How Indie Authors Can Get Their Books Into Libraries
An Indie author is not just a creator but also establishes selfdom in publishing those creations without the aid of third parties-like publishing companies. They are the superstars shining brightly in the literature sky. Such authors can also inaugurate their works beyond their personal space to public libraries.
Wanna Know How to get your book into libraries?
Libraries in the United States fall into four categories: Public, School, Private, and Armed. A Public library is common for everyone, a school library restricts its contents to its children, a private library works opposite to a public library in that it has its own set of audiences and an Armed library is maintained for special sectors like armed forces and Government officials.
If you are an Indie author, the below steps will guide you in traversing your books from your private space to the public library.
1. Create A Demand:
Libraries focus more on community engagement rather than revenue. Hence, it is good to get in touch with the local library to see if they conduct author-based events. Also, libraries conduct literary workshops which can give information about the genres they are looking for. After contacting them and knowing their needs, an author can slowly move their books to the library. But that’s not the end, the book must be picked up from the library or will be moved out. Hence it is good to ask your friends or relatives to elite your book.
2. A Good Format:
Hardcover formats are generally preferred for their durability — they last longer in circulation. However, libraries don’t limit themselves to hardcover books — they’ll order paperbacks and offer eBooks too. It’s good to have multiple formats for them to choose from to provide the best selection for their readers. A smart option may be to label your hardcover as a library edition to help it stand out. Offering that format with a full trade discount and returnable status is preferred, but not required by most libraries, especially if there is demand for the content.
3. Reviews:
Getting a positive review is always an extra credit towards your effort to submit a book to the library. Public libraries depend on professional reviews for them to decide on the authenticity of the book and its values. Below are a few of the review media that reviews all kinds of published works:
Library Journal: Adult
Kirkus Reviews: Adult and Youth
Publishers Weekly and PW Children’s: Adult and Youth
Booklist: Adult and Youth
Indie Author Project: Youth
School Library Journal: Youth titles
Choice Magazine: Academic
Horn Book: Youth
4. The Metadata:
The book metadata should be as descriptive as possible, including elements such as what genre the book fits into, who is telling the story, and keywords or information that will appeal to the intended audience. Simply put, your book metadata, is any data that describes your book—including title, subtitle, price, publication date, ISBN, and any other relevant information that readers use to find your book.
Readers depend on good metadata to find their next read. Including BISAC codes in book metadata explains what genre the book is. These codes assign categories to books that are standard throughout the publishing industry, allowing booksellers, librarians, and online stores such as Amazon, where to shelve a book or how to locate it online. There is so much information that can be added to your metadata to help the right reader find your book, including:
Important People and Brands
Locations and Periods
Special Features and Selling Points Specific to an Edition or Format
Additional Contributors
Audience or Age-Appropriateness.
Although there still may be some libraries whose Collection Development Policy (the guidelines libraries use when making book purchasing decisions) might state they don’t buy self-published books, those excluding them are becoming rarer and rarer.
How To Begin?
Find out the contact details of your local library and get in touch with them. Acquire the contact details of the manager and an email with the following information will be a good start to reach out.
A solid introductory paragraph causes the reader to want to learn more about your book.
Information promoting your title.
Your book cover and associated ISBN.
A synopsis of your book and its genre.
The distributors through which your book is available.
A “soft” ask for the business.
Once the above steps are organized and established, envisioning your books in the public library becomes a successful accomplishment.
Publishing a book is a huge success, and it is considered a big hit when the local library accepts our work. When the necessary steps are in triage, the dream of getting the books placed in the library is no more a mirage!
