We’ve all been there: standing outside a public library, nervous about walking in. You might be holding a book in your hand, wondering if they’ll put your book on the shelf, or you might want them to host an author event. Will you walk out successfully with a smile on your face? Or will you leave dejected and disappointed?
Never fear. I’m a librarian and hybrid author, and I’ve got the information you need to impress the people behind the desk. Trust me—I’ve been on both sides of the equation!
Libraries and Indie Authors: A Complex History
Self-publishing is nothing new. But librarians, especially those who have been around a while, often look down on the independent path to publication. Don’t get me wrong: Public libraries are warming to indie authors and can support them in big ways. However, it wasn’t always that easy.
Prior to the early 2000s, vanity presses dominated the market. If a writer was unsuccessful in traditional querying, they would pay to have their books produced. Many of these were poorly written, and the authors could be pushy. As a young library worker in the 1990s, I judged them too. The stigma has lifted somewhat, but librarians are still wary.
How to Approach a Librarian or Library Worker
Start with your local library. Sending out cold calls, emails, or bookmarks is a waste of your time and money. You want to create relationships with the people closest to you.
Get curious! First, find out who you’re talking to and what they do. Libraries have a multitude of staff organization charts and job titles. If you want your book on the shelves, you can ask for someone in collection development. If you want to present a program, ask for the person who schedules events. Your library may be a single branch, a multibranch system, or part of your city or county, so your request may be handed off to a different team or even another building.
Have your pitch down cold. “I want my book in the library” is not as effective as “I wrote a book, and here’s what it’s about.” You’re selling the book to the library workers as much as you are to prospective buyers. If they’re intrigued by your pitch, they’ll be more excited about advocating for you.
Support the library as a user. Attend events, check out materials, and engage on social media. You could even volunteer if you have the time and want to make the effort. If you do this, don’t spend all your time pushing your book; rather, focus on being authentic so staff can get to know you as a person.
As indie authorship has become more accessible, more and more authors are approaching public libraries. I typically receive two to five submissions per month and sometimes more. You want to stand out from the crowd. Think not about what the library can do for you, but what you can do for the library.
Getting Your Book in the Library
Every library has a collection development policy. These are the principles that guide the staff in what they select for their shelves. Before you begin approaching libraries, search their websites for a link to this policy. Some libraries do not collect indie books at all; others accept indie books from local authors only. Some will require you to donate your book; others will purchase it. Many require books to be professionally reviewed, but many others do not. You must do your due diligence before moving forward.
Some libraries have a specific policy or procedure for accepting material from local authors. They will often provide a form to fill out, which will let them know everything they need to catalog and add it to the collection: your name, the book’s title, publisher and publication date, and the ISBN. Cataloging can take some time, so be patient. Search for the Akron-Summit County Public Library in Ohio for an excellent example of a library that partners with indie authors in this way.
Your book must be high-quality: professionally printed and edited with an attractive cover. In my librarian life, I have received multiple submissions that do not meet these standards. I hate to turn authors away, but if their books don’t meet our collection development policy, I need to do so.
You should also be aware of a process called weeding. Yes, library workers do remove books from shelves. This is not because of censorship; it’s because there is limited space, and we are always bringing in new materials. If no one checks it out, your book may not have staying power. This is why it’s so important to “sell” material to the library workers and the readers who come in. For more, search online for the CREW method, which guides library staff on how to deselect material.
Events and Programs
Once you build relationships with your local libraries, more libraries will seek you out. Librarians talk, and if you are a courteous and knowledgeable author, you can provide value to more and more communities. One way you can do that is by participating in library activities.
The public wants many services the library cannot always provide due to funding. If you are permitted to sell books at your events, you can make a little money while giving back to your community. Some libraries do offer speaking fees, often through Friends of the Library groups. These are separate nonprofit organizations that raise money to gift the library. You can generally find information about how your library is funded through your state library’s website. It’s not an exact science, but you’ll have an educated guess about whether they will be able to pay you.
The size of the library is also a factor. If your town’s population is small, you may wish to focus more on more intimate events like running a writers’ group or working with a book club.
Here are a few quick tips about library events:
- Book signings do not always attract library users, especially if your name is not known in the community. Children’s authors should avoid proposing story times as well. Due to liability reasons, library staff are often the only ones who can conduct story times. If you find a librarian who likes your book, though, you may be asked to help out.
- Think of a topic based on your experience. Aspiring authors love to attend programs on craft, publishing, and marketing. You can also draw on your research; for example, if your book is historical fiction, you could talk about the environment of your story and how you created it. Readers need to create connections with authors, too, and if they feel part of your journey, they’ll be more likely to seek out your work.
- Collaborate with other authors. The library may already have a relationship with an author you know. That author can offer to present a program in tandem with you, or you can appear at an author fair with them.
- Seek opportunities to participate in larger events such as book fairs, community festivals, or summer reading club kickoffs. Readers are often there specifically to buy, and you get the chance to create your own booth with all your own promo material. Sometimes you will have to share with other authors, but that’s also a great way to meet like-minded people. I’ve made many author friends from fairs where I was seated next to someone new.
- Meet with a book club. Even if they’re not reading your books, participants will appreciate your insight as an author. Talking to readers will draw them to your work too, and you might all read it together for a session.
Once you decide on your direction, it’s time to approach the library. For events like author fairs, the library may be soliciting authors to participate. But if they’re not, you should bring printed information about your program, including other places you have presented and awards you may have won. Write a brief synopsis of the program’s contents. You can find samples of program advertisements on the library’s website; you can also join the library’s email newsletter or follow them on social media. You may also be asked to fill out a program proposal form. This is another way library staff can collect information about your program.
Forging Positive Relationships
Indie writers have many opportunities to develop partnerships with public libraries. As a librarian, I have forged positive relationships with more authors than I can count, and I get to participate as a writer in events at other libraries. It’s sometimes difficult to cross that bridge, but the end results are fulfilling. Take my advice and find those librarians who champion your work and talent. You won’t regret it.
Cari Dubiel is the assistant director at an Ohio public library. She has published multiple short stories, including the recent collection I Loved the Mothman and Other Stories. Dubiel is an active member of Sisters in Crime and a previous library liaison for the group’s national board. She is the lead editor for the co-op publisher Duskbound Books. The Author’s Guide to Libraries is now available anywhere books are sold.