My newest picture book, ANIMALS MOVE, is officially published, and is available for purchase through your bookseller of choice!
But what if you want to support an author like me, but can’t / don’t want to / don’t need to buy a picture book right now? Did you know that borrowing books from the library is a great way to help support authors? It’s true!
Just like when you buy a book from the bookstore, every library purchase results in a small royalty going directly to the author. When a large library system like the Toronto Public Library orders copies of your book for its many branches, it can really boost your yearly royalty check! With libraries in just about every town and city across North America, those library purchases can really add up!
If your local library doesn’t have a certain book in its collection, you can often suggest or request that they purchase it. Vancouver Public Library in British Columbia, Canada, for example, has a “Suggest a Title” feature (you can see the link on the right hand side of the image above), where patrons can suggest titles for the collection. Let the librarians at your local library know that you’re interested in a specific title (ANIMALS MOVE, perhaps?), and they just might be able to purchase it.
But doesn’t borrowing books from the library deprive authors of potential royalties? Well, in 30 countries including Canada, the Public Lending Rights Program compensates authors whose works are available in libraries. It’s a great program, and getting that check in the mail every year is always a thrill.
Every time you borrow a book, you’re telling your local library that the book is wanted, needed and appreciated. The librarians might consider adding additional copies to their collection, or replacing worn out copies – and again, each copy purchased means another small royalty for the author.
So, even if purchasing a copy of ANIMALS MOVE or any other book isn’t in the cards for you, you can still support your favourite authors and author friends just by supporting your local library. Authors win, libraries win, readers win. It’s a beautiful thing.
