by Janet Kobobel Grant
Often missing from the list of ways authors can sell their books is one that costs you nothing. I’m not talking about setting up a book signing at a bookstore or other venue (although that can be a good thing to do). I’m not thinking about social media postings, claiming your “Follow the Author” page on Amazon, or asking fans to put your book on their Goodreads shelf (although all those are good ideas).
Found in most communities
I’m talking about libraries. There’s so much to love about getting your book into libraries:
- Library book-purchasing budgets must be spent every year.
- Librarians are eager to carry books that borrowers want to read.
- Library staff are overwhelmed with book-buying choices and not sure how to decide.
- They need to carry recent releases.
- Once a copy of a book is checked out 5-7 times, the library must order a new copy because the first copy is worn out.
- Libraries with several branches often order multiple copies and place them in each branch.
How to sell your book to libraries
First, you should visit your local library. Unless you live in Manhattan, where every other person is an author or works at a publishing house (okay, slight exaggeration), librarians seldom find themselves face-to-face with a genuine, local author.
- Introduce yourself as the author of a new book.
- Ask if the library’s buyer is available to meet you. If not, proceed with the librarian behind the desk.
- Bring along a postcard (which many publishers provide to authors) so the librarian can see your book’s attractive cover and can read the marketing copy on the postcard. Bring your book, if it’s already published, to show the librarian.
- Be prepared to give a quick description of your book. If you’ve written a novel, explain its premise or other point of interest. (Like, if the setting is your hometown!) If you’ve written nonfiction, tell the key point of the book. Keep your description to a couple of sentences–not paragraphs, but sentences.
Sealing the deal
As in any good business transaction, make it easy for the library to order your book.
- Tell who the publishing house is and offer the publisher’s contact information. And/or mention that the book can be purchased through Baker & Taylor, a distributor many libraries order their books through. (Be sure your book is carried by Baker & Taylor before you pay your library a visit.)
- Leave the postcard or some other paper reminder about your book. Don’t bring a sheaf of bookmarks in hopes that the librarian wants to hand them out to patrons. (She/He won’t promote your book for you.)
- If the conversation proceeds swimmingly, suggest the possibility of your doing a talk to patrons about some aspect of your book. Maybe how you used the library to do your research. Or read a section from your book. Or, if you’ve written a children’s book, offer to read to a group of kids who regularly gather at the library.
- Ask if some upcoming activity or event might be a suitable time for you to contribute to the library’s calendar. Sometimes libraries create opportunities for wannabe writers to learn more about the craft; other times libraries plan events such as highlighting the latest YA books they’ve ordered. You could teach a writing workshop, or if you’ve written YA, you could offer to tell about what inspired you to write your book and how you got it published. Connecting to something already on the library’s calendar enables you to give back to the library but also to promote your book.
Sell your book to libraries by sharing the joy
Rather than traveling around the country visiting libraries along the way, enlist the help of others in getting your book onto those shelves. Ask your street team, friends on Facebook, or newsletter subscribers–wherever you’ve gathered your tribe–to visit their local libraries.
As patrons, all they need to do is ask a librarian if the library will order your book. Because librarians are eager to meet the needs of readers, generally making the request will do the trick. Armed with your book’s correct title and how your name appears on the book is all they need.
Yup, just like that, your book can find a new place to nestle in.
Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
A couple of side notes
Many libraries do not carry self-published books; so check with your local library before you visit it.
Also, if you’ve written an academic tome, libraries will most likely decide they are not in the market for such an august read. Not only will the demand for it likely be low, but also the price tag for academic books tends to be very high. Much higher than a library can, literally, afford to pay.
If you could request your local library carry one recent release, what would it be? (Maybe you could do an author a favor and actually make that request.)
TWEETABLES
Writers: What’s one of the most effective places for you to sell your book? Click to tweet.
Libraries might be eager to order your book. Click to tweet.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
A book I wish that I could find,
that would mean a lot to me
is one that would my heart rewind,
but it’s in no library.
Just like Paul, I’ve run my race
but there is no release
from the hurt that binds me to this place;
no escape, and no surcease.
This book I seek would gently show
how to look into the abyss
and on reading I would surely know:
at the fall’s hard end there’s bliss.
But it won’t be found, come fire or flood
unless I write it with my blood.
Mary Kay Moody
Hi Andrew. Praying for you, my friend. And my husband keeps saying “What a talent” and “Why isn’t the VA helping him?” Oh, and he’s praying too. What a book you are writing.
