A few weeks ago as part of the Warwickshire branch of the Society of Authors, I was lucky enough to attend a meeting with our local library service. It was eye-opening. We learned how the books you see on the library shelves are chosen, how a self-published author would get to share this hallowed space, and how important it is for authors however published to be engaged with their local library. For example, author Erin Green gave an hour-long talk to a well-supported audience at Warwick library earlier in the month and it was only when listening to her and chatting with her afterward I realised how lucky we are as authors to have these spaces available to us – for free – with an almost guaranteed audience. Our readers don’t always have to buy our books; authors get fees each time their book is borrowed from a library so what better place to promote your work? The lovely librarians we spoke with explained the PLR (Public Lending Right) system which is administered from The British Library, which states on their website ‘If you are a published author, illustrator, editor, translator or audiobook narrator you could receive remuneration as a result of public library book loans.’ So using your library as an author and as a user is such a win-win. Are you an author reading this? Do you work with your library to promote yourself and them? Didn’t know you could? Drop them and email swiftish then, and find out if you’re just what they’re looking for! For us here in Warwickshire the library service will also display a poster for an author event if it is local, is an activity relating to local societies and/or organisations, and promotes writing. And only one of those boxes needs to be ticked.

            According the WCC libraries website they have almost 605,000 items on their shelves – that includes audio books, play scripts and music scores – and lend approximately 1.7 million items a year. One.Point.Seven.Million. Just in case you missed it. That’s an astonishing amount of written and spoken words. Some of them could be yours (or mine!)

            We were also introduced to an organisation called The West Midlands Readers’ Network which ‘supports reading by creating opportunities for readers and reading groups to engage creatively with literature, and to deepen their reading experiences.’ They ‘run a range of events, activities and projects with libraries and independent bookshops including commissions, creative reading events, a ‘Reader in Residence’ programme, plus networking and skills-sharing across the West Midlands.’ Do you have something like that in your area? Not sure? Ask a librarian!

            Myself and other SoA members had a really creative and collaborative couple of hours with the super librarians at Kenilworth Library. Another SoA member joined us from Birmingham where she told us the sad and damn-well outrageous news that Birmingham City Council, being bankrupt, has been forced to close all its libraries. Can you imagine living in a city without a library? I can’t. I can’t contemplate the hole that will leave in the lives of so many and the damage it will do to our young readers who are going to be denied the opportunity to access free books. It is an established fact that those who are encouraged and assisted to read from an early age are often well ahead of their peers in later life. Can you even contemplate not being able to read?

            So, top tips for you if you’re an author

• Contact your local library to see what events are being run
• Go to some of them! Meet people, support the library, network
• Apply/ask to lead an authors hour (if that is what they do – other formats are available!)
• Search out organisations in your area that collaborate with authors
• Be that author