Will we see self-published books in libraries?

Yesterday on this blog we took a little look at the news that e-book lending pilot schemes are due to start soon in the UK. Today we turn our attention to a related, yet slightly different, issue: that of self-published books in libraries. Namely, will there come a time when self-published authors are just as likely to see their work available to borrow from the library as traditionally published authors?

I think we are probably some way off from this yet, but there are signs that it could one day happen. For instance, more and more people are reading self-published novels by choice, and are buying them regularly online. As the books become more widely-read, it is possible that the demand for them in libraries will grow.

Related to this is the fact that there are now quite a lot of self-published authors who have gone on to be successful in traditional publishing careers; there is no longer the stigma there once was around self-published books, and books that were previously self-published are now available in the traditional manner. This also links to the hybrid model of publishing, where self-published authors can also be traditionally-published and perhaps more likely to see their books on the library shelves. The self-published author Hugh Howey (who wrote Wool) recently signed up to a print-only deal with Simon & Schuster, for instance.

Also, as e-lending schemes start to be developed, there might be potential in the future for self-published authors – who, as we know, are very keen on digital – to take part, depending on demand. There are undoubtedly still plenty of challenges to overcome before we see lots of self-published books on the library shelves, but as they become an increasingly important part of the publishing industry and what people read, one day it could become a reality.

What do you think?