If You Think You Want Your Book In Libraries,
Prepare to Work at It!
You think your book deserves to be placed in libraries, but you don’t know how to go about that. Well, it might not be as easy as you think. You might be able to convince your local librarian to keep a copy on the shelf because you’re local, but how do you get your book into the libraries in the rest of the country?
To answer that question, you’ll have to answer several others first.
What Do Libraries Buy?
Libraries purchase books for adults, young adults, children, and special readers (emerging literates, large print, braille). They also purchase newspapers and magazines, reference sources, scholarly journals, electronic resources (CD-ROM and online databases, multimedia, computer software, web sites), audiovisual materials (film, videotapes, DVDs, music recordings in various formats, books on tape and DVD), and microforms.
Sturdy, better quality books are an important selling point to librarians who are interested in books lasting for more than a few borrowers. Also, books printed on acid-free (alkaline) paper are more desirable because pages printed on acid paper become too brittle to use after 50 to 100 years.
How and When Do Libraries Buy?
Two-thirds to three-quarters of book sales to libraries come from a jobber or wholesaler. Most of the balance is bought directly from publishers. When libraries buy is governed by when their fiscal year begins and ends. Most (but not all) public libraries are on a July-June fiscal year. University, college and school libraries for the most part follow an academic year calendar. A flurry of spending can occur as the end of the fiscal year nears and almost always just after it begins. In general, though, libraries make purchases throughout the year.
Reviews
One effective way to get materials into libraries is to have them reviewed. Because they cannot read or use everything they select, many librarians depend upon reviews in the following magazines or journals when making purchasing decisions:
Booklist/Book Links/Reference Books Bulletin (c/o American Library Association, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago IL, 60611; telephone 800-545-2433, ext. 5716) review books, videos, CD-ROMs, computer software, and other materials for school libraries and small- and medium-sized public libraries. See the Inside Booklist web page for more details.
Choice (100 Riverview Center, Middletown, CT 06457; telephone 860-347-6933) reviews scholarly works recommended for college libraries. See the Choice Info for Publishers web page for more details.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (all correspondence regarding reviews should be sent to Deborah Stevenson, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 501 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820; telephone 217-244-0324) reviews books for children and young people for public and school libraries. See the review guidelines for further assistance.
Críticas: An English Speaker's Guide to the Latest Spanish Language Titles (Attn: Carmen Ospina, Book Review Editor, Library Journal/Criticas, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010) review fiction, non-fiction, reference books, video tapes, DVDs, audio cassettes, CD-ROMs, and computer software for adults, users of public and academic libraries. See the Library Journal/Criticas Submissions for further assistance.
The Horn Book Magazine (The Horn Book, Inc., 56 Roland Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA 02129; telephone 800-325-1170 or 617-628-0225; fax 617-628-0882) looks at children's books for public and school libraries. See the book submissions for further assistance.
Kirkus Reviews (Kirkus Reviews, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-9595; telephone 1-866-890-8541, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST; fax 646-654-5584) provides adult, young adult, and children's book reviews. See the submission guidelines for further assistance.
Library Journal (Attn: Book Review Editor, Library Journal, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010) review fiction, non-fiction, reference books, video tapes, DVDs, audio cassettes, CD-ROMs, and computer software for adults, users of public and academic libraries. See the Library Journal Submissions for further assistance.
The New York Times Book Review (Editor, The New York Times Book Review, 229 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036) reviews adult fiction and non-fiction for public and academic libraries. See the Books Frequently Asked Questions for further assistance.
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly, 245 W. 17th Street, New York, NY 10011; telephone 212-463-6758; fax 212-463-6631) forecasts forthcoming fiction, non-fiction, children's, and paperback books for public libraries and the book trade as a whole. See the Publishers Weekly Submitting Titles for Review for further assistance.
School Library Journal (360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010) review fiction, non-fiction, reference books, video tapes, audio cassettes, CD-ROMs, and computer software for children and young adults. See the School Library Journal Submissions for further assistance.
Science Books & Films (SB&F) (SB&F, 1200 New York Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20005; telephone 202-326-6454) reviews books, videos, software, and websites exclusively in the sciences. See the SB&F FAQs for further assistance.
Advertising
Space advertising is available in all of the magazines and journals listed above. Request a media kit or rate card, or contact their advertising departments, to get more information.
Direct mail advertising (catalogs, fliers, brochures, card decks) is an effective way to target specific audiences and is useful in providing direct information and receiving orders for products. Mailing lists for libraries are rented for one time use by a number of organizations and companies. See Fact Sheet 3: Lists of Libraries for specific library mailing list as well as library directory information.
Exhibits
Another way to gain exposure is at professional conferences. Vendor booths or tables at library association conferences are seen by thousands of librarians every year. For information on exhibits at ALA's national conference, contact Conference Services (American Library Association, Conference Services, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2795; telephone: 1-800-545-2433, extension 3253, or 1-312-280-3253; fax: 1-312-280-3224; e-mail: conf&exhib@ala.org). The ALA Chapter Relations Office compiles the list of State and Regional Chapters and the Conference Planning Calendar.
Arrange to Have Your Book Displayed at a Trade Show
There are several companies that can arrange to include your book in a display, along with other titles, at library conferences, including the following:
Association Book Exhibit, http://www.bookexhibit.com
Combined Book Exhibit, http://www.combinedbook.com