Why Won't My Local Library Lend My Books?
As a hybrid author in this digital age, I've watched with both frustration and fascination as my local library system has embraced ebooks. They've partnered with services like BorrowBox, OverDrive and Hoopla, and they've made a genuine effort to adapt. But there's a problem, one that seems rooted in a logical fallacy I’m compelled to dissect.
Let's start with being a hybrid author. My non-fiction is traditionally published by a top academic publisher. These books are available in almost every university library and in almost no non-university library. Conversely, I am associated with some small imprints that publish my family's books/media as well as select titles from others. Again, in the non-fiction world we often partner with appropriate publishers, non-goverment organizations or informal clubs/groups.
I have turned down offers/commissions from publishers who want me to write what I don't want to write.
I am not interested in playing games with gatekeepers who want me to jump through their hoops.
I am interested in carving out my own niche and doing something new and different... and I think better.
But there are disadvantages. The big publishers have resources they can throw at a book (think copyediting, proofreading, covers, catalogues) and they have the entrée into the traditional "bricks and mortar" bookshops and libraries. They also tend to operate on a sale or return basis, which changes the equations somewhat.
Bookshops
Bookshops are struggling, and I understand when my small local bookshop feels unable to devote shelf space to my books, and really appreciate those bookshops in the local area that do have special sections devoted to local authors. And in these cases, I'm happy to do the sale or return, as I can visit them personally when I'm in the vicinity and don't incur postage.
It's great to see when various bookshops around the world pick up my books - esp. the bricks and mortar ones. But it is a rarity: 90% of my books sell on Amazon, and 90% are sold as ebooks, even though Amazon 'only' has about 50% of the market.
It is good to see some new developments in this space where physical bookshops are now able to benefit from sales of electronic/audio books. This is an emergent space with a few possible models that could serve, and none is yet perfect and I won't spruik any services I haven't used.
But bookshop owners/staff can value add into this by recommending authors, particular local authors, genres, bookclub possibilities, etc. — and get recognition/commission for the sales they generate. The simplest way is to provide QR codes that hook into existing retailer referral schems - and I will note that Books2Read can store QR codes for multiple readers so one QR/link can deal with all the online retailers, and it is possible for anyone to set up recommendation/reading lists. Personally, I only market the books I'm publishing and don't add any referral codes — so feel free too.
So for example here is my author bookpage and an independent series page (/rl/ for reading list) and a book page (/b/ for book) and a purchase page (which will direct to your preferred retailer if you set it up - see link at the bottom of the page):
https://books2read.com/MartiWard
https://books2read.com/rl/LostMissions
https://books2read.com/b/Time4PsyQ
https://books2read.com/Time4PsyQ
Libraries
Libraries, by and large, are still operating on a pre-digital mindset. They’re applying the economics of a physical book—the "one copy, one reader" model—to a digital world where it no longer makes sense. The common misconception is that a wider selection of titles will lead to higher costs, as more people will borrow more books. This is a complete miscalculation.
Consider this: I, as a reader, will consume a finite number of books/pages in a month, regardless of whether the library offers me 10 titles or 10 million. If the library only has a limited, curated selection, I'm likely to look for what I want elsewhere — on Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus, Everand, or similar.
My local library has effectively lost me as a patron, and for what?
To save on per-checkout fees for books I'm not borrowing anyway?
This is where the indie publishing ecosystem, specifically platforms like OverDrive, Odilo and Hoopla, offers a revolutionary solution. Libraries can access millions of indie books on a cost-per-checkout basis. They don't have to buy a single copy upfront. There's no risk of purchasing a title that nobody reads. And for authors/publishers this option is on by default for every indie book published through Draft2Digital.
The logic is simple:
Cost Reduction: By offering a massive catalog of indie books, the library's overall cost per read goes down. Indie books are typically priced more affordably than those from the "Big 5" publishers, whose licensing agreements often include limited borrows (e.g., 26 checkouts) or book expiration dates (e.g. 12 months or 3 years), forcing the library to re-purchase the same digital asset repeatedly (which they need to do for hot titles, bookclubs/classes etc. even if they will only be read once per copy).
Labor Efficiency: A vast, flexible digital catalog also reduces the library's labor costs. Staff no longer need to spend time re-ordering expired licenses, managing multiple copies of popular books to meet demand, or trying to predict what a bookclub will want to read next. The system handles everything automatically. All they have to do is opt in.
In essence, by limiting their selection, libraries are doing themselves a disservice. They are losing patrons and, ironically, increasing their per-read cost by forcing themselves into the expensive and restrictive licensing models of the traditional publishers.
It's time they fully embrace the digital model and unleash the full potential of a world of books that's available at their fingertips.
Authors and Reviews
If you're an author, why don't you talk to your local library about how they order books (all formats - there are specific distributors they use for physical books).
Also consider D2D and Amazon as a combination. Even though Kindle Select/Unlimited seems desirable, it gives Amazon exclusive retail rights for three months to an ebook edition — but that doesn't affect libraries and library distributors. Some authors/books come and go out of Kindle Select - the Kindle Unlimited readers will be there forever, but the first six months are critical for making an impact with your book — and the three months before. Think of this as a gestation period.
The other factor is that you want editorial reviews from reputable organizations/media, as well as reader reviews on the various retailers websites and product pages.
There are two models I tend to use:
- Three months of ARC review seeking, three months wide through D2D, theree months in Kindle Select...
- Three months in Kindle preorder, three months in Kindle Select to get Amazon reviews, three months wide...
