Guidelines for Local and Self-Published Authors

 Guidelines for Local and Self-Published Authors 

Created January 2020 

Guidelines 

All materials added to the collection must meet the selection criteria in our Collection Development and Management Plan. The library’s primary goal is to add materials that will appeal to a broad audience or have local significance. 

Having your book receive an independent, positive review in one or more the of the major review journals (such as Library Journal, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, or Publisher's Weekly) is the best way to bring a title to our attention. We are more likely to consider adding a self-published book to our collection if it has been reviewed in a major review journal. Paid reviews are not considered. Availability to purchase the book from a library vendor (such as Baker & Taylor or Ingram) will significantly increase the likelihood that we will add it to the collection. 

Contacting the Purchasing Department 

If you wish to bring a book to our attention, you can send information via email to purchasing@thebookplace.org. Please include: 

• Information about the book – title, author, ISBN, publisher, publish date, distributor. 
• Links to any professional reviews or news coverage. 
• A brief description of the book and its intended audience. 

You can also send this information by mail to: 

Boyd County Public Library 

ATTN: Local Authors, Purchasing Department 

1740 Central Ave. 

Ashland, KY 41101

The library does not accept review copies. 

Due to time constraints and the volume of inquiries we receive, we are unable to meet with individual authors, or to notify authors of our decision. If we add your book to the collection, it will appear in our library catalog within two months. 

Local Author Digital Collection 

The library encourages and supports the published works of local and state authors. If you are a resident of Commonwealth of Kentucky, we encourage you to submit your e-book to our SELF-e submission platform for self-published e-books. 

Books submitted to the SELF-e service become part of a statewide collection of e-books with books by other local authors. You may also choose to submit your e-book for 

possible inclusion in Library Journal’s SELF-e project. If selected by Library Journal, you will need to sign a non-exclusive license to make your book available to library patrons. 

Boyd County Public Library cardholders can discover and access this local e-book collection through the catalog or the SELF-e platform. 

Donating a Material 

Donated materials are subject to the same selection criteria as other items we buy. Materials not added to our collection are sent to Boyd County Public Library Friends book sales. 

Again, the library does not accept review copies. 

See the Library's Collection Development and Management Plan for more information.