This blog was featured on 07/18/2017
Getting Your Self-Published Book Into Libraries
Contributor
Written by
Erica Verrillo
July 2017
Contributor
Written by
Erica Verrillo
July 2017

According to the American Library Association there are nearly 120,000 libraries in the United States. If you are considering self-publishing, that number should make you salivate. Libraries are not only a huge market, they are frequently an untapped one for self-publishers. Unfortunately, libraries usually order books from their own distributors, which means approaching them directly to purchase your self-published book may be an uphill battle.

Don’t despair. Self-published authors have several options for getting their books into libraries.

1) Smashwords — If you publish through Smashwords, your book will be available to libraries through OverDrive (world’s largest library ebook platform serving 20,000+ libraries), Baker & Taylor Axis 360, Tolino, Gardners (Askews & Holts and Browns Books for Students), and Odilo (2,100 public libraries in North America, South America and Europe).

2) Self-e — This is a joint venture from Library Journal and BiblioBoard. It is designed to expose self-published ebooks to more readers via public libraries. Distribution through SELF-e is royalty free, which means authors do not earn royalties though this platform. SELF-e is best viewed as a marketing tool to build a readership. If your ebooks are already generating satisfactory royalties from library sales via other channels, then SELF-e might not be a good fit for you.

3) eBooksAreForever — The eBooksAreForever mission is to create a “large, curated collection of ebooks to every library in North America, at a fair and sustainable price, where the library owns the ebook forever and authors and publishers make great, ongoing royalties.” The current pricing for novels is $7.99 and $3.99-$4.99 for all shorter works, including essays, short stories, novellas, etc. Many libraries buy the entire collection.

4) Book Reviews — Librarians order books largely based on reviews. Getting a review into one of these magazines will provide you with maximum exposure. 

5) Direct marketing — This works for print books. Walk into your local library and ask them to order your book. While you’re at it, offer to do a reading.

Helpful resources (Read these articles!):

The Library Market: What Indie Authors Need to Know

Getting Indie Authors Into Libraries — An Interview with Mitchell Davis of BiblioBoard

SELF-e: Frequently Asked Questions

Top 25 Librarian Bloggers (By the Numbers)

Publishing U: Getting Your Self-Published Book into Libraries

Like this article? You can find more great writing resources, including free contests, calls for submissions, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers, tips for how to market and promote your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews, how to self-publish, and where to find markets for your work on Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity.

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