Recently after replying to Kevin Morris’ blog regarding getting books into the British Library, I decided to go one step further and contact my own local library to enquire as to whether they would be interested in displaying a few of my books on their shelves. I’d previously sent off my books to the British Library at their request after setting them up to be printed and distributed by Ingram Spark (the British Library are entitled to one copy of every single book published in the UK), and I was also registered on the Public Lending Right website. After all, I figured I’d lose nothing if they said no, and for all I knew the answer might even be in the affirmative.
My branch library is in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, about 12 miles away. I called them and a very helpful lady informed me that the main library at Ipswich has control of all the stock. She gave me a phone number of the team at Ipswich County Library, which is about 25 miles from where we live. I stuck my courage to the sticking post and in my best raspy voice spoke to another helpful lady, who took all my details and passed my name and phone number on to the manager there.
The very next day I received an email from an assistant to the manager of Ipswich Library asking me to email her back with details of all my books. I did this, and straight away I received a reply that she had passed my email on to the stock team. I was quietly hopeful, but at this point did not get too excited.
However, back came that standard answer that we all receive when sending off queries to agents, libraries, bookstores and the like: ‘Thank you for thinking of Suffolk libraries, but we have no plans to buy copies of these titles for our stock’.
At this point instead of being disappointed I became angry; mind-bogglingly angry! No bugger wants to give self-published authors a chance, do they? Usually I wouldn’t have followed up any reply like that, but after 7 years of trying to get a foot in the door of even a token recognition I emailed back to the effect that I am a Suffolk author and I didn’t think it an unreasonable request to ask for say three of my books to be added to the library’s shelves for just one month to see if there was any interest. I could even supply the books myself at no cost to the stock team.
Back came the answer:
‘The stock team have advised that they have guidelines to follow when accepting all stock suggestions, including self-published titles and donations.
We cannot guarantee that we will add any suggested or donated item to stock, and decisions are made on a case by case situation. If there is a demand for your books in the future, then we can reassess the situation and see if they are available from our suppliers at the time.
Thank you for thinking of Suffolk Libraries.’
It seems self-published books are a no-no as regards being added to library shelves in the UK. The British Library are happy to receive a copy of my books, but that’s as far as it goes. I expect they’ll add them to the mountain of self-published books that sit in the vaults, but there will be no demand for them because nobody will actually be allowed to read them!
K Morris Poet said:
Thank you for linking to my post, Stevie.
I am sorry to read of the unwillingness of the library to add your books to their shelves. I have been lucky enough to have had several of my poetry titles accepted by my local library in Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace. I went along, explained that I was a local poet/author and they kindly accepted them. I was also lucky enough to have a couple of my books added to the shelves of Liverpool’s Central Library. I wrote to the Library explaining that I had been born in the city and they kindly said they would take my books.
I believe that people can go into the British Library and request to read a book. They can not, however take that publication away with them.
I hope you manage to persuade the library to change their mind.
Kevin
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Kevin. I’ve left some books at a local bookstore, and the manager is deciding whether to display them. She’ll let me know soon. I’m also going to try another library in the next county (we’re near the border) of Norfolk when it’s open tomorrow.
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dgkaye said:
Well that’s pretty ignorant. And I would have told them that too. 😦
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Stevie Turner said:
I bet you would!
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dgkaye said:
Lol you know me 🙂 x
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Clive said:
I can understand that they might have limited shelf space, but I bet they have many books which haven’t been taken out in years, which could be replaced by active new authors. Supporting local authors would be mutually beneficial, with the publicity it could generate. This seems so short-sighted and is, I think, one of the reasons why public libraries are a dying breed.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for your comment, Clive. Perhaps they think that if they allow one self-published book, then they’ll be over-run with them!
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Clive said:
I guess so, but it still seems a pretty stupid policy to me!
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Stevie Turner said:
Me too.
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franklparker said:
Have you considered offering a talk or book signing to your local branch library? Or to the book club I bet meets there? Or a local book shop? That could be your route into getting your books known in the local area. Also, do you not pubicise your authorial successes (you’ve had some) in your local newspaper? Again, that kind of local publicity might engender interest from the library management team. What supports, if any, do the County’s arts section offer (they are usually responsible for disbursing Arts Council grants)?
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Stevie Turner said:
I’ll try the local bookshop in Bury St. Edmunds. Thanks Frank.
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Darlene said:
Get friends and family to go to the library and request a book. Maybe start with one or two books. If they start getting requests, they will pay attention and stock them.
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Stevie Turner said:
Yes, that’s a good idea, Darlene. Many thanks.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
My goodness! That’s very short-sighted of them, when I was a children’s librarian I received the occasional request to add someone’s self-published book to our collection. I had a set list of criteria that the books had to meet, but more often than not I added them.
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Stevie Turner said:
What were the criteria?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Mainly quality of writing and or illustrations.
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