by Jay Hartman
Q: A few years ago, you wrote a column on getting your title into libraries. I tried following the instructions, but nothing appears the way you wrote it out. What gives?
A: That column was one of the most popular I’ve written. I’m surprised how often people mention it to me. However, technology changes over time and there have been updates at Overdrive, which means my instructions need updating.
To recap, most public libraries use part of their annual budgets for patron requests. Authors and readers suggest titles for their library to carry. The library or the library consortium, depending on your city/county/state, will make the purchase. Some library systems require several requests before they buy.
The majority of ebook programs for libraries, both in the U.S. and internationally, are covered by Overdrive. Other library subscription models like Hoopla, Freading, Biblioboard, Bolinda, and Gardners focus on specific countries or continents. Educational libraries and public libraries may have different programs. The easiest way to find out your library’s is to go to their homepage and see who is listed as the supplier of their ebooks. Most of the time it will be Overdrive.
Overdrive offers two types of programs for libraries. In the first type, libraries purchase copies for their digital collection on a 1:1 basis, meaning only one copy can be checked out to a patron at a time. This can mean a long wait, as they haven’t purchased enough copies to cover their circulation.
The other type, in my opinion, is the one all libraries should carry. In this version, the library has access to every title in the Overdrive catalog and they pay only when a patron checks out a copy. Brilliant! The library saves money and patrons read whatever they want, whenever they want.
For a library to purchase your book, it has to be available to them via distribution. That’s going to rule out a lot of self-published authors. Those in Kindle Select won’t be picked up by any libraries, as titles in Kindle Select/Kindle Unlimited aren’t part of the current program. Amazon has made it difficult for libraries to do business with them. Draft2Digital and IngramSpark are the only real routes to Overdrive.
Let’s say you know your title is available through Overdrive. Is there an easy way to get the library to carry your title? Well, perhaps not easy, but you can help by following these instructions:
- Log into your library account on the Libby app, available for either Android or iOs. This was formerly the Overdrive app, which has been retired. You MUST have a library account for this process to work. Same thing if you’re going to have others request the title.
- Once logged in, do a search for your title. If it comes up . . . congratulations! It means your title has already been purchased by your local library and is available to patrons.
- If your title didn’t show in the results, you should now see a box at the bottom labeled Advanced Search. Clicking on it will return a display of three to five titles. If your search has been successful, one of those covers should be the title you’re looking for . . . yours!
- You’ll notice a golden bell icon to the right of the title. This is the Notify function and it tells the library you’d like them to buy the title, and you’ll be notified if/when they do.
- That’s it! Your request has been sent to the library as a purchase request. If the library buys it, you’ll receive a notification both in the app and via email that the title is ready to be checked out.
That’s all you need to do! If you’re an author with a newsletter, make sure to share this information with your readers so they do a grassroots campaign with their libraries to carry your titles.
Remember, your success in publishing relies on two major factors: visibility and availability. Be where your customers are and in the formats they need. Being in the library ecosystem will help that process and ensure you’re a winner in The Publishing Game.
Join the discussion! Send your questions to jhartman@mistimedia.com with TPG in your subject line.
WPN Vice President Jay A. Hartman has worked in the publishing industry for more than 30 years. For 13 years he served as the creator and editor-in-chief of Untreed Reads Publishing before the company was acquired in 2022. In 2023 he created Misti Media, a company dedicated to book publishing and author education.
