Did you know that you can support authors and libraries at the same time, all without spending a dime?
It’s true!
Firstly, if an author or illustrator is in Canada, they can participate in the Public Lending Rights program, which “sends yearly payments to creators whose works are in Canada’s public libraries”. The size of the payment depends on the number of books in libraries, as well as the number of times those books are checked out, up to a certain amount. It’s a fantastic program, and one that I’ve been a part of for several years.
Secondly, if a book circulates well (i.e. is borrowed often), a library might consider purchasing additional copies to add to its collection, which translates into royalties for the author. The library might also be more likely to purchase future titles from the same author, based on the popularity of existing titles.
Thirdly, the library benefits from all this borrowing because library funding is heavily dependent on statistics, including circulation statistics. A library is more likely to receive additional funding (or at least not lose funding) if it can prove that people are making use of its resources, which includes borrowing its books.
You can find my books in libraries across North America, including the Toronto Public Library, the Austin Public Library , the Rochester Public Library, and the New Orleans Public Library, to name but a few!
And if you can’t find an author’s works in your local library – let a librarian know! Most libraries have a process for suggesting purchases, like the New Orleans Public Library, which has a form patrons can fill out if there’s a title they’d like the library to add to their collection.
So, if you want to help authors and help libraries, all at the same time, dust off that library card, get out there, and borrow those books!