Getting Self-Published Books Into Libraries

by Dick Thomas / Flickr

Over the last year, there’s been much more discussion of how self-published authors can get their books into library systems. Partly, I think that’s a function of new services and distribution agreements (such as SELF-e), but it’s also one of the last remaining channels that remains fairly difficult for an indie author to access.

In my latest column at Publishers Weekly, I address what independent authors need to know about getting their book into the library market. I start by saying:

While indie authors can gain some access to libraries by making their books available through major library distributors, that doesn’t mean that those books will be purchased. In many ways, getting self-published titles into libraries hasn’t changed since the e-book revolution: authors still have to prove that they have quality products that fit the collection. And, unfortunately, authors still face the stigma of self-publishing: there’s a long history of patrons offering to donate handwritten poetry collections or memoirs to their libraries.

Click here to read the full column.