Four things you need to know about Libraries (That boost readership and earnings for writers)
Here are four amazing facts you may not know about public
libraries.
- Libraries are full of
stories in a whole range of formats that you can borrow, so go to your
local library and borrow stuff. Especially stuff written by writers you
love. Even if you already own those books or have read them before. You
don’t actually have to read them, they can just sit in your car or your understairs
cupboard until you return them if you like, but the fact that you’ve taken
them out on your ticket will register a loan for the author which will
earn them a Public Lending Right (PLR) royalty. It will also help the Library
Service. Use it or lose it!
- Most Library Services
offer a free ebook/eaudiobook service. You just have to download the specified
app to your device and register with your library card to get started.
Then you can download ebooks or eaudiobooks via the app. This takes even
less time and effort than visiting the library yourself. After years of
campaigning by the Society of Authors, the law was changed at the end of
2017 so that ebook and eaudiobook loans now earn PLR royalties too. (Edited: This should have happened at start of 2018 but was put on hold and should now take effect on 1st July 2018. Ebook loans is a huge growth area with an increase of 38% in 2017). Again,
it doesn’t matter if you don’t even read/listen to the book! (Although it's great if you do.)
- If the library doesn’t stock a book you
love, you can suggest they buy it – either physically or as an ebook.
Speak to library staff or find the relevant link on the website to make a
recommendation. You won’t always get what you want, but if you don’t ask you don’t get.
- Libraries are almost
always happy to accept donations of new or good quality second hand recent
books. You can donate copies of your own or friends’ books if the library
doesn’t have any/many. (Tip: if you are donating books you have written, tell
them you are a Local Author!) Libraries buy lots of new titles every year
but they can’t buy everything. If you donate something they don’t have and
it proves popular, they will almost certainly buy more copies.
Libraries are a great free
resource. Every week events are run in libraries that help to promote stories
and reading, especially to children. If you think libraries are a good idea but
haven’t been in one recently, go and see what your local library has to offer.
