Literary magazines come and go like fireflies. Often published in an editor's garage or college office, they are labors of love. Editors of the most prestigious publications can only wish to break even, find a patron, or receive grants to help them make ends meet. Half of literary magazines cease publication within a year. Their volatility poses challenges to librarians, but despite the difficulties in maintaining a stable collection, the effort is worthwhile.

Virtually every major writer from the 20th century onward got their start publishing in a small literary magazine. Because these publications are wellsprings of fresh and important literature, a healthy selection of them is essential for all colleges with creative writing courses and is recommended for public libraries so they can provide access to the best new creative output.

A literary magazine collection should include high-profile magazines for general readers, like The New Yorker, Harper's, and the Atlantic, and a core group of literary mags—e.g., Paris Review, Poetry Magazine (published by the Poetry Foundation), North American Review, Yale Review, Southern Review, Georgia Review, Zoetrope: All-Story, Hudson Review, McSweeney's, Open City, Fence, One Story, Virginia Quarterly Review, Tin House, Granta, Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, and American Poetry Review.

More curious seekers of creative writing should be on the lookout for promising new literary magazines that have survived the crucial first year and appear able to remain in publication for the long haul. This is by no means an exhaustive list; rather, it is a sampler of promising new literary journals.

For readers interested in current poetry, CAVE WALL (2007. s-a. $10. ISSN 1937-2507), edited out of North Carolina, features an austere design and a mix of narrative and lyric poetry by both established and emerging poets. BATEAU (2007. s-a. $18. ISSN 1942-0188), from Amherst, MA, skews more toward experimental work, with prose poems, pop culture–inspired riffs, and mock plays.

Even more experimental is 1913: A JOURNAL OF FORMS (2004. irreg. $25/issue. ISSN 1548-9914), which integrates graphic elements, concrete poems, and full-color art. With hand-set type and collage elements, THE LUMBERYARD (2007. s-a. $22) is billed as “a magazine for poetry and design.” Editors Eric Woods, the owner of Firecracker Press, and sister Jen Woods, an editor at Sarabande Books, combine visual and written media with letterpress-printed covers and top-notch poetry.

As with Bateau and 1913, the publisher of CAKETRAIN (2004. a. $8. ISSN 1547-6839) also offers single-author books. The Pittsburgh-based journal's stated goal “to submerge you in a birthing tank for gelatinous language monsters” reflects the sharp-witted quirkiness often found in today's literary journals.

Many literary journals maintain central themes that unite the published work. Alongside Gastronomica and Meatpaper, ALIMENTUM: The Literature of Food (2006. s-a. $18), boasting mouthwatering work from all genres and sponsorships from Sub-Zero/Wolf and the French Culinary Institute, is recommended especially for college libraries serving hospitality programs.

Another themed publication, HABITUS: A DIASPORA JOURNAL (2006. s-a. $18. ISSN 1932-054X) dedicates issues to Jewish culture in particular geographic areas—e.g., Budapest, Sarajevo, Buenos Aires, and New Orleans—with exemplary creative and journalistic work. Long Island City, NY–based H.O.W. (“Helping Orphans Worldwide.” 2007. s-a. $25) promotes via an all-star cast of editors and excellent contributors awareness of the 15 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Confident of its longevity, the publisher makes available a “lifetime subscription (infinite)” for $500.

A sense of longevity and being well established also characterize CHAUTAUQUA (2008. a. $20), published by the Chautauqua Writers' Center of the Chautauqua Institute, birthplace of the popular adult enrichment movement that began in the 19th century.

Two titles with editorial blurbs and reviews on their back covers as well as international press coverage reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of many literary magazines. ATLAS (2006. a. £14.95/issue), published in New Delhi, has a global reach and exhibits eclectic editorial choices beyond its years. GUD: GREATEST UNCOMMON DENOMINATOR (2007. s-a. $30. ISSN 1932-8222) is offering royalties to writers, selling web advertisements, and planning to sell merchandise. These may be novelties, but the high-quality issues speak for themselves. [GUD offers free digital copies of the latest issue to librarians.]

For patrons curious about the literary magazine genre—as readers, as contributing authors, or even as publishers—Literary Press and Magazine Directory, published by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, is by far the best reference.

Two of the best online portals are NewPages (www.newpages.com), which includes reviews and guides to independent presses and creative writing programs, and Duotrope's Digest (www.duotrope.com), which offers a comprehensive database of journals. Duotrope's Submission Tracker (registration required) reports editor response times and, of potential value for serials librarians, inactive publications.