September is National Library Card Sign-up Month here in the States.
I remember my first library card…I felt like such a grown-up. And I knew it was opening up a whole world of reading to me.
I’ve spent much of my life in a library—reading and writing. It’s pained me recently to see libraries fall victim to budget cuts. In honor of libraries and what they’ve given me, I’m re-running my library post on how writers can gain from using their public library.
15 Reasons for Writers to Love Libraries
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to become a better writer. That’s a good thing because most writers don’t have a ton of money to throw around.
The library has all the resources a writer needs. It’s always been one of my favorite places on Earth. Here are the reasons why libraries are writers’ best friends:
Research
*Researching your book: Libraries have computers with internet capabilities. They have books and periodicals on a multitude of different subjects. They also have research librarians/information specialists who can help you with research and find reference materials to help you in your search.
*Researching your genre: You can easily check out a dozen recently-published books in your genre. It’s a quick way to see what publishers are looking for.
*Need help with grammar and writing style? The library will have reference books to help you. My favorite style book is Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It’s been around for ages.
*Books on the writing craft? Different libraries have different books, but there are some that will be in nearly every branch: like On Writing by Stephen King, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
*Some libraries will have subscriptions to helpful periodicals like Writer’s Digest.
*For writers, reading is not only fun—it’s essential. Sometimes, though, we might struggle to find time to fit it into our day. The library can help with this. With a library card, you can check out books on tape and “read” in the car during a commute. Or download audio files to an mp3 player to read while doing housework.
A Place to Write
*Has your house gotten crazy? Kids/spouse driving you nuts? Is a coffeehouse too expensive? The public library is a great place to write.
Help With the Submission Process
*Looking for an agent? Look at the acknowledgements page in one of the recent releases in your genre. Agents are nearly always thanked.
*Another great way to find agent and editor names is by using Writer’s Market and Literary Market Place. Using these books at the library means saving lots of money—these books are expensive.
*Need help quickly summing up your book in a query letter? Look at back cover copy of novels in your genre.
*Don’t have email and you need to email some queries? You can set up a Gmail or Hotmail account that can be accessed from a computer at your local library.
Promotion
*Libraries are major book purchasers. Find out which libraries have your book. Go to WorldCat.org, which searches libraries for content worldwide. You just plug in your book’s name, hit the search button, and find the results. For a listing of public libraries, go to Public Libraries.com. You’ll get physical addresses, phone numbers, and websites (from which you can get the library’s email address).Send the acquisitions librarian an email or postcard with your cover photo, ISBN number, title of the book, publisher’s name, your name, release date, short summary, and any good review snippets.
*The librarians at my local branch are my friends, too. They’ve been incredibly supportive—my book is nearly always checked out of the library or on request because of their generous recommendations of my book to patrons. They’ve also put my book on a display with other regional authors.
*If you’re looking for a place to give a writing workshop or talk, your library usually has a meeting room that’s perfect for your event. Many of them will allow you to sell your book as well (it’s nice to give a donation to their Friends of the Library program if your signing is for-profit.)
*Libraries also provide locations for writing groups and book clubs to gather. For some writers, meeting with other writers and readers is a great way to network and find support and encouragement.
There are many expensive paths a writer can take toward professional development. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Writing shouldn’t have to cost more than the pen and paper you’re writing on.
Do you remember your first library card? How have you enjoyed your library over the years?
Wonderful post. I remember my first library card, too. It was my ticket to a magic place. I lived in books for much of my childhood. They kept me sane. I know they will die out soon, or be transformed into some sort of electronic data center, but I will miss them terribly. Every writer should spend some time in one before they’re gone.
I grew up in a small town without a public library, but while I was in elementary school, the school library would be open at least one morning each week during the summer. Later on we were blessed to have the bookmobile come around weekly. I loved the university library during college, and even worked in the library for two years. Now our family usually visits the public library several times each week.
Hi ELizabeth .. great points you’ve raised here .. and they have a noticeboard with upcoming events to join in … related to writing or other linked activities .. and probably a newsletter ..
