“Libraries’ jobs are to make books available to their customers that their customers will read.
- If your book has a local elements – you’re the writer and/or it’s about the area – you have a good leg-up.
- If you and you book have been featured in the local press, that’s a plus, too
- If it’s been reviewed in one of the journals such as School Library Journal, Quill and Quire etc. it may well get ordered because of that. (A Kirkus Review is also helpful.)
- If you approach the library professsionally, possibly with a one sheet that includes all the book info. – Title, author, publisher, ISBN, price, perhaps a quote for a review, etc. they then have all the info. to pass along to their acquisitions people if the librarian you speak to thinks it’s a good book to have.
- Many library websites have an online Request to Purchase feature. Get your friends/family to request that the library buy your book. Or just send them in asking for it to create a demand.
- If your library offers author readings, let them know if you’re available and willing.
- You might even suggest you do a book launch in the library – but be aware you may have to do much of the work to put bums in the seats.”
I’ll add another suggestion. Donate a book to your library, then be sure it gets checked out. All my friends have library cards and are readers, so I ask them to at least take out my book once. I’ve found that libraries will often order extra copies or buy the eBook version.
Thanks VIKLIT Here’s the LINKY |
I’m celebrating November 1st! Can’t believe it, but we are at the end of this year and staring Thanksgiving in the face. Well, here’s to wrapping up 2013 and enjoying these winter months ahead.
Check out Tyrean Martinson’s blog today. I’m there!
I’m also celebrating being a member of UncommonYA. It’s a great group of writers.
Stop in and Say Hi! I post there along with 29 others. |
Elizabeth Seckman says
I'm taking notes. There's so much to this writing stuff. I would never have guessed!
Shah Wharton says
I never really thought about doing this. I certainly can't afford A Kirkus Review, but I might have to try a few of the other suggestions. Thanks so much for this list of ideas. π Every little helps (as Tesco's keep telling us).
All the best for November!
shahwharton.com
Libby says
That's really cool. I have Tough Girl in one library, through a reader friend on Goodreads. It's pretty cool to know that someone I've never met may be checking it out of a library in a state I've never visited. π
Medeia Sharif says
Excellent suggestions, and I'll take a look at Uncommon YA and Tyrean's blog.
Lisa Regan says
Great post! These tips are really useful.
Lexa Cain says
Terrific tips on getting a book into libraries.
You're right, it's hard to believe October whipped by so fast. Happy November! π
VikLit says
Hurrah to November 1st!
Ruth Schiffmann says
Sound like great tips. I hope I have the chance to put them to use some day π
DEZMOND says
I have about 30 of my translations in our libraries, and it is always lovely seeing my name in the register of the National Library of Serbia π
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee .. your post just makes so much sense – and the more effort as an author you make the easier it becomes … opening the doors everywhere if possible ..
Great advice .. cheers Hilary
Angela Brown says
It would be interesting to see my book marked as checked out in the library catalogue. Thanks for the tips.
Robin says
Great advise. We're trying to get our library to allow us to donate copies, it's a slow process (if we just donate it they won't catalogue it and put it on the shelf).
Thanks for this post!
Deanie Humphrys-Dunne says
The advice about getting your book in the library was most helpful. Thank you for sharing. Happy weekend.
M Pax says
I met the husband of the acquisitions librarian last week. So I know who to talk to. I'll probably ask if I can bring her a set of my paperbacks. Good idea about the one sheet. I'll include that.
Happy weekend!
Pk Hrezo says
Good to know Lee! Thanks so much for the tips. Happy Friday!
L.G. Smith says
I suppose it really would matter how much action a book gets in terms of "check outs" in determining if it should stay on the library shelf or not, when there are so many books competing for that space. Good info. π
Suzanne Furness says
Some good tips on getting your book into the library. I can't believe it's November, time just seems to go so fast. Happy weekend π
Mere Joyce says
Yep, all good pieces of advice for getting a book into a library! Every library works differently, but promoting local authors is always a great thing for everyone, =)
Natalie Aguirre says
Awesome tips on getting into the library. It's one of my burning questions so I appreciate the advice.
Catherine Stine says
Yes, getting your book in libraries is a really good thing. These are all great tips.
Julie Flanders says
Great advice. My book is in a few libraries but I'm hoping to get the next one in more.
Happy November, Lee! π
Tyrean Martinson says
C. Lee – I apologize for having some organizational, and calendar issues . . . my tiny brain is just not keeping up with things lately … but hopefully you'll see that I tried to come up with a solution on my blog . . . as long as you don't mind sharing the spotlight. http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/2013/11/1-word-interview-with-mark-means.html . . . for some reason it doesn't have your name, but you are there . . . aggh. someday my tiny brain will work.
Angela Ackerman says
Great advice. I think too, it is worth finding out who the acquisitions person is for bigger library networks, and if possible, try to make sure the gifted book lands on their desk along with a note of the appropriate info that makes the book more attractive to carry. I have not yet tried to get my book into libraries, but others must have requested it as you've mentioned here because it is in libraries. If you check out the WorldCat site, you can see exactly which libraries carry your book.
Samantha May says
*Takes notes*
Solid advice!
I cannot believe that the year is almost over. I was finally getting used to writing 2013 on everything too…
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Just visited Tyrean – your cheating answers were funny.
I was very grateful for my Library Journal reviews, as my books are in quite a few libraries now.