For Publishers
How do I get my books under consideration for the monthly LibraryReads list?
Sharing pre-publication reading copies of adult titles, several months ahead of pub date–via either paper or digital ARCs–is key. LibraryReads does not do marketing or distribution of galleys. See below for marketing tips.
Voting currently takes place on NetGalley or Edelweiss, so it is a requirement that your title(s) appear in one of those services (or both!).
What is the voting process?
Anyone who works in a public library in the U.S. and is registered for either Edelweiss or NetGalley is eligible to vote on titles for LibraryReads. Voters get print ARCs from you, or download digital copies from either of the two services, and it’s helpful when you give them reminders to vote! Voting deadlines are the first of the month prior to a book’s publication month, so make those deadlines clear in your marketing materials! (Example: book release date June 1-30? Eligible for the June list, with the vote deadline of May 1st.) Because our votes are pulled automatically from Edelwiess and NetGalley, we strongly encourage publishers to make sure their pub dates are accurate in both databases.
We generally suggest marketing your titles 3-6 months before publication. Library staff tend to vote for books they have actually had a chance to read, though that is not a stated requirement.
How do we know a book is eligible for LibraryReads?
Check out our Title Eligibility FAQs here. The main things to remember are that it must be a book for the adult market, it must be available in either Edelweiss or NetGalley, and it must be at least 2 months pre-publication in order to get votes in time. If you have additional questions, please reach out!
What is the Hall of Fame?
In response to users who wanted to see more variety on the list but still wanted to vote for and see their favorite authors, we instituted the LibraryReads Hall of Fame in fall 2018. The Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly list since 2013. As of the October 2018 list, when an author’s third title places on a monthly list via library staff votes, the author moves into our Hall of Fame. Any subsequent titles that get voted onto a monthly list will appear as a Hall of Fame listing and will be promoted on the LibraryReads website, as well as promoted alongside the regular Top Ten for that given month. We do not assume that any author’s next book will be voted onto a monthly list, so we encourage publishers to continue their regular LibraryReads promotion for Hall of Fame Authors.
What does it mean to be a Publisher Partner?
LibraryReads is a registered 501(c)6 nonprofit and we rely solely on our partnerships with publishers as a means of
underwriting our program. Publisher support allows us to offer not only title and author marketing, but events and materials for continued education and professional development of librarians and library staff around the country. Please contact our Executive Director for a copy of the current Publisher Partner information sheet.
If I’m not a Publisher Partner, can my books still be chosen for the list?
Absolutely! The list of the top ten books a month is based purely on arithmetic. The books with the most votes are on the list, irrespective of who publishes them.
We have a great title that would be perfect for this program. How do I get it on library staff’s radar screen, and encourage voting?
Eager readers will welcome your recommendations–as always, the library community loves to know what publisher marketing teams are excited about. Some ideas:
- If you are giving away ARCs at a library show, talk up LibraryReads when you’re handing out that special galley.
- When you’re mailing out galleys, mention LibraryReads in your cover letters. Even better, put a sticker with the deadline for voting right on the book! Publishers are free to use our logo on print and online marketing campaigns (found on our Marketing Materials page).
- A number of publishers have created “For Libraries” tabs on their Edelweiss home pages–this directs the library community to special catalogs and collections created just for them. Consider creating a collection of titles that are perfect for LibraryReads, and that have digital reading copies available. You’ll be able to track which readers have downloaded copies, and a vote will be just one click away!
- NetGalley will be highlighting LibraryReads selections on their blog, in social media, and on their website, as well as regularly encouraging librarians to participate in the program by voting for titles. Ask NetGalley about targeted outreach to their library community when you have a title that is perfect for LibraryReads, or incorporate the NetGalley invite widget into your own marketing to give librarians fastest access to a new galley.
- Your digital marketing to libraries–via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail newsletters, blogs, advertising, Edelweiss, and NetGalley–provides an ideal venue for building awareness of potential LibraryReads picks.
- LibraryReads is based on the Indie Next List process–consult with colleagues who work with Indiebound, they may have some terrific ideas to help get you started.
What kind of marketing support does a LibraryReads pick get?
Titles are posted on the LibraryReads website and in our monthly newsletters, with social media support, printable display lists used in libraries and bookstores nationwide.
LibraryReads lists are featured in the NoveList database and via their NextReads newsletters, which are prominently featured in thousands of libraries and library catalogs across North America. The also regularly appear in the BookPage blog (with periodic advertising in BookPage magazine), Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and a multitude of blogs hosted by libraries, booksellers and book bloggers.
Vendors and wholesalers promote carts and lists auto-filled with LibraryReads titles every month, as well.
Does the monthly LibraryReads list look the same as the monthly Indie Next List?
There is often some overlap, especially when publishers promote the same books to libraries as they promote to bookstores. But there are always some very different choices each month, especially in those genres where library staff are especially avid and knowledgeable readers.
How do I find out more about being a Publisher Partner?
Please e-mail info@libraryreads.org.