Thanks to DCLG
I totally love libraries and some of my favourite travel experiences have been visiting beautiful libraries around the world. When I was lucky enough to live in the city of Dunfermline, I used to do my editing work in the reading room at the gorgeous Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries.
I still have vivid memories of attending storytime in Whitstable Library as a young child, which was right next to my primary school. It was also partly the library in Downing College, Cambridge, which helped me choose which of the university’s colleges to apply to!
Downing College library in Cambridge, England
As an author, whether traditionally or self-published, it is important to apply for a PLR (Public Lending Right) account, so that you can be recompensed for any borrows on your books.
Self-publishers are also advised to be aware of the Legal Deposit requirement. (For those traditionally published, the publisher would fulfil this requirement for your books.)
Within a month of publication, authors should send one copy of the book to:
Legal Deposit Office
The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
West Yorkshire LS23 7BY
(Your publication can be read inside the British Library and will be preserved for future generations. Your work becomes part of the nation’s heritage, providing inspiration for new books and other publications.)
If the book is published in multiple formats, the requirement is to send the highest quality format. I.e. the hardback if available would be sent rather than the standard print.
If you missed the window of one month after publication, don’t panic, but do still send the book(s).
You can also send 5 copies to:
The Agent
Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries
21 Marnin Way
Edinburgh
EH12 9GD
These copies will be distributed to: The Bodleian Library, Cambridge University Library, the National Library of Scotland, the National Library of Wales and the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.
Here, the format of the book sent “is to be of the same quality as the largest number of copies which, at the time of delivery, have been produced for publication in the United Kingdom” [Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003]. I.e. if there have been more paperback than hardback copies printed, you would send the paperback format.
Note, these legal deposit libraries may request a copy of every publication and you can choose to submit your books in anticipation of this, but the onus is not on the author to do this where no request has been made as it is with the British Library Legal Deposit.
It is ideal to send all Legal Deposit books recorded delivery and to include a note with such wording as e.g.:
I hereby submit X number of copies of my book – title, ISBN, which is published by xxxx.
The above actions will help the profile of your books within library databases.
To be paid for any library loans of your books, you need to register for Public Lending Right, which you can do here: https://plr.bl.uk/login
Note: If you use a pseudonym, you should apply for PLR using your real name. When registering for PLR, the ID used for verification must match the name on record. You will be then able to provide your pseudonym when you register your books and this will be linked to your registered name.
Payments are made annually based on book loans data collected from public libraries over a twelve-month period and in the UK the PLR year runs 1 July to 30 June. To qualify for payment for loans during this period authors must register their books by the closing date of 30 June. The Irish PLR year runs 1 January to 31 December. Books must be registered by the following 30 June to qualify for payment for loans during this period.
PLR figures are based on loans data collected from a sample of UK public libraries 1 July – 30 June every year. A grossing-up calculation is applied at the end of the PLR reporting year in order to provide a national estimate. Happily, it is possible to look up the PLR library sample for each year (the sample libraries change annually), as these are listed on the British Library / PLR website.
You can then contact the stock buyer for each library area to ask them to consider stocking your books, if it is not already stocked. Fantastic to mention any local connections or links to the libraries in question, including future events that may be held in the area, and attach an information sheet about your book if you have one. Indeed, the task may inspire and encourage you to plan some author events linking in with some of the libraries you connect with. As with all aspects of selling the book, you may amend your approach once you see what is working (some libraryauthorities may outsource selection to e.g. Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd.) It is ideal to schedule as part of managing your books to check the new sample list each year and make contact with any that do not currently stock your book(s).
Quick tip: if returning to check your PLR account, you can access it on the British Library website, scrolling down to the very bottom and clicking ‘information for authors’.
Note: where there have been other contributors such as an illustrator or translator, PLR payments can be shared by entering the percentage split in your PLR account. For illustrators who have been paid a flat fee, the illustrator should be named on the book’s title page in order to claim their share of PLR payments.
All done? Consider registering with ALCS (Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society) for ‘secondary uses’ payment, where someone uses a work that’s already been distributed – such as photocopying a section…
Need support? I offer help in all aspects of publishing, promoting and selling your books – including accessing libraries.