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Writers can use public libraries to increase readership of their books

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Public libraries: for writers as well as readers thumb

Public libraries: for writers as well as readers

This is a post from the weareoca.com archive. Information contained within it may now be out of date.
 
Last week, Malorie Blackman, the author of the Noughts and Crosses teen novels, was named as the new Children’s Laureate.  Her call to ‘get more children reading and make reading irresistible in all its forms’ comes at a time when the local library network that many families rely on is getting smaller.  Since 1 April this year, 293 libraries have closed, are under threat or have left local authority control.  CILIP, the professional body for librarians, estimates that 20 percent of the country’s 3,043 ‘static’ ie not mobile libraries will close over the next two years.
This rather downbeat picture doesn’t stop self-published authors daydreaming about seeing the spine of their book standing proudly on the shelves of public libraries everywhere.  For a small number of authors, this isn’t an impossible dream.  For all writers, there are ways of using the public library network to increase readership.  Maggie Boyd, Development and Collections Manager at Leicestershire Libraries, outlines her seven-step practical plan to help writers get their self-published books into the public libraries that are open, thriving and a vital part of their local communities.
PublicLibraries
‘What matters is the relevance of your material to the reading public where you live, the quality of your writing, the appeal of your work, forming a partnership with your local library service based on respect and trust, and a determination to jump over the hurdles you will find on your way to the library shelf,’ says Maggie.  Authors who want their book to be stocked in their local studies library will need to provide the name of the author, the title, the publisher and ISBN; say whether or not they are prepared to donate or loan a copy for approval; give information on where to get hold of further copies; and provide background to the book’s connection to the local area.

  1. Use your public library.  Borrow lots of books, encourage your family and friends to do the same, and support community events.  Public libraries are under threat. Not using them intensifies the threat of closure.
  2. Champion your local library. Tell everyone how great your local library is, let them know what you like about it and tell everyone you can what a good thing libraries are. You could do worse than take your lead from Andy Cope, the author of the Spy Dog books, who is vocal about World Book Day for Devon County Council Libraries and Information Service.  ‘Remember, every day is a book day at your library!’ he says.
  3. Write well and with relevance.  Your writing needs to be good enough to be recommended by someone independent, and to have relevance beyond your immediate social circle.  Beware of writing propaganda, which presents a one-sided view of a pet subject that is not more widely relevant.
  4. Make it easy for libraries to choose your book. Books need to be easy for libraries to buy. That means arranging for them to be stocked by the suppliers libraries buy from – Askews and Holts, Gardners or, in the US, Amazon Public Library Books for Kindle. Your book needs to be in a format suitable for public library use, so no spiral binding or stapling unless your book is for the local studies library. Think separately about local interest and wider interest. If your book is suitable for your local studies library, you can donate a copy for approval.  If you put a copy in the library’s record office, other copies may then be bought for other libraries.  To help generate interest in a book with wider appeal, enlist the support of local writing groups, local publishers such as Salt and local media interest. 
  5. You can also pay your local library to request the book for you, or ask your friends to request it.  A library is more likely to buy a book if it perceives that there is a genuine demand for it from the paying public.
  6. Be ambitious about libraries close to where you live.  If you’ve followed the first five steps successfully, it’s now within your grasp for one copy of your book to be stocked not only in The County Record office but also in the local studies collections of the major libraries if it is of local interest and the general stock of more libraries if it is of wider interest.
  7. Your book on the shelves of all libraries across the county and in multiple copies at larger libraries. Once your book starts to get known locally, demand for it will start to increase.  Public libraries stock books based on reader demand, so this is the point at which some of the larger libraries in your county will be starting to think about ordering more than one copy.

Maggie Boyd has worked for the Leicestershire Library Service since 1987 and was formerly children’s librarian for the county.  The service used to have a central buying team, with subject specialists who read and reviewed every book it was considering stocking. Maggie now holds the purse strings for all library service acquisitions in Leicestershire.
Photo credit: State Library of NSW Public Library Service
 


Posted by author: Elizabeth Underwood

4 thoughts on “Public libraries: for writers as well as readers

  • It’s sad how many libraries have closed across the country–they have so much to offer and we need to keep them alive. A Kindle can’t compare to the look, the feel…or even the smell of a tangible book. Also, they’re great for browsing–for free! As a matter of fact, just today, I was at my local library visiting a wonderful exhibit in the gallery: ‘What Are You Like’. There in front of me were artworks by Eric Clapton, Sir Peter Blake and Mary McCartney (to name but a few)–walking distance from my home, a great way to spend the afternoon, no-rush and no-crowds, and all for no cost–at my local library! Thanks for the great article, Elizabeth.

  • The thanks are due to Maggie at Leicestershire Libraries. I quite agree with you, Maria, that the real experience of reading has to involve the tactility of a book. E-readers, practical though they are, can’t offer the same pleasure.

  • Libraries have been dying for the last 25 year. The death bell was first rung when Library Managers sold off the basement stores and stopped buying on the subject specialisation scheme. This meant that the inter-library loan scheme was no longer viable as key books were no longer in the national system. There has been a move away from the use of highly principled professional librarians to Managers who do what the local councillors demand (ie spend less!) Tick box culture rules and not professional advice and judgement.
    Methinks that by now the horse has already bolted, as the general public start to wake up to the situation. The old reference library adage is that Google may provide 10,000 ‘hits’, the good reference librarian solves the problem. R.I.P.

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