Are libraries tacky?

[Anonymous]

How Using Public Libraries Supports Authors -
https://medium.com/a-thousand-lives/how-using-public-libraries-supports-authors-8198e40863bd

[Anonymous]

Libraries aren't tacky at all. And you know it.

Telling your favorite author that you aren't going to buy their book? I see how that could look tacky to folks. (But in reality, writers are thrilled when their book is picked up by libraries, so...).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't be bragging to an author that you didn't deem her book worth of $15, but I go to the library all the time and appreciate it greatly.

This. She’s trying to make money by selling books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't be bragging to an author that you didn't deem her book worth of $15, but I go to the library all the time and appreciate it greatly.

This. She’s trying to make money by selling books.

Requesting that your library buy that book does make money.

[Anonymous]

Authors love libraries. Of course it's always best when someone buys a book themselves - but it truly means a lot when people take them out of the library, too.

Not only are you showing demand for an author's books - that the library will purchase books to meet - but librarians can be big advocates for authors. It's always a big deal to get on librarians' lists of books about whatever, or best of whatever - and having librarians telling people to read your books is truly wonderful.

No one should have jumped on you for saying you're getting the book from the library. They probably meant well, but they are wrong.

(Am an author)

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say that on the author's social media, but most authors know that their fans might discover them in a library and move on to buying later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't be bragging to an author that you didn't deem her book worth of $15, but I go to the library all the time and appreciate it greatly.

This. She’s trying to make money by selling books.

Again, libraries buy books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Libraries are not tacky. But authors live off book sales, so it's a little rude to make a point of saying you're not going to buy the book, particularly on the author's social media.

No, most authors do not quit their day jobs. Very few authors live solely on their writing earnings. And libraries are the most important source of sales, so it is not tacky at all.

(I work in publishing, it is literally my job to know this stuff).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't be bragging to an author that you didn't deem her book worth of $15, but I go to the library all the time and appreciate it greatly.

Lots of people can't afford $15. Lots more can't justify it when their property taxes already pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Libraries are not tacky. But authors live off book sales, so it's a little rude to make a point of saying you're not going to buy the book, particularly on the author's social media.

No, most authors do not quit their day jobs. Very few authors live solely on their writing earnings. And libraries are the most important source of sales, so it is not tacky at all.

(I work in publishing, it is literally my job to know this stuff).

I am also in publishing, traditional, NYC, and while libraries are definitely important, first week of retail sales is what gets an author traction, and hopefully that builds over the frequently very short front-list sales cycle. I know of an author who has great library sales but can't get traction in big box, traditional retail, independents or online. Her agent argues the library angle, but it hasn't translated into retail sales.

But none of this is the point of OP's question. It's not tacky to use the library, at all. But why state that on the author's social media that one is waiting for the library book to come in. It's not a necessary comment. The welcome and necessary comment is: I'm so excited to read your new book! Where the reader gets is in irrelevant. That is promoting the author.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Libraries are not tacky. But authors live off book sales, so it's a little rude to make a point of saying you're not going to buy the book, particularly on the author's social media.

No, most authors do not quit their day jobs. Very few authors live solely on their writing earnings. And libraries are the most important source of sales, so it is not tacky at all.

(I work in publishing, it is literally my job to know this stuff).

I am also in publishing, traditional, NYC, and while libraries are definitely important, first week of retail sales is what gets an author traction, and hopefully that builds over the frequently very short front-list sales cycle. I know of an author who has great library sales but can't get traction in big box, traditional retail, independents or online. Her agent argues the library angle, but it hasn't translated into retail sales.

But none of this is the point of OP's question. It's not tacky to use the library, at all. But why state that on the author's social media that one is waiting for the library book to come in. It's not a necessary comment. The welcome and necessary comment is: I'm so excited to read your new book! Where the reader gets is in irrelevant. That is promoting the author.

Why not say that? Now the author knows there's a waiting list for her book at the library - that's good to know, too.

[Anonymous]

Libraries are absolutely not tacky!
I can see how the author wants to get their $$ though. I love my local library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Libraries are absolutely not tacky!
I can see how the author wants to get their $$ though. I love my local library.

Another person who thinks libraries get books for free.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea how authors feel about library loans or how they make money or whether it's tacky to tell the author, but I love the library and going to one is near the top of my list of favorite things to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I wouldn't be bragging to an author that you didn't deem her book worth of $15, but I go to the library all the time and appreciate it greatly.

I agree. I would have just said that you can't wait to read the book.