How do authors make money from libraries

By Steve Laube On January 28, For them to keep creating books, they need to get paid. Then came the e-book.

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Much has been said about the battle between publishers and libraries. Libraries objected to high prices, especially for e-books, and publishers moaned about decreasing profits. Discussions center around ownership models and digital preservationbut authos variable is missing in all of these equations: the author. It used to work like this: the publisher i. The ,oney signed a contract to collect a certain amount of royalties from each sale. Different sales yielded different royalties.

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We imagine a successful author’s life to be idyllic: write a book, or several, sell millions of copies, sit back and relax on a secluded island, living off of your book royalties. A typical book author barely makes more than minimum wage. I’m not saying you can’t make money from writing books. But few of us can sell as many books as James Patterson or Danielle Steele. Does this mean you should give up your dream of being a successful author? Of course not, because you can make a living writing books—even if you don’t sell a single copy.

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Much has been said about the battle between publishers and libraries. Libraries objected to high prices, especially for e-books, and publishers moaned about decreasing profits. Discussions center around ownership models and digital preservationbut one variable is missing in all of these equations: the author.

It used to work like this: the publisher i. The author signed a contract to collect a certain amount of royalties from each sale. Different sales yielded different royalties. Sales to a bookstore or a library resulted in different royalty amounts, with library sales earning less than bookstore sales. If a book was popular enough, libraries often bought books by the case, but that type of popularity was rare, and not every author saw their books in a library at all. Then came the e-book.

No longer is it something that takes up shelf space. But at the same time, a library cannot just copy the file and let multiple people borrow a single copy at the same time.

That would be a violation of copyright, just like it is with physical books. However, the model was not even that simple. If it had worked like hard copies, a library could buy five e-copies and loan them out at. When you buy an e-book, you buy the right to use the content under the terms of the retailer. The same holds true for many digital products like MP3 files, movies, and. Does the artist still get paid? Enter the self-publishing author or small press.

They too can offer books to libraries through Overdrive and other services, and many libraries are implementing Self-E programs, [3] another way for authors to get discovered, recognized, and paid for their work. These self- and independently published books can include print and e-book titles. However many of these titles are not as popular as those released by major publishers, so will not be borrowed as frequently.

In the case of print books, low circulation means wasted shelf space, and in the case of e-books, it means squandered money in the acquisitions how do authors make money from libraries. Of course, many self-published authors may donate their books to libraries, at least in the case of physical books.

But then their earnings drop from the pennies they get from library sales to zero. Library books are not free. They are pre-paid, usually from some kind of tax base. Often there is an opposite effect to the need of the community: when the economy takes a downturn, the need for libraries grows just as budgets decrease. It is uncertain what effect Brexit will have on the British economy, but the tax base is sure to be affected in a country where libraries are already underfunded, [4] making getting books into libraries and paid for even more difficult for an author.

The UK is just one example of this precarious state of libraries. Many libraries are reinventing themselves and thriving, while others are struggling with declining visits and borrows. This is tough news for authors as. Making a living as a writer is tough.

Most writers have a day job of some sort, and while skills they gained from getting a liberal arts degree are in demand in any number of professions, [5] working full time at what they love is a true challenge for writers.

An author can be as artsy about their book as they wish; however, the finished product must be marketed and distributed like any other product. Libraries offer authors two things.

They can buy their books, which nets the author some royalties. They can also offer exposure, allowing the author to gain a new audience who might buy their books the next time rather than just borrowing.

For libraries to survive, authors must keep creating books. For them to how do authors make money from libraries creating books, they need to get paid. Tags: authorse-publishing and librariesindependent publishing and libraries. Anita Coleman says:.

Thank you. I have e come to believe that the global is local in books too — public libraries and local authors can help each other tremendously but few public libraries are adventurous enough to do it with new authors.

But they need to do so. Thanks for highlighting the symbiotic relationships! Troy Lambert says:. Genevieve says:. I am hoping to market my new book to libraries and wanted to let them know how my other books that they have are on loan around times a year.

Could I ask is this an awfully low figure and should I therefore leave it out of my marketing spiel?!! Kathleen Hughes says:. Hello — Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with an answer, as every library is different as well as different population size. Thanks for getting in touch! Click here to cancel reply. We are always seeking new contributors to add their voices to the site. PL and PLonline are the only industry publications focused entirely on public libraries and public librarians.

Troy Lambert says: Sep 1, I am glad the information was helpful. Genevieve says: Sep 18, Kathleen Hughes says: Sep 22, Email Address. First Name. Last Name. Graves Lost or Found? Is Your Library Hiring? New Podcast! About Us Publiclibrariesonline. Become a Contributor We are always seeking new contributors to add their voices to the site. Anita Coleman says: Aug 18, Name required.

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Average book authors don’t make a lot of money. But you can, even if you gave away all your books.

For them to keep creating books, they need to get paid. Like the right of taxpayers to pay less in smaller cities to make certain their community has a library. Could I ask is this an awfully low figure and should I therefore leave it out of my marketing spiel?!! They buy from a certain distributor’s catalog that indies don’t have access to. Also, I think it would impact library purchasing decisions negatively. Why the tension between libraries and publishers is ramping up in the e-book market—and why we must tamp it down librariies Joseph Janes. Library books are not free. Share Tweet Email. In 33 countries, not including the U. Related Stories. Indeed, there are dark hints that the hand of Amazon is doo work in the current tensions over library e-book lendingincluding reports that Amazon reps have been showing publishers data to portray library e-book lending in a negative light. Share D January 30, hoa am. Done and promoted correctly, any library system that would provide a benefit for authors might drive up library use and borrowing as people tried to indirectly support, however authos, their favorite how do authors make money from libraries. Listen Now. It used to work like this: the publisher i. Hello — Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with an fdom, as every library is different as well as different population size.