In this Iowa City Press-Citizen opinion piece, the editors remark on the benefits of having a culture of writing in Iowa City. They respond to the new designation of 'UNESCO City of Literature' and the decision to name Christopher Merrill, the University of Iowa's International Writing Program Director, 'Press Citizen Person of the Year.'

"Iowa City is a city of writers, and the entire Iowa City area benefits from these literary folk -- professional and amateur -- scribbling away in coffeehouses, in university classrooms and while on-the-clock at their day jobs. Yes, we benefit when they pick up a shovel and help out with the sandbagging as floodwaters rise, but we also benefit when they sit down afterwards and try to make sense of such experiences...

"Back in November, area residents had an opportunity to hear firsthand what many international writers had to say about our community and our nation. As a finale to IWP's 10-week residency, dozens of writers from across the globe gathered in the Iowa City Public Library to discuss their 'Images of America.'"