Smashwords titles head for Libraries

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Thanks. I'll look into it. Although my sense of fairness will probably not allow me to charge libraries more just because I can!

I think the intention is that you can set it lower than standard retail price if you wish. Personally I left it at the standard retail price.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Thanks. I'll look into it. Although my sense of fairness will probably not allow me to charge libraries more just because I can!

Hmmmm.... It may be what you have to do to get them to buy or be given a visible opportunity to buy. In that case I think it is not unfair especially as it may be common practice. And no one is forcing them to buy. Of course it could be a double edged sword as well but I think not.

Helen

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

It remains to be seen if the smash route is a viable route. If librarians don't order the books, well, the answer is no. In retrospect, I wish I'd tried a different avenue first, but I had no idea that the agreement would result in a Big Scarlet Letter across the front of my books... :>)

Librarians are under a lot of financial pressure and have to make tough choices. They can't even fulfill all their patron's requests. Charitable grants are in jeopardy while expenses increase. They are doing the best they can. I'm sure most librarians would purchase every title offered by Overdrive, if they could.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Librarians are under a lot of financial pressure and have to make tough choices. They can't even fulfill all their patron's requests. Charitable grants are in jeopardy while expenses increase. They are doing the best they can. I'm sure most librarians would purchase every title offered by Overdrive, if they could.

Of course. But it isn't that cut and dried because in the real world, there are librarians who won't order self-published titles (mine is one such library.)

Other libraries that I've approached are happy to accept the donation and carry the titles. But I have had at least two libraries turn down donations--they do not want to shelve them. They will accept the donations, but if asked specifically, they will admit they are going to give them to Friends of the Library to sell for 25 to 50 cents to raise funds for other books/plans at the library. They do this all the time for MANY donations, whether self-pub'd or not.

And believe me, I know their funds are limited. I don't expect to be treated like a special snowflake and I understand most of the reasoning behind the various policies in place. Which is why I'll be curious to see if libraries are attracted by the lower prices and start carrying at least some of the indie books available.

I'm still working on the link, Helen. I'll post it as soon as I can figure out the right library.

[BearMountainBooks]

Okay here are three libraries where you can see the titles made available (the titles had to sell a certain amount at Smash before they were allowed in the program so the ones available are: Under Witch Moon, Executive Lunch, Executive Retention, Executive Sick Days and Tracking Magic as far as I know. Some of my books are not available because I never put them at Smashwords).

After you get to the library page:

Go to advanced search, put in author name or title and then down at the bottom click "additional titles to recommend" --clicking All titles DOES NOT WORK. You have to click Additional titles to recommend.

http://kingcounty.libraryreserve.com...en/Default.htm

Here are some other library pages that have the additional titles to recommend option:

https://cincinnati.libraryreserve.co...=Default%2ehtm

https://fairfax.libraryreserve.com/1...3fPerPage%3d40

You have to do the same thing: Advanced search, enter the title or author and then click the Additional titles to Recommend.

You'll see from this setup that it's somewhat difficult to find my titles--you'd think that "ALL TITLES" would show all titles...but it doesn't!!!

I also noticed that the cover is still missing for Under Witch Moon. An oversight, I'm sure. Corrected very soon, I'm sure...

[cromag]

Thanks! I followed the directions and entered my full name in the author/creator field (Last name, First name, Middle initial). I got more than 2000 "hits." The first title on the first page was one of mine (coincidentally, or not, it was my best reviewed story). I didn't show up in any of the next five pages, some of which were dominated by names that weren't remotely similar to mine.

Better than not being there but it could be better.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by cromag

Thanks! I followed the directions and entered my full name in the author/creator field (Last name, First name, Middle initial). I got more than 2000 "hits." The first title on the first page was one of mine (coincidentally, or not, it was my best reviewed story). I didn't show up in any of the next five pages, some of which were dominated by names that weren't remotely similar to mine.

Better than not being there but it could be better.

Did you cover show up?

[cromag]

Yep, for the one story I found.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Of course. But it isn't that cut and dried because in the real world, there are librarians who won't order self-published titles (mine is one such library.)

Then work with those that refuse to purchase self published titles due to prejudice. However, I suspect the main reason is financial.

If I may be honest, I personally would rather my library purchase To Kill a Mockingbird, Agatha Christie and John Sandford before Skills and Drills:For the Practical Pistol Shooter or Prayer Warrior: How to Get Your Prayers Answered.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Then work with those that refuse to purchase self published titles due to prejudice. However, I suspect the main reason is financial.

If I may be honest, I personally would rather my library purchase To Kill a Mockingbird, Agatha Christie and John Sandford before Skills and Drills:For the Practical Pistol Shooter or Prayer Warrior: How to Get Your Prayers Answered.

My library has those. In general if they have a book in print, they don't order the ebook (and vice versa) due to cost issues. However, since it is a consortium when it comes to which ebooks make it in the collection, some of them get ordered in both places because one of the other libraries may order a title that is in print in my branch.

