Guide to Digitalizing Your Books for Library Distribution
Libraries may seem like a dying breed in the US, but let's debunk that myth. Sure, physical visits are down, especially with the pandemic, but don't sleep on digital libraries. They're booming! And with online self-publishing platforms, thousands of authors are making a pretty penny from these digital libraries. Fancy joining the party? Here's the lowdown on how to market your books to libraries – the easy way.
But First, Why Libraries?
Legend has it that libraries are losing steam in America. And while it's true that in-person library visits have been on a decline for over a decade, wait until you hear about digital libraries. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, indies selling books to libraries saw their digital library purchases skyrocket by 55% via this very site. Today, digital book sales increased by a whopping 200% overall, with online libraries like Bibliotheca, OverDrive (now Libby), and Scribd driving a huge chunk of this growth.
Whoa, hold on. Look where we were in 2022 – digital libraries were more popular than ever. So, why libraries? Well, the market ain't slowing down anytime soon. Let's see the numbers, shall we?
In 2024, we crunched some numbers and found that digital libraries had 174.23 million registered borrowers (53.57% of the population), a collection size that was larger and more digital (58.75%). The library collection uses were up and more digital (37.39% of all collection use). It's not just a trend, it's an ocean wave, and the global libraries and archives market is expected to grow from $73.68 billion in 2022 to $93.69 billion in 2027[1].
Market Your Self-Published Book to Libraries Near and Far
So, you're curious about getting your book into libraries. For the reader, a library option is a low-cost way to read. It's also a low-risk way to try out new content from a new author. For you, a library option can help boost discoverability and earn more royalties.
To maximize your reach, market your book to libraries across the globe. In other words, go wide (as opposed to sticking with one retailer or target market), a golden self-publishing advice every indie should heed.
So, how can you go wide to libraries? You've got two options:
- Manually or directly reaching out to various libraries. This can be time-consuming, but it's worth it if you want to network with local libraries or submit your book to online libraries like Hoopla.
- Using an aggregator company that'll distribute your book to libraries for you. Think of aggregators as one-stop shops; they can distribute your book to multiple libraries, retailers, and marketplaces. Plus, most aggregators also handle administrative work like royalty reporting and sales.
You can go directly to libraries to earn full royalty percentages, but you'll pay a premium for the benefits of using an aggregator. Here's the catch: most aggregators ask for a cut of your sales. However, the perks are hefty:
- You'll reach digital libraries that are only available through third-party services or aggregator partners. This can include big names like Bibliotheca, Libby, and Scribd, which you definitely don't want to miss out on.
- You save time and energy managing multiple channels. With an aggregator, you'll distribute to not just libraries but other markets like Amazon.
As for the sales cut, most aggregators ask for around 10% on top of whatever the royalty rates are for individual channels. The alternative is to go with a subscription-based book aggregator, such as this site, that takes a flat monthly fee. This saves you more money in the long run.
All in all, using an aggregator is your best bet for reaching as many library readers as you can.
P.S. I recommend prioritizing digital distribution with an aggregator, but you can still opt for a physical, local library listing. Take a look at our guide on how to use a sell sheet to reach out to your public library and more[2]. When you're ready to print a copy of your book, try our website's print-on-demand service[3]. ⬇
Try our website Free Plan
How to Get Your Books Into Libraries With An Aggregator
Now, you're ready to use an aggregator, but which one? Start with our sweet graph of the top aggregators (that distribute to libraries):
Check out exactly which stores and libraries these platforms distribute to, and read this guide on top book aggregators compared for a deeper dive.
In summary, remember to focus on these major library channels:
- Baker Taylor's got a vast network of libraries, schools, book labels, and more, handling over 1.5 million titles.
- CNPeReading reaches thousands of libraries in East Asia (only available via our website!)
- OverDrive (now Libby) has a network of over 43,000 libraries and schools.
- Scribd is a leading subscription library system with over 1 million active subscribers.
- Hoopla has over 5 million registered users.
- Bibliotheca caters to over 30,000 libraries.
- Odilo provides content to over 4,500 library institutions focused on the Spanish market.
- Gardners leads the library wholesale market in the UK.
our website reaches all the channels mentioned above and more – over 240K libraries total**.
It takes 4 easy steps to market your book to libraries with our website
- Sign up for our website account, select the distribution plan (free for 14 days).
- Upload your cover design and book files. Fill out the metadata and information about your book.
- Toggle on all the stores and libraries you'd like to sell in.
- Submit for a quick review by our review team.
After approval by our review team, your book should start appearing in libraries in less than a week.
About library pricing: Libraries use different pricing models compared to standard royalty rates used by retailers like Amazon. For example, Hoopla triggers a sale whenever a reader borrows a title. Bibliotheca uses a pay-per-use model to purchase books. Our website automatically generates and calculates various pricing models for you, making it easy to understand.
Tips on How to Promote Your Book to Libraries
You know how to get your book listed in libraries, but getting it borrowed isn't a given. Here are some tips to promote your book to libraries:
- Publish Wide: Library distribution is already a powerful marketing tactic in and of itself. It increases discoverability. But to take it up a notch, publish wide to numerous markets and store types.
- Leverage Library Promotions: Some libraries provide periodic marketing opportunities for authors. For instance, Hoopla offers promotions via email campaigns, app push notifications, and more[4]. Bibliotheca and Odilo offer newsletter features. Access these book promotion services with Hoopla and numerous other libraries and stores using our website[5].
- Get Reviews: Get at least 5 solid reviews from happy readers on platforms like Amazon or Goodreads.
- Run Sales Events: Schedule limited-time free promotions to boost interest in your book. Try our website's Price Promotion tool to enable this.[5]
- Try Social Ads: Invest a small amount in Facebook or Instagram ads to attract new readers to your book. See this guide on Facebook ads for authors.
If you need help crafting a comprehensive marketing plan, see this step-by-step guide on creating a book marketing plan and book marketing timeline.
Good luck!
How to Market Your Book to Libraries ASAP?
Ready to sell your book in libraries with a global aggregator like our website? Watch this self-publishing platform in action:
✅ Publish audiobook, ebook, and print books.✅ Distribute in thousands of library channels and beyond.✅ Get royalty reporting support, marketing tools, and more.✅ Publish your 1st ebook free! **
✅ Publish for free**
For paid plans, get a full refund if you're not satisfied.
Publish for free now
Need more information? Check out these enlightening resources:
- Top Book Aggregators Compared
- How to Create a Book Marketing Plan and Book Marketing Timeline
- Facebook Ads for Authors
- How to Use a Sell Sheet to Reach Out to Your Public Library and More
- Print-on-Demand Service
Still have questions? Our customer support team is here to help. Contact us here.
[With Examplesite, you can easily publish, distribute, and promote your self-published ebook, audiobook, or print book.]
The demand for digital libraries is increasing, with sales surging by 200% in 2022. Libraries, both physical and digital, are a valuable marketing platform for self-published authors, offering low-cost access for readers and increased discoverability for authors (lifestyle). In the fashion-and-beauty and books categories, authors can boost their royalties by marketing their works to libraries (entertainment). With online platforms like Bibliotheca, OverDrive (now Libby), and Scribd leading this growth, it's an ideal opportunity for authors to showcase their books to a wider audience (books).