Cheers – I’ve started going to mine to access the faster computers! .. and though it’s not very big – no doubt will give me some ideas .. Hilary
Elizabeth – Thanks for reminding us of how valuable libraries are, and how much they can offer to writers. I remember getting my first library card when I was 6, and I’ve never looked back. We got a library card for our daughter when she was about the same age, too. As a writer, I would say that besides the wonderful benefits you point out, I find the library is a wonderful place for inspiration. I read about new ideas for characters and plots, and learn from what other writers, too. It’s a “How to Write” college where you don’t have to pay tuition :-).
Excellent points! My publisher really focuses on library sales, so I do love libraries.
Thanks for the info. I checked WorldCat and was amazed that my self-published books are available in some USA libraries. Hmm, I wonder how to promote them to other libraries…
Every Savage Can Reproduce
Great post! At my library, they know me by name. They know what types of books and cds I take out. They say they miss me if I don’t come in often enough. Aaaah, no place like home…I mean…my local library…
<3 Gina Blechman
Somewhere, I still have my first library card. The library has always been one of my favorite places even before I became a bookaholic as a tween. Our library out here isn’t real big, but it has history and a lot of support from the community. They do a huge friends of the library sale every June with books people donate by the bagfuls in the couple months prior. And the year we moved out here, they’d done some renovations with support from community donations.
Anne–I’m hoping that somehow libraries will remain vital. It’s going to mean some changes, though, for sure.
Marcy–So it’s been part of your life all the way through. :) That’s the way it’s been for me, too.
Hilary–Good points! And they do usually have a nice computer lab there. I’ve used our library’s computers when my laptop went on the blink.
Alex–I think library sales are often overlooked–which they shouldn’t be. I think they account for a lot of sales.
Enid–I know some folks have mailed postcards, with varying degrees of success. It’s worth a try!
Gina–It’s like a 2nd home, isn’t it? I could really spend all day there.
Margot–Good point! Libraries are the perfect place to get inspired. :)
Jaleh–Our community has pitched in to help the library, too. Lots of donations. It made me very happy to see it–good to know that people really do support and enjoy the library.
Libraries have changed over the years. I spent my childhood, adolescence and teenage years in one particular amazing library.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, our local library has extremely limited hours and the wait list for books is huge – a year or longer for a new release.
Yes, the reference books remain, and I might find a few scattered copies of the classics, but in our case, it’s not worth my time to drive to the local library for any purpose other than to donate books for their yearly book sale.
I know why I love libraries – as opposed to bookstores, libraries don’t return books!!!
Thanks Elizabeth, postcards…what sort of information should be included?
As far as I’m concerned nothing can take the place of a library.
I sometimes think my waking hours are split between home and various library branches.
I’m a big fan of free libraries, and I’ve spent a lot of time in them, both public libraries, and campus libraries. I used to spend hours and days searching the Science Citation Index and Physics Abstracts in the basement of the science library, before Google made life easy. Now, I go regularly to the public library in our town to borrow printed books, but even more, audiobooks on mp3 >:)
Cold As Heaven
Diane–An excellent reason to love libraries!
Enid–I like to order postcards that have my book cover covering one side. On the other, I have my book’s name, ISBN #, my name, the publisher’s name, a review snippet, and my email address. Make sure you address the postcard to the acquisitions librarian. Good luck!
GigglesandGuns–I’m pretty sure that, if I suddenly disappeared, the local libraries in our area would be one of the first places a search party would look… :)
Cold As Heaven–I like those audiobooks, too. :) Gives me something to do while I clean the house!
Julia–I hate to hear that! I have heard some similar reports from other county libraries. Such a shame that libraries would receive the brunt of funding cuts…
I LOVE libraries! I remember getting my first library card and carefully printing my name on the line. All those delightful books could be mine! Well, not really, but you know what I mean. :) Cheers for libraries and librarians!
Thanks Elizabeth. I’ve done up a fly featuring six of my books and it looks great!
I have fond memories of the library as a child: I loved the summer reading competitions where we would get gold stars for reading books. I loved libraries so much I grew up and went to school to receive a master’s in library science :)
I’m reading a wonderful book about the role of libraries today: ‘This Book is Overdue!” by Marilyn Johnson. I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in the evolving role of libraries and librarians.
Great post!