I understand that it is important to have a well-rounded collection and that self-published titles have an uphill battle. But I don't think it's quite fair to compare just any work to the classics. There's a bit of an expectation that libraries are the place to go to FOR classics. So if it is an either or situation, I think the classics will be the ones ordered.

I think there is also some expectation on the part of patrons that if an author is popular they should be found in the library. So all "new" and "unknown" authors are in a very small pile already.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I understand that it is important to have a well-rounded collection and that self-published titles have an uphill battle. But I don't think it's quite fair to compare just any work to the classics. There's a bit of an expectation that libraries are the place to go to FOR classics. So if it is an either or situation, I think the classics will be the ones ordered.

I think there is also some expectation on the part of patrons that if an author is popular they should be found in the library. So all "new" and "unknown" authors are in a very small pile already.

Absolutely. It's an uphill battle. In the larger cities with generous acquisition budgets you may find the self published added very soon but for the rest of America it may not happen.

You're right, librarian have to meet certain patron's expectations with limited funding or those patrons may never utilize the library ever again.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

...
I think there is also some expectation on the part of patrons that if an author is popular they should be found in the library. So all "new" and "unknown" authors are in a very small pile already.

Or, if they search for a particular author by name, and the library has access to that person's work, they should be able to find it.

[speakingtohe]

@BearMountainBooks

Well it is a work in progress and hopefully things will improve.

I looked at the links and saw no covers and it seems that the books must be recommended before the library will consider buying them?

I looked at my library and it seems their is not an additional titles to recommend option.
http://vpl.lib.overdrive.com/D031A2F...en/Default.htm
It is a fairly large Canadian library.

I find it surprising as Canada seems to actively encourage new Canadian authors in many ways.

BTW I looked at your covers on Amazon and they are very attractive and professionally appearing and your titles are IMO very good. I will likely purchase one, but if and when I do I will probably not be mentioning it as my opinion will no doubt be biased by having discussed various things with you , but if I like it I will recommend to the library when and if the option becomes available or I figure out where it is.

(I once gave an honest opinion to an acquaintance against my better judgement about something they were writing and it was favorable for the most part. Still haven't heard the end of it.)

Helen

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Absolutely. It's an uphill battle. In the larger cities with generous acquisition budgets you may find the self published added very soon but for the rest of America it may not happen.

You're right, librarian have to meet certain patron's expectations with limited funding or those patrons may never utilize the library ever again.

Actually, it's easier to get into smaller libraries. They are more open to donations, for certain, and depending on their various programs more open to self-published books/ebooks. But it really depends on who you talk to and their individual needs/tastes at a particular branch. Shoot, it can really depend on whether or not their acquisitions librarian likes YOUR particular genre. I've had my books purchased lock/stock/series--but not the UF. The regular mysteries are an easier sell to libraries, which is odd considering the popularity of UF. Sometimes you can tell how a library will react by looking to see how many of what genre they carry...

That's just my experience though. Your mileage may vary.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

@BearMountainBooks

Well it is a work in progress and hopefully things will improve.

I looked at the links and saw no covers and it seems that the books must be recommended before the library will consider buying them?

I looked at my library and it seems their is not an additional titles to recommend option.
http://vpl.lib.overdrive.com/D031A2F...en/Default.htm
It is a fairly large Canadian library.

I find it surprising as Canada seems to actively encourage new Canadian authors in many ways.

BTW I looked at your covers on Amazon and they are very attractive and professionally appearing and your titles are IMO very good. I will likely purchase one, but if and when I do I will probably not be mentioning it as my opinion will no doubt be biased by having discussed various things with you , but if I like it I will recommend to the library when and if the option becomes available or I figure out where it is.

(I once gave an honest opinion to an acquaintance against my better judgement about something they were writing and it was favorable for the most part. Still haven't heard the end of it.)

Helen

Re: Covers/Titles: Huge Thanks!!!

My library doesn't have the option either. I have a question in to them asking why. The one librarian didn't seem to know such an option existed, whether it would cost money or what it was for so she is looking into it. She said they would look into adding the option when she learned more about it, but she is also going on vacation for two weeks and may not even remember the conversation by the time she gets back...

I don't mind discussing my work. It's been out there long enough and I've been writing long enough that I can discuss it pretty much like any other book I might have read. I can see some of the flaws/weaknesses in some of the various style or plot points now that I've learned a few things. I have discussed enough books to also realize that one person's "flaw" is another person's "I didn't notice that."

However, I've been on the other end of author tirades for daring to leave a review that was "only" 3 or 4 stars or even been blatantly given the cold shoulder for daring to send in a list of typos. Just in case anyone ever wondered, trad published authors can be rather snotty over a typo, but some can be pleasantly engaging and get the error fixed. Pretty much like any given bunch of people.