Are libraries tacky?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, in case there are folks who don't know, you can always request that your library purchase a particular book that they don't already have. That's a great way to drive attention to an author (even a--gasp!--z-list author like someone mentioned above).

I did this recently with a fairly new cookbook author whose book was getting a bunch of attention in social media circles, but my major regional library system (Prince George's County) didn't have the book. I requested it, they ordered it, it showed up about a month later, and then it was checked out twice in a row before I could get my hands on it!

Another reason why people don't understand how libraries work. Many people buy other books from an author they enjoyed reading through the library, or from word of mouth based of a book someone read at a library. It's advertising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, in case there are folks who don't know, you can always request that your library purchase a particular book that they don't already have. That's a great way to drive attention to an author (even a--gasp!--z-list author like someone mentioned above).

I did this recently with a fairly new cookbook author whose book was getting a bunch of attention in social media circles, but my major regional library system (Prince George's County) didn't have the book. I requested it, they ordered it, it showed up about a month later, and then it was checked out twice in a row before I could get my hands on it!

+1, a better post directly to an author would be to let the author know you're requesting that your local library get their book! You can also add the library right in the post for visibility.

Authors love libraries but your post could come off as a little questionable. I wouldn't have posted in the way you did but I'm pretty careful about how I present myself online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha!! Just shows that those folks know nothing about publishing! Authors love library adoptions! Authors outside the NYT Bestseller lists make most of their money from library adoptions. And checking out the library's copy of a book (whether ebook or physical book) might inspire the library to buy more copies of that book or future books.

But buying the book is also good. Making fun of people for how they get books is not good.

Seriously, thank you. I know plenty of “real” authors and they are perfectly good with libraries!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, in case there are folks who don't know, you can always request that your library purchase a particular book that they don't already have. That's a great way to drive attention to an author (even a--gasp!--z-list author like someone mentioned above).

I did this recently with a fairly new cookbook author whose book was getting a bunch of attention in social media circles, but my major regional library system (Prince George's County) didn't have the book. I requested it, they ordered it, it showed up about a month later, and then it was checked out twice in a row before I could get my hands on it!

Another reason why people don't understand how libraries work. Many people buy other books from an author they enjoyed reading through the library, or from word of mouth based of a book someone read at a library. It's advertising.

+1, I'm one of the people who talked about how libraries contribute to book sales as well as showing demand and interest in the author's books, but this is another good point. As someone who reads a lot and both buys and checks out tons of books, there have been many occasions when someone has recommended a book they got from the library, but when I went to reserve a copy the wait was too long, so I just bought a copy. This happens to me a dozen times a year. But if the person who originally read it had not gotten it from the library, it's very likely they would never have recommended it to me, and my book purchase would not have happened.

I don't know any writers who dislike libraries, and if they are out there, they are mistaken about the nature of their own industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Authors usually love libraries the most.

It's tacky to not like libraries.

Authors love libraries, yes, but in terms of sales, not "the most". It's a great way to introduce readers to authors. And a great way for readers to read a lot, especially when book prices are so high now. It's just not great saying you aren't buying an authors book ON their social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, in case there are folks who don't know, you can always request that your library purchase a particular book that they don't already have. That's a great way to drive attention to an author (even a--gasp!--z-list author like someone mentioned above).

I did this recently with a fairly new cookbook author whose book was getting a bunch of attention in social media circles, but my major regional library system (Prince George's County) didn't have the book. I requested it, they ordered it, it showed up about a month later, and then it was checked out twice in a row before I could get my hands on it!

If you live in PG County or Mont County, get a DC Library card (you can with an address in the burbs). DC sometimes gets new books a little quicker and they have different digital collections.

Authors are usually just happy to have people wanting the book at all. Posting and talking about it is a positive! I'm a library person through and through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Authors make a living by selling their books for money.

You told an author you would read the fruit of their labors for free without giving them money.

That was terribly rude of you. Authors know that people use libraries all the time, or borrow from their friends, but you do not TELL THE AUTHOR THAT!

I mean, even my socially-challenged autistic teen knows not to step in it like this. This goes beyond a metal health disorder.

I hope you're a troll.

PS: libraries are not tacky.

Libraries buy books.

[Anonymous]

Libraries are amazing!

Posting on an author's announcement that you can't wait to get the book from the library is a bit tacky. Like posting on a movie theater's announcement about a new movie "I can't wait until I can get this on a streaming service." Nothing wrong with DOING that, but perhaps that wasn't the compliment you thought it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, I wouldn't go on an author's social media and say you are waiting for your library hold. Authors are far more dependent on actual retail sales rather than how many books libraries buy.

I would just say you're looking forward to reading. Then wait for it to come in at the library.

I disagree. Libraries are wonderful resources and there’s nothing wrong with waiting for the book for the library and nothing wrong with saying so.

Libraries are also huge promoters of authors which help with sales. Should libraries not host authors, hold book signings, or feature books on their website that can be borrowed? Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Authors make a living by selling their books for money.

You told an author you would read the fruit of their labors for free without giving them money.

That was terribly rude of you. Authors know that people use libraries all the time, or borrow from their friends, but you do not TELL THE AUTHOR THAT!

I mean, even my socially-challenged autistic teen knows not to step in it like this. This goes beyond a metal health disorder.

I hope you're a troll.

PS: libraries are not tacky.

Libraries buy books.

<-- Exactly.

Libraries buy many many many books.

[Anonymous]

"I mean, even my socially-challenged autistic teen knows not to step in it like this. This goes beyond a metal health disorder."

I don't even know where to begin with this...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Libraries are amazing!

Posting on an author's announcement that you can't wait to get the book from the library is a bit tacky. Like posting on a movie theater's announcement about a new movie "I can't wait until I can get this on a streaming service." Nothing wrong with DOING that, but perhaps that wasn't the compliment you thought it was.

Wth this is a bad take. Not everyone has disposable income (or not enough disposable income to buy all the books we potentially want to read).

Back when Twitter was real, I think Neil Gaiman tweeted about how much he appreciates his books being checked out from the library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Libraries are amazing!

Posting on an author's announcement that you can't wait to get the book from the library is a bit tacky. Like posting on a movie theater's announcement about a new movie "I can't wait until I can get this on a streaming service." Nothing wrong with DOING that, but perhaps that wasn't the compliment you thought it was.

Wth this is a bad take. Not everyone has disposable income (or not enough disposable income to buy all the books we potentially want to read).

Back when Twitter was real, I think Neil Gaiman tweeted about how much he appreciates his books being checked out from the library.

He wrote an article on it

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming

[Anonymous]

No one here is disputing that libraries are great, that many reader use and need them. And no one, as I read the comments, is saying don't use them. Agreed, that libraries buy books. Agree that not many of us who read a lot can afford to buy every book.

This is only an issue of posting it on authors' social media sites. It doesn't matter for big authors. Libraries buy a lot of their books already, as do retail readers.

But to be considerate, I would avoid POSTING that I'm waiting for my copy to come available at the library on that author's site. That's all.

[Anonymous]

^can't