{"id":3659,"date":"2022-11-17T03:51:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T03:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qinprinting.com\/blog\/?p=3659"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:21:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T08:21:17","slug":"how-to-get-your-books-into-libraries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qinprinting.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-books-into-libraries\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Your Book into Libraries as an Independent Publisher"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A professional librarian shares her best advice for self-published authors who would like to get their books in public libraries<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Image: Book Printed by QinPrinting<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Thinking about <\/span>how to get your book into libraries as an independent publisher? <\/span><\/strong>At QinPrinting, we work every day with self-published authors to print the finest editions of their books. Many have wondered how to get their books into the library service. It struck us that the best person to ask would be someone who works in the library service!<\/span><\/p>

Eve is a Libraries Manager in a town just south of the beautiful Surrey Hills. As well as managing libraries, Eve boasts a First Class degree, an Advanced Certificate in Proofreading (Distinction), and has successfully completed a course in critical reading at Oxford University. So she seemed to be the perfect person to ask. Eve was kind enough to agree to the following interview.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Interview with a Libraries Manager<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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QP<\/span><\/strong>: Hi Eve. First of all, we know you must be very busy, so thank you for taking the time to offer us your professional insights. May we start by asking exactly what a Libraries Manager does?<\/span><\/p>\n

Eve<\/span><\/strong>: No problem! Thanks for asking me. I’m part of a team responsible for four libraries. We make the schedules, look after the staff, make sure they’re able to do all the book stock \/ customer service \/ digital \/ information business they need to do, implement any changes, plan and deliver training, do outreach work and events, and I spend a chunk of my time working on improvement projects for the service.<\/span><\/p>\n

QP<\/span><\/strong>: Sounds as if you’re a serious multi-tasker! We hear a lot about how difficult it is for indies to get their work into bookstores and libraries. Indies often discount the idea from the outset because they imagine it’s either impossible, or too difficult to be worth the time and effort. So let’s jump straight in and ask what everyone wants to know: is it possible for indies to get books into libraries?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Is it possible for indies to get books into libraries?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Eve<\/strong>: Yes, definitely. Libraries love books! The more the merrier. It’s a great way to reach an audience of keen readers. The main thing to bear in mind is that people working in the library service are super-busy and often over-stretched, so make it as easy for them as possible.<\/p>

QP<\/strong>: That’s great news. So libraries are likely to be keen to take books. But the implication is that getting your approach right is key to success with this. Okay, so among all those super-busy people, who in the library service should authors and independent publishers approach?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Who should indies contact about placing books in libraries?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Eve<\/strong>: Most library services have an information enquiries email address. They will be able to tell you the process in your area. However, the more direct approach is likely to be fruitful: Go into a branch and donate a copy of your book. There are also ‘stock suggestion’ forms on most library services’ websites, so get a few people to suggest the library service stock your book. Library members may also make requests for books. A formal request for a book carries more weight than a suggestion and obliges the service to acquire it if at all possible.<\/p>

QP<\/strong>: Fantastic. So, there are three possible lines of approach there:<\/p>