Making more of libraries

Earlier this year, I attended two landmark events in London and Leeds organised by the charity Libraries Connected, the umbrella body for public libraries. These forums brought library leaders and frontline library workers together with publishers of all sizes to explore ways of working together towards a shared goal: to get people reading more, and more widely. Judging by the animated conversations between librarians and publishers, there was no shortage of enthusiasm or ideas for collaboration.

Good news stories about public libraries can seem few and far between. The aftermath of the pandemic, rising demand for social care and high levels of inflation mean local authorities – which directly operate most libraries – are more strapped for cash than ever and are always looking for cost-cutting measures. Despite being a statutory service, libraries are often particularly vulnerable to reductions in staff, opening hours and book budgets.

But library leaders are resilient and know that libraries as physical buildings are needed now more than ever. They are places of solace for many, especially during the cold winter months, and are trusted sources of information and support – including advice on saving energy and the cost-of-living crisis. Innovation sits at the heart of libraries, supported by funding from Arts Council England, National Lottery grants and initiatives launched by Libraries Connected and others to share expertise, test new ideas and continually adapt to meet the changing needs of library users. So what does this all mean for the publishing industry?

Libraries have the power and potential to reach new readers with new writing, and to support an author’s career. Yet they are often overlooked by publishers, and in some cases dismissed – to the detriment of readers and authors. Reasons for this are plenty – not knowing who to contact, small audiences, often out of the way places, no funding available for travel or fees for the author, and no visibility of resulting book sales. Indeed, book sales to libraries can be as low as 1% of the publisher’s income.

There is a gap in the relationship between libraries and publishers, but also an enthusiasm to see how mutually beneficial partnerships can be established

Why should publishers care about libraries and how can they make the most of this channel? Most importantly because librarians love books. Many are book bloggers and reviewers outside of the day job, as well as recommending books in the library. Librarians know their community and know what books – and that includes audiobooks and e-books – will work for their audiences. They are always willing to experiment in the library to encourage reading, and many have partnerships with local organisations, literary festivals and, reading charities. Books remain at the heart of libraries and the diverse range of library members often means they can reach readers, or those new to reading, that other channels cannot. Readers discover new writers through libraries and are often heavy book buyers as much as book borrowers. Libraries are a universal service, and we should not underestimate their reach and ability to get the nation reading.  

National charity, The Reading Agency plays a vital role in connecting publishers with libraries, through their Reading Partners scheme, through Reading Well Books on Prescription and the Summer Reading Challenge. In these areas, there is a great appetite for the additional resources and materials which publishers provide. We know how hard publishers work to support retailers by providing point of sale materials, inviting them to showcases, launch parties and sales conferences, sending them review copies, running competitions with them – all of this can be done with libraries too. Authors can record messages, readings or hold virtual chats without having to travel the country. 

Of course, the success of partnerships with retailers can be easily tracked through book sales; collaborations with libraries may offer a more subtle and longer-term halo effect. But the public library network, with up to 4,000 libraries in every part of the UK, cannot be matched for its scale, reach and influence on our reading habits. As the forums demonstrated there is a real opportunity to build the relationship between libraries and publishers and an enthusiasm to see how mutually beneficial partnerships can be established. By working together to help readers explore new or unfamiliar authors and genres, libraries and publishers can foster a more diverse literary landscape – something that will benefit everyone who writes, sells, lends, or reads books.