Cheryl Malandrinos
Great advice, Janet. Our library holds an annual author’s fair to help promote local authors.
One stumbling block I’ve found to getting my children’s books carried is they want to see reviews by School Library Journal and other big names that my books don’t have. I’ve got great reviews on Amazon and via my blog tours, but nothing substantial.
I’m planning to submit my next project to an agent to see what comes of it. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Perhaps that is part of the key to changing my library exposure.
Janet Grant
Thanks for letting us know of this additional hurdle for children’s books.
Sylvia Miller
My sister works for our public library and I send her a list every three months with the titles and authors of all the books I want to read that are releasing in the next three months. I want to make certain that they get put on the new book order. I usually still include the books that I plan to purchase because I know others will want to read those books.
Janet Grant
This makes you a reading warrior for authors. Thank you!
Sylvia Miller
My library seems to be able to order self-published books if the author has a publishing label. I don’t know if those authors have set up their own small publisher or what. I know that Jody Hedlund has independently published additional books in two of her traditionally published series. These books have Northern Lights Press listed as their publisher, but I know they are self-published. It’s the same for Melissa Tagg. Her publisher is listed as Larkspur Press. The library has been able to order each of their self-published books. Same for Robin Jones Gunn.
Janet Grant
I don’t know the details of Jody or Melissa’s self-publishing. But I do know that Robin’s books are available to be ordered through distributors. I don’t think libraries would order directly from authors, even if they have a name for their self-publishing ventures.
Judy Gann
Sylvia, my guess is your library already owns copies of Jody, Melissa, and Robin’s traditionally published titles and they are popular with library customers. Rather than the publisher label, it’s the name recognition plus availability through major distributors that helped these authors place their books in the library. Judy Gann, Librarian
Janet Grant
Thanks for popping in with this reply, Judy.
Maco Stewart
These are great suggestions that I, to my embarrassment, never considered. Bookmarked! Thanks.
Janet Grant
You’re welcome.
Linnea
In Canada, the Public Lending Right Commission pays authors annually for their library content. They sample libraries across the country and the author is paid according to the number of times their title is found. I didn’t realize that when my first novel was published. However, I’d already gone ahead and emailed a selection of libraries in every province prior to my publisher’s catalog being sent out. I let them know which publishing catalog to watch out for and attached a pdf copy of the front and back covers of the novel so they’d have a visual reminder. Over ten years later I’m still receiving 100% of the possible earnings for that title. It isn’t a large amount but it’s encouraging to know that so many libraries still carry the novel.
Janet Grant
If only the U.S. were civilized enough to pay authors for library use of their books. Our agency maintains a list of our clients’ titles, and we are signed up with a service that searches for these titles in libraries in the countries that pay for either the books being checked out or on the shelves. We receive quarterly payments for our clients, and sometimes the checks are for a decent amount.
David Todd
Janet: Do you mean the US government should pay authors when someone checks out their book from a library? You said “U.S.” but didn’t say government, so I’m not sure what you mean.
Janet Grant
I believe it is the government that makes such payments in other countries. It’s part of the government’s support of the arts.
Janet Grant
Thanks for your additional insights. I wrote this blog based on the successful placements my clients have experienced. And, yes, I did mention that self-published authors are highly unlikely to get their books placed.
Shelli Littleton
Janet, one of my favorite authors just posted that she has several complimentary copies of her new release to give away to local public or church libraries. She had a great response to that, and she’ll draw winners. Actually, the library is responsible for her becoming one of my favorite authors. I checked out her book, and I’m a forever fan now. Even when she’s given me free copies of her releases, I’ve still purchased every one of her books for one reason or another. Some books I’ll gladly pay full price for.
Janet Grant
That’s an interesting way for an author to get her book in various libraries. The best way is through the library ordering it because then the author will receive a royalty payment for the placement. But, as happened with you, having your free book on a library’s shelf can result in readers discovering your book–and you.
Kristen Joy Wilks
I request that our library purchase other author’s books all the time! It is a great read for me and helps promote wonderful Christian fiction in our local library. Win, win!
Mary Kay Moody
Janet, Thank you for this perspective. I’ve always tried to plan ways to cooperate with local libraries to offer programs to them and market a book I’ve written. As far as helping other authors, I’ve always thought that encouraging readers to choose a particular book would serve the author better (i.e. increase sales) than getting it placed in a library. But the choice isn’t one or the other, but both. Thanks, too, for the additional information about 5-7 check-outs!
Meghan Weyerbacher
Thank you for this information, Janet!