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If you're a cocky-published author who is trying to promote your volume and get it into bookstores, why not try getting it into a library first? Libraries are great marketing tools - they enable people to read your book and tell other people about it, making it more well-known and easier to eventually sell to bookstores.

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  1. one

    Ensure that your book is high quality. Many people are wary of self-published books because they believe that they are low quality. Make sure that your book is formatted and has been carefully edited. Likewise, choose your bindings advisedly, as libraries by and large won't stock books with that are comb bound, spiral jump, or saddle stitched (stapled). It's a good idea to telephone call your local library and ask them what their requirements are. Ensure that the encompass makes the volume look professional and interesting, as many people practise judge a book past its cover.[1]

  2. ii

    Promote your book. Starting time promoting your volume before contacting libraries to go the give-and-take out and show that you're serious. Create a website or weblog for your book, and make sure it looks professional person.

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  3. 3

    Be professional. Find out who the acquisitions librarian is (the librarian who purchases books for the library or branch), and call her, email her, or fix a brief meeting with her to enquire about altruistic some copies of your books. Don't just put your volume in the donations bin or hand it to a random librarian at the bank check out counter - chances are it will finish upwardly in a volume sale that style. Exist polite, professional person, and respectful. Consider giving her a re-create to look over if she seems unsure about your book.[2]

  4. four

    Be prepared to donate a few copies. Libraries are usually non-profit organizations, and as such, they like donations. However, well-nigh libraries will crave you to donate more than ane copy of your book, as information technology costs money to catalogue it and is only worth their time and money if there'due south more than one copy in their library. Some libraries have special systems or sections in the library specifically for cocky-published local authors, and then inquire about that.

  5. 5

    Get a review. In social club to non merely go the attention of the not only the librarians, simply the general public, get your book reviewed. Endeavor to land a review from Library Periodical, Selection, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, or Kirkus Reviews. There are also programs that will send flyers nearly your volume to local libraries for a fee.[3]

  6. six

    Enquire others to asking your volume. Libraries ordinarily take requests seriously, so it's a great way to get them to put your book on the shelves. Inquire some friends and family members to request your book. Be careful that y'all don't accept them submit dozens of spam-similar requests for your book; librarians can tell which requests are fake and which are legitimate, and they won't be happy if y'all waste their time with fake requests.[4]

  7. 7

    Continue marketing your book. In one case y'all get the book on the library shelves, your battle isn't necessarily over. Libraries will commonly weed out books if they don't circulate well to free up shelf space for books that volition. Make certain to promote your book as much equally possible to ensure that people want to take it out.[5]

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Why would I donate several books that are the same?

    Community Answer

    If y'all donate more than 1 book, you increase the chances that more people will pick it upwards. If 1 book is checked out, no 1 tin see it until it gets turned back in.

  • Question

    Does copyrighting a self-published book go it into libraries?

    Donagan

    No. Libraries select books without reference to copyright.

  • Question

    Does anyone else agree that a library dismissing cocky-published books out of hand is discriminatory? Non all self-published books are rubbish.

    Community Answer

    Aye. Yet, most libraries will exist flexible and accept self-published books that are of good quality, peculiarly if they are of local involvement. Make sure that you are speaking to actual selectors - other librarians and assistants may misunderstand the drove management policy. Take a look at the policy yourself so that you tin indicate out how your book fits information technology if needed, and be sure to specify that you published the volume and are interested in either selling it to the library or giving it to them gratis. Do not say "I accept a donation" – most "donations" to libraries are tatty paperbacks, outdated Nat Geos, and poorly written religious chapbooks, then that'southward what information technology will brand them think of.

  • Question

    Can I sell my book in the USA if I published information technology exterior the U.s.?

    Community Answer

    Yes, of class. Nonetheless, books can be quite expensive to ship - if you plan on selling a lot, finding a US printer or even sticking to selling ebooks on Amazon may exist a ameliorate choice for you.

  • Question

    How do I go my book into the libraries?

    Community Answer

    Get to libraries and ask If they volition publish and take/buy your book. Skilful Luck!

  • Question

    Two questions: i) Why would libraries purchase a book if you accept already donated one? ii) Is the acquisitions librarian the person who buys children's books as well as books for older readers?

    Kim G

    If your books proves to be pop among the patrons, the library may wish to purchase extra copies. Some libraries make it a policy to support local authors too. If they don't wish to buy more books, they may sponsor a "Meet the Author" program where you can sell your volume to the public. Libraries vary about who makes the purchases for their collection. Some may accept ane acquisition librarian to make all the purchases, others may have a designated children'south volume librarian. Y'all can ask the librarian in the children's department who is responsible to make purchases.

  • Question

    Are there agencies that will market your book to academy libraries?

    Kim G

    There are publishing companies that specialize in marketing to academy libraries. You can start by marketing your volume yourself, taking on speaking engagements and seminars that match your volume's topic. To observe out more than, read the American Library Association's guide to marketing to libraries. You can discover it by searching online for ala libguides marketing to libraries.

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  • Be as professional as possible. Market yourself and your book professionally.

  • Ask the library if they will permit you lot host a book talk or let you speak about your book to assistance promote information technology. If they exercise, be certain to annunciate this event through your local paper and radio stations.

  • Get an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and bar code for the book.

  • Check out worldcat.org (a public librarian's catalogue) to meet which libraries have your book

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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  • Call up that one time yous've donated your volume to the library, they tin do what they want with information technology. If it doesn't broadcast well, they might sell the copies at book sales or fundraisers.

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  • Dianne McNair

    Dianne McNair

    Jun xx, 2017

    "This commodity confirmed where I am on the right track in planning (once once more) the promotion of my book. Simply..." more

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