In any community, the biggest source of books is the library. Yes, some communities do have giant bookstores, but these places will also support even larger libraries.

Here are some reasons why libraries make awesome places to sell books:

1. Libraries have people who look for something to read.
2. Libraries need money. (More in a moment)
3. Libraries like adding new books to their stock.
4. Libraries can help you sell a lot of books.

How do you sell books in a library?

Short answer – You ask.

Medium answer –

Libraries need money. Ask any librarian. When you offer to do a book signing and sale at a library, you agree to donate a book to their shelves. You also give them part of the money from the book sales OR charge admission to a Meet The Author event and let the library keep that money. Or, do both.

Long answer –

Libraries need money to pay for magazine subscriptions, buy books, pay the utility bills, salaries and so on. A lot of this money comes from taxpayers, but that bucket of funds is dwindling. Libraries look for alternate sources of income to keep things moving.

As an author, you are positioned to help the library bring in some money by creating an event to bring in some people who’ve not been inside in a while and draw attention to the library in general.  This is a fundraiser for the library. You can expect a lot of help and assistance for free.

You will get lots of free publicity.

As an author, will find it next to impossible to get media coverage of your book. It is the nature of the beast. However, when you partner with a library for a Meet The Author event, the situation is dramatically changed. The story is no longer about you. It’s about supporting the library. Every media outlet in that library’s region will announce the event and probably cover it. Journalists love libraries and we will definitely throw our support behind anything that seeks to help the library.

You will get support for the signing.

Every library has a volunteer group that helps run things, supports efforts and so forth. These volunteers can help put together refreshments to nosh on during the Meet The Author reception. They will also help spread the word through social media.

You will get people showing up.

Whether or not the folks attending the reception are interested in your book, they will come out to support the library. If you agree to donate part of the sales of your book to the library, pretty much everyone attending will buy a book.

It does not matter if you are local or hours away. Libraries love authors.