by Doris Baker
If you have visited a
public library lately, you have noticed that libraries are changing and
expanding offerings. This year my local library system in El Paso County,
Colorado, loaned free state park passes to patrons, and when a new branch
opened in 2014, public access 3-D printers were part of the services. In spite
of startling innovations and new approaches, printed books and e-books remain
the core of library collections. In 2012, public libraries spent $1.22 billion
bolstering collections. Sixty-three percent of that was spent on print
materials and 16.7 percent on e-books and e-serials.
You can help
librarians learn about your book (and choose to purchase it). Starting at the
beginning of this broad discussion, the first step is remembering how public
libraries work. As public, tax-supported entities, libraries are obligated to
meet the diverse needs of their communities. Libraries operate under
‘collection development policies’ that guide their purchases and sometimes
specify which vendors are used for purchases.
Quality is important
in all elements of your books from a professional cover design to the binding.
E-books must also meet standards and be available through a vendor such as Over
Drive.
Reviews drive
purchasing decisions and librarians rely mainly, but not exclusively, on a
small number of review sources: Publishers
Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and The Horn Book. Paid
review sources should be discussed with your publisher. You can read pros and
cons of buying reviews and find resources by googling ‘paid book reviews.’
A review or press
attention in local papers or magazines helps. Librarians are very attuned to
matters of local interest.
Direct mail is very
effective if used to point out your success as an author, especially if your
book is on a local best-seller list or has been chosen for inclusion in a ‘Best
of …’ list by a notable organization or publication.
Trade show
participation at library conferences also helps librarians discover your work.
State library organizations hold annual conferences, as do regional
associations such as the Pacific Northwest Library Association. The American
Library Association holds several annual conferences. The two largest are the
ALA and the PLA (Public Library Association). As a benefit to members, WWW has
reserved a booth at the April 2016 PLA convention in Denver. ALA in 2015 had
22,600 participants, and PLA attendance in 2014 was only slightly less. PLA is
a biennial event primarily attended by acquisitions librarians—the people you
need to reach.
This opportunity,
unique in the history of WWW, will open for registration in January. Your
contact for information is Cynthia Becker, a past-president of WWW and the
chair of the 2016 WWW@PLA committee.
Full information will
come in the January membership mailing, but essential information is now
available on the WWW members-only page. Participating in WWW@PLA is a great way
to increase your library exposure on a national level.
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Doris Baker is publisher at Filter Press, LLC, a regional book publishing company in Colorado. She currently serves WWW as president.
