Thursday, December 2, 2010

Suggest Your Favorite Books to The Library

Stephen Tremp posted this on Tuesday and gave permission to borrow it. I wanted to give Stephen his just dues since he suggested this. It's a great idea.

One of my goals for 2011 is to help other writers promote their books. So to follow up on a blog from last week, I’m going to promote my blogging buddies’ books to libraries across the country.

I’m also trying to inspire other bloggers to do the same for each other. It’s quick and easy. Here’s the breakdown:

* 50 weeks a year
* 50 states
* 1 state per week
* 2 libraries per week


This is what I do. I’ll look up two libraries in major cities on the Internet and email them requesting to carry 3-5 books. I’ll copy and paste the information for the following blogging pals:

CassaStar
Author: Alex Cavanaugh
ISBN-13: 9780981621067
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press
Publish Date: October 2010

Delicious and Suspicious
Author: Elizabeth Craig Spann
ISBN-13: 978-0425235539
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: July 6, 2010

Desert Hedge Murders
Author: Patricia Stoltey
ISBN: ISBN-13: 9781594147852
Publisher: Gale Group
Publish Date: September 2009

Beware the Devil’s Hug
Author: Marvin Wilson
ISBN-13: 978-0984615490
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press
Publish Date: September 1, 2010

The Hating Game
Author: Talli Roland
ISBN:
Publisher:
Publish Date:

And because Stephan is such a generous guy, I added his book. You can go to his blog and click on the handy button to Barnes & Nobles or to Amazon to order.

Breakthrough
Author: Stephen Tremp
ISBN: 978-0595474004
Publisher:
Publish Date:

(Feel free to copy, paste, and use this info).

This is so easy. I went to Google, typed in Los Angeles libraries, then selected the first link LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY. Bring up the page and look at the side links to request books. Look for the link that makes sense as every site will be different. For this site I selected ASK A LIBRARIAN, scrolled down and selected SUGGEST A PURCHASE. I got it right the first time. I copied and pasted the info (except for Talli's book which will be available December 1st!). In and out in less than three minutes.

I did the same for San Diego. Total time: just over five minutes. Done! Repeat process next week, maybe mix it up a bit and try a couple different blogging buddy authors. I’ll try Florida next. Miami and Orlando.

If I promote your book in this manner, and one third of the libraries say yes, that’s 33 copies. If 10 people do this for you, that’s 330 copies in the public's eyes in one year. In the past twelve months, 22 people took my book Breakthrough out of the Mission Viejo Library. That's a lot of exposure!

I’ve never asked for a link back before, but if you think this is a good idea feel free to post a link back on one of your blogs. Or copy and paste everything and slap your name on it. Its not important who sings the song, as long as the song gets sung.

Two thumbs up for Stephen.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes I agree that we need to promote libraries and reading and pur fellow blog writers :O)

Dominic de Mattos said...

What a great idea!

Ought to work in the UK too!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

What a generous idea, Nancy!

Have you run into any problems on the library sites? I think our Charlotte, NC library is sort of difficult--you have to put your library card number in and can only make one request a week. But I'm glad to hear that our library here is the exception and not the rule!

N. R. Williams said...

Absolutely Madeleine.

I hope it does work in the UK Dominic.

I haven't tried it yet Elizabeth since I just learned about it this week too. But I definitely will.

Thank you all for dropping by and leaving a comment.
NR

Joanna St. James said...

I definitely plan on doing this, I know in the UK and Canada authors get paid when their books are borrowed from the library

N. R. Williams said...

How cool that would be Joanna. Not so in the U.S. Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment.
NR

Joanne said...

What a great idea. And I'm sure the library's are interested in hearing from their patrons, wanting to know their selections. It's a wonderful connection to make.

N. R. Williams said...

Yes it is Joanne. Thanks for dropping by.
NR

Anonymous said...

So cool to see the good word being spread. Not every library will be cooperative, but many will. Its kind of the shotgun approach. Spray a bunch of pellets. Some will hit while others miss.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Stephen. I see I misspelled your name, so sorry. I will correct that.
NR

Anonymous said...

NR, my ISBN is 978-0595474004. You can find any ISBN for a book at Amazon.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Stephen. I looked on Amazon. Maybe I was just too tired. I had a day of errands and a 3 year old with me.
NR

Golden Eagle said...

I definitely have to look up what to do for requesting that my library carry books!

Chris Phillips said...

That is a great idea. I know for Children's books libraries are a huge market, since ever elementary school has one, I'd probably not have thought much about public libraries in this way. Kudos.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Thanks, Nancy! Quite a few of the books I suggest to my library system this way do get ordered, especially if they've had decent reviews. It's a great way to help an author.

N. R. Williams said...

Thank you Golden, Chris and Patricia for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.
NR

notesfromnadir said...

GREAT idea! Kudos to both you & Stephen Tremp for coming up w/ this.

N. R. Williams said...

The credit all belongs to Stephen, I'm just passing on the information.
NR

Patricia Stoltey said...

Nancy, thanks a bunch for posting this list, which just happens to have my book on it. Stephen was a dear for getting this rolling.

N. R. Williams said...

You're very welcome Patricia. Thanks for dropping by.
NR

Vicki Rocho said...

What a great idea! Might I make a suggestion? Do another post and encourage us to post our Suggest Material Links. That way we will all have a quick-and-easy reference for libraries across the country.