serve as valuable traditions and connections to our roots. As the guidelines explain, “family recipes are like time machines and are an important part of local culture. One taste of a family recipe handed down through generations immediately connects us to our past and brings us together.” The community recipe books created now will one day be a record of the local cuisine of the time.
For more examples of libraries publishing cookbooks as well as the steps to publish one at your library or organization, see Libraries Publish: How to Start a Magazine, Small Press, Blog, and More.
