Hallo fine peoples!!!
So in line with the theme of the month, we are talking about libraries as a mechanism for promoting our books. They are awesome in all sorts of other ways, but what I want YOU to teach ME is how to utilize libraries to increase book sales.
But in what OTHER ways can libraries be used to promote?
Have any of you engaged in creative ways with your local libraries?
Has anyone worked up a good system for reaching out to NON-local libraries?
How do you find library events you might get involved with?
Have you ever held your own event at a library? How did you set that up?
Okay.... now go visit some other A to Z bloggers!
7 comments:
Hi Hart - I know a few bloggers have written about promotion in libraries .. so I hope you get some ideas ... and obviously there are few bloggers to look at and check out ...
Good luck .. there's lots of opportunities - and being bold at the same time .. be proud - cheers Hilary
In my experience libraries are often nurturing grounds for budding writers. There is almost always one or two writers working the stacks, making a living by day as a librarian while writing away on weekends and evenings. Libraries host writers and their new works for readings, they are involved in writer events like Word on the Street, conferences etc... Writing groups meet at libraries and so do some book clubs. Book clubs are always looking for local real live authors to come to meetings. Often libraries work with local writing organizations with writer in the school programs too.
I've done a good deal of speaking at libraries and I *love* them for being so supportive of writers (as Jan says). The only thing I'd caution...I don't think they're money makers. Not a problem if we speak locally, but once we're shelling out our own cash on gas and our time--I'd just pick and choose carefully. Sometimes I've been on panels that have been good for networking, but frequently I'm just out cash and the delighted patrons walk out of the library after having checked out my books, ha! They usually don't let me sell books there.
I did my first and second book fairs at libraries. And my book is found in one library in New Hampshire because the leader of the writers group there was a librarian, and she knew about the book, so she put in it in the stacks. I haven't done anything at my new local libraries because I don't have that 'in' anymore, and talking to people is scary.
I think most libraries welcome worthwhile author events and it can build into something bigger when there are a lot of libraries in the area where one lives and works.
Donating books is welcomed in most cases. Getting the books where readers can find them is probably good strategy that can lead to future sales and an author can build up good will with the libraries if they want to continue dealing with them.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Libraries are all kinds of useful. I had the library service buy 60 copies of one of my books because of a television interview I did.
Years ago I donated my traditionally published novel to a couple libraries, but that's it. Just knowing they were in the library system made me happy and feel more legit as a writer. This probably didn't help sales, but that was okay with me.
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